Harry Wilson, Author at Webster Griffin Ltd

How Can AGVs Improve Intralogistics In My Factory?

How to Automate Your Logistics At Your Business?

As someone who oversees a warehouse or factory, you’ll know that time is often as valuable as money. Your logistics (if planned and executed correctly) can streamline and improve your business’s processes and responsiveness. It can reduce or remove existing bottlenecks, and if you take advantage of the latest technologies, you can also ensure your business remains competitive in today’s market.

Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs) are a popular choice when it comes to automating logistics in businesses. They often take the place of forklift trucks or other manually operated machines that move and arrange pallets and packaged products for storage and transportation.

What Benefits Do AGVs Provide?

AGVs operate without needing hands on operation and can operate without taking a break. This means your business can immediately increase production and execute tasks without the presence of skilled workers. It also eliminates the costs of hiring an operator. As a result, you’ll recoup its investment cost more quickly.

AGVs make fewer errors and require less downtime. It means you can look forward to improved reliability in terms of meeting commitments as they’re less likely to hold up production. They’ll also ensure your workplace is safer and less prone to accidents or quality issues.

Here’s how else AGVs could practically improve your business’s intralogistics.

How AGVs Can Improve Your Production Flexibility

AGVs can help you structure your production processes and spaces more flexibly. They’re especially suited to operating in storage areas as they can usually manage different sizes and types of loads and pallets. It’s easy to have multiple AGVs working in one space. Each one can operate at the same time but independently, while you centrally manage their navigation.

Their safety functions will stop or slow them if they encounter obstructions or pedestrians. You can also control their speeds and routes so they don’t enter unsafe areas or areas where other machines are working. On top of all of this, each AGV will constantly generate performance data that you can refer back to for insights on improving your performance.

How AGVs Can Optimise Your Warehouse/Factory Navigation/Route Mapping

Using optimisation algorithms, you can design a path or route layout where each AGV one travels the shortest possible distance with minimal overlap and maximum effectiveness. You can also ensure that each AGV completes all its pick ups and drop offs in as little time as possible and that multiple jobs are combined into a single trip.

If executed correctly, this will ensure that tasks are allocated efficiently and logically and that if need be, you can scale up production by introducing more AGVs. It should also be flexible enough to adapt to constant changes in your space.

Using AGVs In Your Warehouse Or Factory Space

The exact time and money savings your AGV will afford you will depend on many factors, including the layout of your space, how many aisles are present, and how many machines you'll have at your disposal. A custom solution will help you tailor your AGV to your business and its specific demands. To do so, make sure you partner with an experienced AGV supplier like Webster Griffin.

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When Are AGVs A Cost Effective Alternative To Operator Driven Fork Trucks?

When Are AGVs A Cost Effective Alternative To Operator Driven Fork Trucks?

When you need to move heavy loads without an operator, laser guided forklift type AGVs (Automatic Guided Vehicles) are a suitable choice. They offer all the benefits of an operator driven fork truck, but can operate without taking a break. They also perform certain repetitive functions more safely, freeing up your employees for other work. While these benefits are undeniable, operator driven fork trucks are still popular as they remain affordable, reliable, and flexible. So how can you determine when to make the switch to an AGV — and if you should make it at all?

When comparing the two options, it’s critical that you compare their potential costs to the potential benefits you’ll receive. Here are some of the factors you should keep in mind.

In What Situation Would an AGV Be Better Suited To Your Business?

As AGVs can perform without human intervention or taking a break, it could help streamline your current workforce and make it more lean and productive. This especially applies when your workers are spending hours performing repetitive tasks that could be automated, key workers could be freed up for more important tasks further down the production line.

If your workers are falling behind on tasks that an AGV can undertake outside of standard working hours, introducing one or more into your production line will free your workers up to focus on other tasks that a machine couldn’t fulfil — such as customer facing interactions, flexible thinking or tasks requiring the human eye.

Factories and warehouses experiencing extreme temperatures or exposure to hazardous materials and noise levels can be unsafe. Areas with lowered or narrow and awkward walkways can also be challenging for an operator driven forklift truck to navigate.

If this is reality for you, it might be a good time to automate or upgrade your pallet transport with an AGV with safety cameras, lasers and sensors. Object detection and anti collision devices will help to create a safer workplace, reducing your insurance costs and what you’d normally spend on employee safety equipment and training.

