achievements
This flexible, automated packaging line is designed forthe orientation, high-precision non-stop labeling, and laser marking of premium-quality vials. Seamlessly integrating into an existing production line, it is built around an intelligent magnetic conveyor system featuring independent shuttles and robotic arms. This solution meets the standards of excellence, traceability, and “zero defects” specific to the luxury fragrance and cosmetics industries .
Fully automated bottle orientation, laser marking (batch number), and application of facing labels.
A dramatic increase in productivity (from 12 units per minute to 40 units per minute).
Guarantees extremely precise label placement (+/- 0.8 mm), accounting for the variations and tolerances inherent in glass manufacturing.
Absolute precision in decoration: Solves the major challenge of perfectly centering labels in relation to the logo engraved in the glass or the bottle’s neck.
Format flexibility: Eliminates long downtime during job changes by using pucks with automatic adjustment.
Quality Control (Zero Defects): Camera inspection at every critical stage to prevent any cosmetic defects in the finish.
Expert traceability: Synchronized integration of dynamic laser marking directly onto the bottom or back of the bottle.
Loading: A multi-jointed robot picks up the empty bottles arriving from the upstream line and places them into the pucks smart magnetic conveyor.
Vision-guided alignment: A high-definition camera system reads the markings on the glass (such as labels, screen printing, etc.). A motorized module then aligns each bottle to within a degree of accuracy before securing it in place.
Label pickup and positioning: The labeling robot picks up the label. A camera scans the label on the gripper to calculate its exact position (X, Y, angle), allowing the robot to dynamically adjust its path.
Application and Smoothing: The robot applies the label, and then a specialized module (using pressure or a fixed roller) smooths the surface to ensure a flawless finish, free of bubbles.
Laser Marking and Inspection: The bottle passes under a laser head to engrave the lot number. A final vision station verifies that the label and marking meet specifications.
Unloading: A robot picks up the bottles that have been certified as compliant and places them back onto the outgoing conveyor belt, which carries them to the filling machine or the case packer.
Throughput: 40 products per minute (optimized based on the laser marking exposure time).
Footprint (dimensions): 5,185 mm (length) x 2,500 mm (width)
Types of products processed (shapes): Glass bottles, cylindrical or specialty shapes, with or without a neck (sizes ranging from 40 to 250 mL).
Accepted materials: Glass, plastic.
Format changeover time: Quick change of the size of the pucks , assisted by recipes on the HMI.
Compliance / Standards: CE standards, state-of-the-art B&R magnetic conveyance, PackML compatibility, and advanced cybersecurity via an isolated network (IXON).
Luxury perfumery, high-end cosmetics.
That is where the ingenuity of our production line lies. We use several high-definition cameras. The first one positions the bottle by reading the microscopic engravings on the glass (the “decorative notch”). A second camera scans the label once it is picked up by the robot, calculates its exact angle, and instructs the robot to correct its trajectory to within a tenth of a millimeter just before placement.
No, ergonomics is our top priority. The system is operated via an extremely intuitive touchscreen Human-Machine Interface (HMI) (fixed and mobile tablet). RFID badge authentication automatically loads the session tailored to the user (operator access, setter access, maintenance access, etc.).
Contact UNISTA for a customized assessment.
