Robot feeds our appetite for Mini Jaffa Cakes

Sewtec Automation has increased the throughput of one of Britain's favourite snacks. It has installed a top-loading robot on the Mini Jaffa Cakes production line at United Biscuit's McVitie's factory in Manchester.

United Biscuits is using the Sewtec robot to load Mini Jaffa Cakes 'pods' into cardboard outer cases at the rate of six pods per cycle.

The pods are six compartment, thermoformed lidded trays folded to give the distinctive three-on-three pod configuration.

The robot is the final element of an extensive upgrade by United Biscuits to its McVitie's Mini Jaffa Cakes line.

This includes two pod folding units and a two-to-one converger/conveyor system which transfers the pods from the folder units, through a sleever, and into a case-loading robot cell.

The robot is a Sewtec model 100/20 two-axis, servo motion, pick-and-place machine incorporating a bank of six vacuum heads with two cups per head.

The system is controlled by an Allen Bradley ControLogix system. United Biscuits expects the cell to pay back in just over a year.

CONTACT Sewtec Automation TEL 01924 494047