At What Point/Level Of Production Do AGVs Become A Good Investment?

It’s challenging to determine exactly when you should invest in an AGV or what it will cost you. You’ll need to know what payload capacity, stocking/lifting height, battery and charging system you’d prefer to use. You’ll also need to decide how many machines you need and what they’ll be used for. Your installation costs will be low if the AGVs will operate on a defined path, but will increase if you need more optional extras that are considered luxuries. Many AGV brands include traffic control within their price. However, adding lithium charging stations, marshalling detection scanners, blue spot front warning beams, equipment interface IO boxes or slippery floor tyres will often increase your costs.

You’ll need to select software that will operate and manage the forklifts and how they’ll navigate themselves. Most AGV brands will include this in their quotation. However you should also consider the costs of installing and commissioning the AGVs as well as training the right people to use them, as well as any future maintenance and repair costs the AGVs might incur.

The best way to find out if it makes financial sense to switch to an AGV is to partner with an expert in forklift AGVs for businesses like yours. Webster Griffin can help you determine this so you make an investment that will benefit your business and doesn’t incur more costs than you can handle. Contact our team today for more information.

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How Webster Griffin Helped Keppel Seghers Reach Their Fertilizer Production Targets

Who Are Keppel Seghers And Why Were Webster Griffin Awarded This Contract?

Keppel Seghers is an international provider of sludge treatment operations and maintenance services. They partnered with Qatar's Public Works Authority to build a sludge treatment plant that treats up to 439,000m3 of waste daily, sourced from wastewater treatment plants all over Qatar. The plant thermally dries and pelletises sludge, transforming it into refuse-derived fuel (a supplementary green energy source) or slow release granular organic fertilizer to be used as a plant boosting soil conditioner.

Webster Griffin (subcontracted by TSL Engineering PTE Singapore) won a contract to supply the plant with two automatic bag packing and palletising lines. It was our third project of its kind in the Middle East, following an installation at Saudi Arabia's Saudi Aramco Dhahran Sewage Treatment Works and one at Dubai's Jebel Ali Municipality sewage treatment works (under contractors Enpure and Al Ahmadiah Aktor).

Here's how it was done.

What Did Keppel Seghers Need To Pack And What Solution Did Webster Griffin Suggest?

To process the waste volumes Keppel Seghers processed daily, they required a system that could pack fertilizer into 10 kg plastic bags at a rate of 600 bags an hour. Webster Griffin proposed installing two fully automatic Form Fill Seal (FFS) pellet bagging machines and robot bag palletising system.

Unlike many of Webster Griffin's projects, this task required the team to operate outside the UK. To coordinate the installation on-site, Webster Griffin set up a service centre in Dubai to oversee the system's design, engineering, testing, installation, initial start-up — as well as employee training.

What Did Webster Griffin’s Solution Involve?

Webster Griffin’s FFS and palletizing system was constructed from heavy duty folded steel to make its cleaning easy and hygienic. It could be operated using a (HMI) Human Machine Interface touch screen panel.

To keep the system operating safely and without interference, there were machine guards at all access points. In addition, all its doors were interlocked with safety switches in compliance with the European Union's CE regulations. The FFS system’s volumetric doser was built to handle the organic pelleted fertiliser.

After filling it in bags, a bag shaker settled the bag's contents. A powered belt and bag flattening conveyor transported filled bags to the bag palletising robot. A pallet magazine delivered empty pallets ready for the palletiser so it can deliver neat, square filled pallets. This Okura palletising robot was controlled via a touch screen control panel which features software with 100 pre-set palletising programmes customised for different bag sizes, types of product and pallet stacking patterns. From here the bags were ready to be transported to clients.

What Benefits Did Keppel Seghers Realise After Their System Installation & Did It Help Them Hit Their Production Objectives?

Once the system was installed and tested and the necessary employees were trained to operate it, it was put to work. It immediately offered an improved bagging rate of 600 bags an hour with each bag weighing 10kg, as well as a palletising rate of up to 700 bags hourly.

Thanks to its automation and ability to operate 24/7, it freed up workers to focus on other tasks and helped the plant managers reach their production goals. The system was so successful that the international water community used it as a model for how to treat water to international standards for safe disposal and reuse.

