How TRAPO standardized palletizing and depalletizing processes across four Swiss meat processing plants.
STANDARDIZE WHERE IT MATTERS. ADAPT WHERE NECESSARY.
A leading European manufacturer of meat and charcuterie products wanted to make its end-of-line logistics at four Swiss sites more efficient, flexible and future-ready.
The palletizing process was standardized across all four plants, while the depalletizing technology was specifically adapted to local material flows, space constraints and levels of automation.The result was a common technical platform that also accommodates the specific operational requirements of each individual site.
Customer Challenge
In the meat processing industry, short time windows, fluctuating volumes, rush orders, labor shortages and cost pressure are part of everyday operations. At the same time, material flows must remain stable—even when crates arrive in mixed sequences or multiple product flows need to be processed in parallel.
The customer required a solution capable of handling high standard throughput just as reliably as seasonal peaks and prioritized rush orders.
In addition, the four plants differed in terms of available space, empty-crate supply and level of automation. The depalletizing process therefore had to be adapted locally without unnecessarily fragmenting operation, maintenance or future expansion.
- Mixed E2 and C2 crate handling
- High throughput requirements
- Hygienic design
- Parallel processing of standard and rush orders
- Reliable operation despite changing material flows
Solution
Standardized Palletizing. Site-Specific Depalletizing.
TRAPO implemented an end-of-line solution in stainless steel that combines standardized technology with site-specific customization. The systems were designed using CAD-based planning and precisely tailored to the individual production requirements of each facility.
At all four sites, high-performance layer palletizers handle the fully automated palletizing process. To achieve high throughput rates, two layers can be processed simultaneously. Integrated stacking technology supports a continuous and efficient material flow.
The depalletizing process was individually adapted to the requirements of each plant:
- Manual stack transfer with automated downstream conveying
- Fully automated layer removal with separation
- Two-lane distribution of crates
- Parallel removal of multiple crate stacks from empty-crate pallets
System Overview
- Industry: Meat and charcuterie production
- Sites: Four plants in Switzerland
- Load Carriers: E2 and C2 crates
- Processes: Fully automated palletizing and depalletizing
- Design: Hygienic Design / stainless steel construction
- Palletizing Performance: Up to 2,032 crates per hour
Results & Benefits
Four Plants. One Palletizing Principle. Up to 2,032 Crates per Hour.
Benefits at a Glance
- Higher throughput performance
- More stable material flows
- Reduced manual workload
- High system availability
- Hygienic design execution
- Scalable and expandable system architecture
- Standardized operation and maintenance concepts across multiple sites