FANUC cobots optimize packaging in the pharmaceutical industry with greater flexibility and safety

2026-07-023 min.

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The lack of qualified personnel, higher requirements for safety and the necessity for more flexible production turn automation into one of the key factors for competitiveness for companies in the pharmaceutical sector. More and more producers keep introducing collaborative robots, which they use to handle repetitive and physically draining operations, while increasing production and better work conditions. "A prime example of such a transformation is the project of the Polish company Phytopharm Klęka S.A., which implemented two robotic systems with FANUC CRX cobots with the help of system integrator ZW Automation. The solution automates the depalletizing of packages and the palletizing of finished products, improving the ergonomics of workplaces, increasing production flexibility and exceeding the initially set productivity indicators," BalkanEngineer.com was informed by FANUC Bulgaria.

At the beginning of the packaging line, developed by Romaco, a hexagonal collaborative robot FANUC CRX-20iA/L is installed, which automates the depalletization process of bottles. "The robot has a maximum working range of 1418 mm and a load capacity of 20 kg, which allows it to reliably process packages of various sizes and delicate surfaces," FANUC Bulgaria explained.

For a specific project, system integrator ZW Automation develops a specialized mechanism for vacuum catching, equipped with soft vacuum cups and a integrated system for controlling the force of the vacuum. This encompasses a stable and precise manipulation of products without risk of mechanical damages, reaching a depalletizing performance of 3.4 packages per minute – a result that exceeds the previously set design goals.

"At the end of the production line, the second FANUC CRX-25iA collaborative robot automates the palletizing process of finished transport boxes. The system offers a load capacity of 25 kg, reaching 30 kg in certain configurations, as well as a maximum working range of 1889 mm or 1756 mm, depending on the implementation," added FANUC Bulgaria.