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Why Are AGVs More Flexible Than Pallet Roller Conveyor Systems?

Why Are AGVs More Flexible Than Pallet Roller Conveyor Systems?

Most bulk produced products are stacked and stored in pallets until they're dispatched to clients. Moving these pallets around requires the right machinery. For most businesses, this will take the form of a roller conveyor system. While this system has its benefits, an AGV or Automated Guided Vehicle could be a better choice for your business. Here's how to tell if you should make the switch.

Why Use A Roller Conveyor System To Transport Packages And Pallets?

Pallet roller conveyor systems have existed for decades in one form or another. It's an evolution of the moving transport system the Ford Motor Company first pioneered a century ago. In time, it’s evolved to become more affordable, reliable and easy to install.

Despite these advantages, conveyors are relatively inflexible. You might have to move your existing operation lines to accommodate it. Its installation can be time-consuming and the larger it is, the more space it will take up. This forces everyone to work around it, which can be inconvenient.

When roller conveyor systems are integrated into your operating line they often use power even when not in use. Should it stop working, it will hold up production — slowing your operations and hampering your throughput. You’ll need to plan for regular downtime as some roller conveyor systems need periodic maintenance.

Despite being accompanied by a few issues, the system still has plenty of benefits for businesses. It easily moves pallets over short distances, saving you time. It’s also suited to short load transfers with a maximum throughput threshold. It's great when you need to support high production rates, as you can often program them to move at whatever speeds you require.

Why Use An AGV To Transport Pallets?

AGVs are well suited to pallet transportation because they’re free standing and mobile — taking up less space than conveyors and allowing people (and machines) to work around it. It can follow a predetermined route but is flexible enough to change routes or move around obstacles. It won’t require installation or interfere with any ongoing processes in your warehouse and factory.

As AGVs can be used in multiple jobs, they won't hold up production should they need maintenance or repair. You can easily dispatch other AGVs when this happens, making it a scalable solution. It makes them useful in multi-shift environments where change is constant.

The downside of AGVs is that they cost more than roller conveyor systems. Unless you're using it constantly, it might not be worth its cost. However, you’ll recoup your investment in less time as it will consume less power, require limited operation and cost less to maintain. As AGVs can’t be used in areas where the floor isn’t flat and undamaged, they’re well suited for use in the retail, manufacturing, automotive, food and beverage, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

Which Solution Is Best For My Needs?

There’s no right or wrong choice when it comes to choosing a pallet roller conveyor system or AGV. You’ll need to consider your production requirements and environment. You'll also need to consider how flexible the system should be and your budget.

Pay attention to additional costs that might accompany making the switch, as well as if any of your existing processes will need to change.

This might seem like a complicated decision to make, but with experts like Webster Griffin advising you, it doesn’t have to be. Contact us and we’ll help you make the right decision for your business.

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A Brief History of Webster Griffin Ltd

A Brief History Of Webster Griffin

Early Beginnings

Before Webster Griffin, there was Darnley Taylor. This historical business was founded in and provided customers with manually operated packers for filling valve paper sacks with cement, lime, gypsum and stone dust. Six years later, Darnley Taylor became one of the first businesses to offer high-speed cement packing machines and Impellor packing machines for valve sacks and crushed rock products.

Instrumental to the business’s success was Chief Designer Henry Pynegar, who brought with him automation experience and machine handling expertise. Consulting Engineer and Director L.D Parker was another key team member who brought with him experience as Head of Vickers Cement Machinery Division — giving him a keen understanding of the business.

Up until 1952 Darney Taylor exclusively specialised in Impellor packing machines. They soon developed the Grooved Wheel Packer, Screw Packer, High Drop Packers, and the popular Universal Air Packer. These machines combined with their mechanical handling expertise laid the foundation for Webster Griffin to offer complete packing systems over the next 38 years.

In 1952 Phillip Wilson completed a mechanical automation apprenticeship with prestigious aero-engineering company D.Napier and Sons as well as Darnley Taylor. He also completed night school classes in engineering, followed by three years designing automatic glass bottle machinery. He walked away from these experiences with the desire to open his own business, officially known as Webster Griffin.

