RTS' Magnetic Robot System helps Warburtons.

Ten years ago, Warburtons took the decision to move from a North-West bakery to a National one but this expansion raised a problem where production was concerned. Warburtons needed to up bakery production dramatically and searched for an automated solution to help. Eventually. RTS' gantry robot system was investigated and adapted for this purpose.

Instead of the unreliable robot 'fingers' used elsewhere, the Warburtons/RTS solution uses magnets to pick up and set down the bread tins. It copes with strap sizes far exceeding the lifting abilities of a human. As well as being able to cope with five different tin shapes, the system also has the advantage of being able to manage slight variations in tin shape and size. This ability is vital as tins do tend to become deformed over time, owing to the heat and cooling they undergo. The gentler handling of the tins has had another, surprising result--the tins now last roughly twice as long as they did previously.

Warburtons now has eleven bakeries across the UK and produces over two million bread products a day. This year will see the opening of a new 60 million [pounds sterling] bakery near Wakefield. Once again, the RTS magnetic gantry robot solution will be used, bringing the number of tin and lid storage systems in use by Warburtons to 25.

Visit RTS at www.rts-group.com