Rapid robot nails pallet-making problem

Nov 28 2007 by Sion Barry, Western Mail

BARRY is to become the only location in the UK to adopt a new robotic pallet-making machine capable of producing 10,000 pallets a week.

The Scott Group, the UK’s largest pallet manufacturer, is one of the first European companies to adopt the Hong Kong technology which is part of a £500,000 investment in the Barry site.

Created to mimic the principles of building a pallet by hand, the robot will be equipped with four nail guns and offer a capability far in advance of anything currently operating in the timber industry.

The robot reduces set-up times by 75%. Changeovers from one pallet type to another take only 10 minutes compared to up to four hours for some lines.

If the robot proves successful the Scott Group could commission six more.

Operating on 21 sites across the UK, the Scott Group offers customers a single supplier for a complete logistics solution. This includes new pallet supply, packaging, reconditioned pallets, wood waste management and returnable transit packaging.