Webster Griffin Opens Its Doors

Only a year after opening their doors, Webster Griffin executed a major project — installing an Impellor Packer machine for international clay producer Watts Blake Bearne. The machine helped the client fill china clay powder into valve kraft paper sacks. In the same year, Phillip Wilson’s eldest son Mark Wilson joined the business. He brought with him business savvy, thanks to his Honours Degree in Business Management and two years of experience working with leading German sack packing manufacturer Greif Werk. The business benefited from his strong marketing skills and in depth knowledge of Webster Griffin’s business fields. He also grasped future markets and trends, helping to keep Webster Griffin at the forefront of packaging machinery design and engineering.

Two years after commencing operations, Webster Griffin took on one of its biggest projects to date — the design, supply, installation and commissioning of a PVC packing plant in Poland for English client Polibur Engineering Manchester, an equipment manufacturer. The installation helped them package suspension PVC polymer products into 25 kg sacks at a rate of 84 tons an hour.

Another two years later, Webster Griffin became the dedicated supplier and installer of the Impellor Packer and Universal Air Packer. The Impellor was a high-speed automatic valve bag packing machine that excelled at packing fine powder products into bags while the Universal handled a wider range of products, including those that in the past had been difficult or impossible to package.

In 1979, Webster Griffin’s dramatic growth prompted them to move from their original premises in Cranbrook in Kent to larger space in Dudley House in Tunbridge Wells.

Webster Griffin Becomes A True Family Business

A year after the move, another son of Philip Wilson — Mathew Wilson — joined Webster Griffin after completing engineering training. Mathew designs, engineers and commissions complete machines and plant designs. By feeling the product with his hands he can tell you what machine you need and the output it can provide. The brothers epitomised team synergy and with both brothers at the helm, Webster Griffin incorporated Big Bag filling, weighing, automatic and robot palletising, shrink hooding and stretch wrapping into the business. It demonstrated to clients that Webster Griffin was dedicated to developing tomorrow’s machinery and system advancements.

In addition to bringing with him engineering expertise, Matthew helped to cement Webster Griffin’s reputation as being a multi-generational family business capable of maintaining client relationships across decades. To date, Mark and Matthew have clocked up over 85 years in the business so far. While Phillip retired in 1990, his experience brings the family’s collective involvement in Webster Griffin to well over a century.

Two Decades Of Project Installations

Over the next few years, Webster Griffin executed many major projects, including a 240 tonne per hour cement packing system for Doraud Cement, Iran.

This was followed by similar undertakings for TEMA Cement Ghana and United Provinces in India. Webster Griffin gradually started designing and offering Turn Key Systems for packing chemicals, plastics, fertilisers, pet food and human food stuffs.

Other key eighties projects included the installation of a complete bagging line for synthetic resin product manufacturer Bakelite UK and the installation of a high-speed valve sack granulated sugar packing machine for Tate & Lyle Sugar London.

Webster Griffin would return to Tate & Lyle in 1996 to install a high-speed 40 bags per hour big bag filling system in the same location.

In 1991, Webster Griffin delivered and installed a mobile containerised bagging system for NPK fertiliser in Belarus. One year later they returned to Russia to install three railway wagon loaders for a fertiliser complex. Mark Wilson visited 20 fertiliser and chemical plants in Russia, Lithuania, Siberia and Turkmenistan. This visit was covered by Fertiliser International magazine. In the same year, Webster Griffin won the prestigious Kent Exporter of the Year award and developed the IBC PF series of Big Bag weigh fill machines, delivering it to the ICI to help them package synthetic rubber pastilles.

The nineties saw Webster Griffin installing a Cempack containerised cement packing station in Nigeria and a Big Bag Filling system for Quaker Oats in London — the first of 3 for Quaker Pepsico. They also installed a valve sack carbon packing machine for Colombian Carbon/ Sevalco UK and a high speed PET chip bagging line for Plasti Pack in Italy. Their final project for the decade saw Webster Griffin undertake their first export — a new bag packing and palletising machinery line for Tianjin Dolphin Carbon Black, a Chinese carbon manufacturer.

Stepping Into The Future Of Packing & Palletisation

In 2001, Japanese company Okura Yusoki Co appointed Webster Griffin as the official distributor of Okura palletising Robots with the aim of integrating it into 90 bagging systems by June 2020. In the same year, Webster Griffin sold its first Okura robot palletising system to Dairy Crest. The system came equipped with a modular design, touch screen driven control as well as spares and accessories.

