Pick And Place Robots

Pick and place robots are advanced robotic systems designed to enhance efficiency in logistics, manufacturing, and packaging operations.

These robots use precise positioning accuracy and high-speed automation to handle a variety of tasks, from sorting and packaging applications to assembly lines and distribution centres.

Equipped with mechanical grippers or suction cups, they seamlessly integrate with conveyors to move individual items, heavy objects, and delicate components with minimal placement error. By automating tedious tasks, pick and place robots improve productivity, reduce labour costs, and optimise the overall manufacturing process.

What Are Pick and Place Robots?

Pick and place robots are robotic arms designed to pick up items and move them to a different location with speed and precision. These robots, a key component of robotics automation, are widely used in manufacturing, packaging, and logistics to automate repetitive tasks, increasing production efficiency and accuracy.

At LAC Logistics Automation, our pick and place robots are engineered to enhance throughput, reduce manual handling, and optimise operations through cutting-edge robotics technology. By integrating advanced robotics automation, businesses can achieve significant improvements in productivity, while allowing the human workforce to focus on more complex tasks.

How Pick and Place Robots Work

Pick and place robots mimic human hand-eye coordination to handle items with accuracy and efficiency. These robots can be floor-mounted, ceiling-mounted, or integrated into conveyor systems to suit various applications. Using an end-of-arm tool (EOAT)—such as mechanical grippers or suction cups—these robots detect, pick up, and precisely place items. Equipped with advanced software, vision systems, and sensors, they assess distances, identify objects, and ensure precise placement with minimal placement error.

Robots are becoming increasingly used in the workplace with businesses installing more robots each month of every year. It’s important to note that there are different uses for robots with different functions they are capable of carrying out. In this article, we’re going to look at pick and place robots. To give you an idea of the size of the industry, Statista reported that over the past decade, the global sales volume of industrial robots tripled, reaching about 400,000 units in 2018. Within the automotive sector, there are over 2,000 robot installations per 10,000 employees.

Types of Pick and Place Robots

There are several types of robots used for pick-and-place tasks, each suited to different robotic applications:

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) render

Articulated robots

These 6-axis robots offer a high degree of freedom, making them suitable for complex assembly applications and automotive assembly.

Delta robots

Featuring a triangular base and lightweight arms, these are ideal for high-speed pick and place robots in packaging applications and the pharmaceutical industry.

Collaborative robots

Designed to work alongside the human workforce, they enhance safety in environments requiring delicate handling.

SCARA robots

Compact and precise, these 3-axis or 5-axis robotic arm robots excel in assembly lines and electronic component handling.

Dual-arm robots

With two arms, these robots improve positioning accuracy in complex robotic systems.

Benefits of Pick and Place Robots

Pick and place robots

Increased production rates

Robots operate faster than human workers, increasing items per hour and products per minute.

Higher accuracy and reduced errors

Automated control systems improve positioning accuracy and reduce placement error.

Improved workplace safety

Robots handle hazardous tasks, minimising injury risks for the human workforce.

Enhanced efficiency

Integration with AI and machine vision allows robots to adapt to different robotic applications.

Scalability and flexibility

Robots can be reprogrammed to handle a wide range of pick-and-place tasks.

Reduced labour costs

Automation reduces the dependency on manual labour in tedious tasks.

How to Choose the Right Pick and Place Robot

Selecting the best industrial robot for your operations depends on several factors:

Speed Requirements – Consider how many items per hour need to be handled.

Precision Needs – If working with electronic components or delicate items, high positioning accuracy is crucial.

Payload Capacity – For handling heavy objects or large packaging containers, a 6-axis robotic arm may be ideal.

Workspace Limitations – Compact design is essential for limited spaces, while rotational movement helps with reach.

Integration Needs – Robots must work seamlessly with Warehouse Management Systems, conveyor belts, and control systems.

Industry Requirements – Pharmaceutical, beverage, and automotive industries may require specialised robots for specific logistics operations.

Applications of Pick and Place Robots

Pick and place robots are used across numerous industries for a wide variety of tasks, including:

Palletising and depalletising – Arranging and stacking items in distribution centres.

Order picking and replenishment – Automating warehouse management systems.

Assembly tasks – Handling electronic components in assembly applications.

Packaging and sorting – Placing individual items into shipping containers.

Food processing – Handling delicate items such as chocolates and baked goods.

Quality control – Detecting defective products in the production process.

Pick and Pack Robotics

Pick and pack robotics streamline warehouse management, logistics operations, and fulfilment processes by automating the selection and packaging of products. These robotic systems enhance operational efficiency by accurately picking individual items, assembling orders, and placing them into packaging containers or shipping containers with minimal placement error. Using advanced software, robotic arms with mechanical grippers or suction cups ensure precise placement, reducing damage to delicate items and improving packaging productivity.

These systems integrate seamlessly with conveyor belts and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) to optimise workflow, increase items per hour, and reduce labour costs. Pick and pack robots are widely used across numerous industries, including the pharmaceutical industry, beverage industry, and automotive assembly, handling a wide variety of tasks with speed and accuracy. Their ability to perform repetitive and hazardous tasks makes them a crucial asset in high-volume applications, improving accuracy and throughput across production lines.

Why Choose LAC for Pick and Place Automation?

At LAC Conveyors & Automation, we design and integrate custom robotic systems tailored to your manufacturing process. Our expertise in material handling, logistics operations, and packaging productivity ensures that your business benefits from cutting-edge automation technology.

Looking to streamline your operations with pick robots? Get in touch with our experts today.