On paper, palletizing appears to be like like a fundamental process: stack packing containers, repeat. In actuality, it’s one of the vital injury-prone jobs in manufacturing—and one of many best to automate.
In case you’re in search of a low-risk, high-reward place to start out with automation, look no additional than the tip of your line. Right here’s why handbook palletizing is inflicting extra injury than you assume—and the way automation turns it right into a strategic benefit.
One employee, one hour, infinite threat
Meet Julia. She works in packaging and spends a part of her shift lifting packing containers onto pallets. Some weigh 12 lbs, others extra. On day, she handles over 700 lifts in a single hour. No twisting, simply repetitive movement—again and again.
Now zoom out.
Multiply Julia’s routine throughout a number of employees, throughout a number of shifts. Then add:
Fatigue
Missed rotations
No time for breaks
Various field weights and pallet heights
This is not only a robust job; it is a setup for accidents. And never the sort that heal in a single day. We’re speaking muscle strains, nerve injury, power again ache, and long-term incapacity. It’s no marvel handbook palletizing ranks excessive on the damage charts.
The maths behind the mayhem
Let’s break it down:
33% of overexertion accidents come from lifting/decreasing duties.
Accidents to the again and shoulders account for 79% of those instances.
One single pressure damage can value a enterprise $67,000+.
The oblique value (productiveness loss, turnover, morale) can push that over $2 million in misplaced gross sales.
Guide palletizing doesn’t simply pressure your workforce. It quietly eats away at your revenue margins and manufacturing reliability.
The repair? Take away the danger solely
In contrast to different complicated automation initiatives, palletizing is a no brainer. It’s repetitive. It’s constant. It’s begging for a cobot.
Right here’s what occurs while you automate:
✅ You remove the ergonomic threat altogether
✅ Your employees transfer into safer, higher-value duties
✅ You get predictable efficiency and fewer downtime
✅ You future-proof one in all your most weak processes
And with Robotiq Palletizing Options, setup takes just some days. No customized engineering. No additional coding. Only a safer, extra productive line.
Why this issues now
Labor shortages. Insurance coverage hikes. Tight margins. In case you’re feeling the stress, you’re not alone, and handbook palletizing isn’t serving to. Each damage is a setback. Each delay, a price.
However with automation, each pallet turns into a chance to do higher.
Take the subsequent step
💻 Do not miss our Ergonomics webinar with licensed security knowledgeable Carla Silver – register right this moment!
📘 Want extra particulars and statistics? Obtain our Ergonomics e-book, additionally by Carla Silver.