In the years that followed, Webster Griffin continued to offer clients Turn Key Solutions. This included a factory tested bagging scales for GE Plastics China in 2002. Webster Griffin also debuted a FFS Velocity Form Fill Seal bagging machine for high speed packing of aggregates, minerals, chemicals, animal feed and composts at the UK‘s PPMA Exhibition in 2004 and a IBC-PF4 patented 'semi-suspension' Big Bag filling machine at the same convention a year later.

Webster Griffin’s Most Important Milestones

In 2005 Webster Griffin celebrated its 30 year anniversary by moving to a new purpose-built factory in Crowborough, UK. To date, we have also:

Exported our packaging solutions to over 55 countries worldwide
Installed and serviced over 80 Okura robots worldwide
Supplied and installed over 600 systems worldwide
Installed over 80 PET chip systems worldwide

As Webster Griffin looks to the future, we hope to continue to design and build to order adaptable customised packaging systems that help businesses expand or diversify their operations at every level. Whether our client is a tiny startup or massive conglomeration, we will continue to approach every commission with detailed investigations into the client’s premises, products, machinery, resources and process. We will also continue to help customers improve their production strategies by providing them with spare parts and after-sales service remotely and also in person.

What is an AGV?

Introducing AGVs

Automation in technology and machinery have made many aspects of manufacturing and transportation more affordable, quicker and safer. AGVs (Automatic Guided Vehicles) are particularly popular — in many cases replacing forklifts and other machines in factories and warehouses. Integrating one into your operations could provide you with the following benefits, provided you choose the right one for your needs. Keep reading to find out whether you should make the investment.

What Do AGVs Do?

AGVs are self-operated driverless vehicles that often use LIDAR (or Light Detection And Ranging) navigation to determine where they are, where to go and how to navigate the path in between. They're battery or motor powered and can be programmed or instructed via laser, radio, or other technological inputs.

You can find them transporting, stacking and managing heavy loads. They can also complete time-consuming jobs that would involve multiple people and dangerous conditions quickly, safely and efficiently.

Unique Benefits Offered By AGVs

There are many types of AGVs, including automated guided carts, towing AGVs, unit load handlers and heavy burden carriers. However the main type is the Automated Guided Vehicle. In factory or warehouse settings, these are usually laser guided forklift type AGVs that can operate 24/7 without interruption, allowing your workers to get more done during the day. They also excel at performing repetitive tasks, preventing workers from developing injuries and strain.

Employee errors are inevitable even with well-trained workers. Most AGVs use sensors to react almost instantly to prevent collisions and accidental damage to their surroundings. With some AGVs capable of handling thousands of pounds in weight, they also offer superior capacity to humans.

What To Look For When Selecting An AGV

As AGVS don’t need an operator and can carry loads far exceeding what an average person can carry, they can help increase productivity. They eliminate unnecessary walking and the moving of materials from A to B and in time, you can expect the AGV’s AI system to optimise workflow and prioritize tasks in a more efficient manner.

Most AGVs operate using a geo-navigation system or guidance system software, making external guides unnecessary. Geo-mapping software (as well as long range optical laser sensors and 3D cameras) scan and map surrounding areas to create routes and pathways for the AGV.

AGVs with central recording or traffic operating systems will work around other AGVs in the same space without collisions by queuing jobs in a certain order and stopping if a person or object stands in their way.

Integrating An AGV With Exsisting Systems And Equipment

Your AGV needs to be easy to network and build on. You should be able to start using it without connecting it to your existing operating systems. However it’s also easy to integrate with end of line equipment such as conveyors to create a fully automated packing line.

This should be possible without you having to install expensive infrastructure or make complex adjustments to your work space. Usually a simple IO Box can facilitate this connection and interface the systems.

Acquiring your AGV from an experienced supplier will ensure you make an investment that’s as safe as it is effective. Webster Griffin can help you navigate the many AGV choices on offer to pick the best one for what you need done. For more information, contact us today.

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How Did Norman Emerson’s Form Fill Seal Bagging System Help Them Improve Productivity?

