Gemini Industries, Inc. has added a new fully automated packaging line to its main production facility in El Reno, Oklahoma.
The newly expanded line focuses on fill operations and end-of-line operations, where coatings are packaged into containers and prepared for shipment. While the plant has long utilized FANUC Robots, a global leader in industrial robotics, the latest additions expand Gemini’s automation capabilities even further, to include box erecting and customized robotic pallet packaging solutions.
Highlights of the new system include:
- Upgraded packaging: A Combi Case Erector 2-EZ HS now forms and bottom-seals box cases, significantly increasing line efficiency and throughput.
- Improved palletizing: An additional FANUC robot was added specifically for Gemini’s application of specialized case packing and palletizing that handles coatings packaging with precision.
- Enhanced product coding: An upgraded inkjet case coding system now prints product and lot numbers directly onto boxes, improving traceability and eliminating the need for sticker labels.
- Advanced quality assurance: A custom Cognex vision sensor array verifies both the presence of bail handles and the accuracy of labeling, ensuring every product is packaged correctly before leaving the line.
“Expanding our automation is not just about speed,” said Jason Melton, chief operations officer of Gemini Industries, Inc. “It’s about safety, consistency and scalability. Every improvement allows us to deliver a higher-quality, more reliable product to our customers while also supporting our employee-owners’ well-being and creating more efficient workflows.”