Cutting-edge automated product handling for optimum output
The way a product is handled can make or break your ability to deliver a quality product at speed. AIR’s automated product handling systems ensure the smooth transition of products from one piece of machinery to another. Our specialist team of industrial automation integrators and in-house software engineers is highly skilled in designing and installing product testing, inspection, and verification systems — to ensure the highest possible quality of your finished products.
Capabilities
Core automated product handling modules and sub-systems to meet your needs
To design automated product handling machines, we draw upon a range of core machine modules and sub-systems to develop a solution that meets your precise requirements:
- Row alignersEnsure products are aligned in the direction of flow so the process can be carried out at speed (critical to any automated product packaging process).
- Row feedersCollate products accurately into groups before being fed into their packaging.
- Lane doublersProcess twice the number of products simultaneously.
- Diverging tablesSegregate the product into two distinct lanes as it travels along your manufacturing line.
- Converging tablesBring two lanes of product together into a single lane as it travels along your manufacturing line.
- First in, first out (FIFO) bufferCollate a number of products and then release them in the order they were gathered.
- First in, last out (FILO) bufferCollate a number of products at a set point along your production line before releasing them in reverse order to the next phase of your process.
- Plaque feedersSimultaneously transport product while separating excess coating or seasoning via a griddle (especially suitable for food and confectionery industries).
- Vibratory feedersFeed components from a bowl into an assembly machine, with controlled vibration forcing the parts onto a feed track.
- Centrifugal feedersHandle components gently and at high speeds.
- Multilane vibration feedersCombine controlled vibration and multiple lanes to ensure even distribution in a product batch.
- High-speed leaflet feedersAccurately insert documentation into packaged products, tailored to meet your specific requirements.
- Flow-wrapped product bufferPackaged raw products in a film as they travel along the conveyor.
- Servo-controlled phasing beltsProcess grouped products in phases at a speed that suits your line.
Approach
Custom product handling for demanding industries
AIR has a rich history of supplying product handling systems to some of the most demanding industries around the globe. Each industry has its own set of specialist requirements and our understanding of these has solidified our position as a key supplier of product handling systems.
- We design and build our automated product handling systems to meet specific customer requirements
- Our in-house expertise allows us to create automated product handling systems which ensure speed, accuracy and quality as standard
- We create inventive solutions designed to maximize the overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) of your production lines
Impact
Helping you produce high quality products at speed
Automated product handling draws on a variety of modules working together — diverting, distributing, buffering and aligning product within the line so that accuracy and throughput are maintained at every stage. The right configuration depends on your process, whether you’re transferring fragile medical devices with extreme care, or processing hundreds of food products every minute within a limited space. AIR engineers solutions to the precise demands of your line. Our product handling systems can be configured to deliver:
- Uninterrupted throughputHigh-speed diverters and pneumatic gating systems keep product moving across up to four conveyor legs, with bespoke configurations available where higher throughput demands it.
- Resilience against short-stop outagesVertical or horizontal buffer stores in FIFO or FILO format absorb planned and unplanned stoppages, protecting overall line efficiency without disrupting production flow.
- Consistent accuracy at speedRow aligners and servo-controlled phasing belts keep product correctly oriented and grouped through every stage, eliminating the misalignment that slows lines and causes rejects.
- Gentle, high-speed component handlingVibratory, centrifugal and multilane feeders protect product integrity while maintaining output rates, with plaque feeders for food and confectionery lines where separation of excess coating in motion is critical.
- Compliant, accurate documentation insertionHigh-speed leaflet feeders place product literature precisely into packaging without interrupting line speed, supporting regulatory requirements without a manual step.
Case studies
Manual handling of polysilicon rods caused yield loss due to breakage and contamination. Rod diameters varied widely and spacing was tight, creating a mechanical challenge. The manufacturing environment…
The final drying step in HDD media manufacturing used a patented Marangoni process, which requires passing disks through an IPA-based drying interface. Automating this step demanded precise batch handling…
The rapid growth of the HBLED market required laser equipment manufacturers to increase wafer dicing throughput, reduce costs, and replace mechanical dicing technologies. To meet the market window, the…