Introducing Norman Emerson

The Norman Emerson Group is a private family owned business that’s operated for over 75 years. They manufacture and sell sand and gravel for construction, industrial, equestrian, surface dressing and silica bunker purposes. The Group contacted Webster Griffin as they knew of our experience in working with other high profile companies in this sector. Increased consumer demand meant that they needed a new automated bagging and palletizing system for dredged sand and aggregates at their factory in Craigavon. Here’s how we assisted them.

What Elements Were Essential For Norman Emerson’s On-site System Installation?

The Norman Emerson Group needed a system that would bag free-flowing sand and aggregates more affordably. In other words, it needed to have a low cost per bag, keeping production costs low by adapting to different bag sizes and weights. The system needed to handle new and reconditioned pallets and palletise them in neat and compact squares for delivery to customers.

As the system would be operating in a dry and dusty industrious environment, it would need to be constructed of heavy duty, robust components. It also needed to be compact in size, as there was limited space available. Finally, the system needed to be fully automatic and able to operate 24/7.

What Solution Did Webster Griffin Recommend?

After considering Norman Emerson's requirements, Webster Griffin proposed installing an integrated bagging and palletising system. The system included a machine to form, fill and seal bags simultaneously instead of using pre-made ones. A film reel unwinder device, tensioning device and an electric hoist helped with film reel changeovers and make the bag forming process quicker and more efficient.

A vibrating chute guided or wet and damp sand into the machine before a volumetric dosing system accurately filled each bag. Forming tubes were included to cater to bags weighing from 5 to 40 kg. A parallel vertical bar would seal each bag with anti-adhesive Teflon, followed by chilled air sealing. Each filled bag would then be perforated to expel excess air.

The robot palletizer included an automatic magazine with a 15 pallet capacity with one magazine supported up to 400 kgs in weight. It automatically adjusted itself to a 1200 x 1000 size for UK clients, a square 1100 x 1100 pallet, or 1143 x 914 export pallet.

An Okura Robot’s bag hand with side grippers, guiding plates and top clamps moved filled bags to conveyors. Users could detect faults and view logged activities and even create and modify palletising patterns using the palletizer’s touch screen control panel. Finally, a stretch wrapper made each pallet waterproof and ready for transit.

Once the system was commissioned they dispatched an engineer to stay on site to train the team until they could operate and maintain the system without help.

How Did These Systems And Equipment Help Norman Emerson Hit Their Production Targets?

Almost Immediately, Norman Emerson increased their throughput up to 1200, 25 kg bags an hour. As the system was automated, it freed up employees to focus on other production tasks.

Thanks to the improved palletizing and waterproofing system, they could also ensure that clients would receive their orders on time and in much better condition than before.

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What Maintenance Problems Can Occur With Big Bag Filling Systems?

Why A Big Bag Filling System?

A Bulk Bag or FIBC (Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container) filling system will save you time and increase your throughput dramatically. However, even the most well made machine needs maintenance.

If executed correctly and timeously, it’s a small price to pay for enjoying a well-functioning system. Let's discuss what you should focus on to keep your system in tip-top shape.

Preventing Avoidable Problems

You can prevent many problems by following the manufacturer’s recommendations and system’s manual. It will tell you how it should and shouldn’t be used and what it can and can’t fill. Make sure that only trained workers clean, operate and maintain it to prevent further issues from occurring.

Inspecting & Troubleshooting Your Filling System

Before seeking help from your system’s manufacturer, remember that the system’s manual can troubleshoot common issues. Making sure the system is powered off before you begin, you can try turning certain components on and off (or disconnecting and reconnecting them) to see if any connections need adjusting.

If certain system parts will require frequent replacement, keep spares in stock and ensure a staff member is trained to make the switch. This will prevent delays from having to shut down your machine and seek out external assistance. If you suspect a complex or electrical component has a problem, seek our professional advice instead of trying to resolve it yourself. Failure to do so could lead to damage and even serious injury.

Properly Maintaining Your Bulk Bag Filling System

Regular maintenance will keep your Big Bag filling system operating properly 24/7. Remember that maintenance isn’t always to prevent or fix malfunctioning components. Here’s how you can maintain some of its key components.

Ideally a trained operator would complete a weekly visual inspection of the system’s fasteners, linkages and pneumatic housing. Listen to the air connections to make sure that there are no leaks. Use the operator’s manual to cross reference and confirm there is the correct psi and required air volume. This will keep the slide gate, settlers and lift platforms moving consistently.

You can maintain your bagging accuracy by monitoring the product’s condition. For example your particle size could change during production due to atmospheric conditions, affecting its flow characteristics. Be aware of the product density and adjust your scale settings accordingly.

If you’re using vibration during the filling process, inspect the vibrator’s rubber isolator mounting pads for deterioration and check that its bolts stay in place.

Make sure you engage the system’s lockout valve to isolate it during maintenance and prevent an accident then

Drain your water separator to ensure your solenoids and actuators only get dry air. Moisture in the air supply can cause premature aging and swelling, which can impact their movement and slow it down.

Look for blockages or obstructions in or around the weighing platform that keep it from being level.

As the electronic load cells become stretched over time, you may notice your readings becoming less accurate. It’s a good idea to recalibrate it using a known weight and instructions from your system’s manual.

Why Is Regular Maintenance Important?

Regular maintenance will protect your system from unexpected failures. However, partnering with the right supplier will ensure your system requires minimal maintenance in the first place. Contact Webster Griffin for all your Big Bag filling system supply, maintenance and servicing needs.

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Celebrating 21 Years Distributing & Integrating Okura Palletising Robots

We are delighted to acknowledge being a UK distributor of Okura Robot palletisers/de-palletisers for sacks, bags, boxes, cartons, drums and shrink-wrapped packs for over 21 years.

The highly accurate, fully automated systems have a maximum capacity of 4500 programming lines catering to any palletising needs. The highly efficient robots are capable of a maximum payload of up to 140kg with a throughput up to 2000 cycles per hour.

When Is A Mobile Big Bag Filling System Appropriate?

Understanding Your Requirements.

Your business needs a Big Bag or FIBC (Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container) filling system. However you’ve noticed that some suppliers let you choose a stationary system or a mobile one mounted on wheels or a subframe that a forklift can move around. If you aren’t sure which option would be best for your business, here are a few questions you can ask to make the answer more apparent.

Male and Female Industrial Engineers Talk with Factory Worker while Using Laptop. They Work at the Heavy Industry Manufacturing Facility.

Do I Need To Move My Big Bag Filling System?

Not all businesses fill, package and palletise products in one location. You might need to move your products to where they’re packaged and loaded for transportation. This is common when you dispatch goods via ship, store them off-site or when they have to be loaded into a vessel for transport. A stationary machine would add hours to process. With a mobile system you can fill bags at their final destination.

Do I Need A Compact Big Bag Filling System?

Not all businesses have space to spare, and it might not be practical to upgrade to a bigger facility. A filling machine that takes up less square footage can be useful here. It can be stored away when not in use or moved to fill products in different parts of your factory. It can even operate in another location entirely. Some machines also come with low headroom, making it the perfect application for low ceiling spaces.

What Materials Are Mobile Big Bag Filling Systems Best Suited For?

Mobile Big Bag fillers can fill any product that a stationary machine can. While it can fill dry or moist products, it cannot fill liquids. Keep in mind that if your product is aerated and prone to dispersal, you might need a machine that offers dust free filling which would require a dust tight inflatable collar and a dust extraction unit.

How Much Do I Need To Pack With My Big Bag Filling System?

Your mobile filling system’s capacity will depend on the make and model chosen. That being said, they have the capacity to offer surprisingly fast filling speeds and accommodate a wide range of bag sizes. For example, Webster Griffin's IBC-MB (mobile Bulk Bag filling model) can fill bags ranging from 500 kg to 1000 kg at a high speed of 60 bags an hour.

Do Your Filled Bags Need To Be Stored For A While?

Depending on what product you manufacture, your factory location and how far your product travels to reach clients you might need a system that makes storage easier. This will apply to you if you sell products with a long shelf life or palletise them for transportation. This system might need a pallet handling system. This can include automated pallet rolling chain conveyors to move bags between areas and a sheet applicator for protecting stacked sensitive goods.

Asking yourself the above questions will help pinpoint which option you should choose. However if you still have questions that need answering, you can contact Webster Griffin to find out everything you need to know about mobile Big Bag filling systems.

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