Why Cober Invests in Mobile Robotics
Cober, a leader in the print industry, thrives on a culture of continuous innovation. Efficiency, technology, and automation are the core principles driving the company’s success. Built on a foundation of innovation and print, Cober consistently embraces change, leveraging advanced technologies to maintain its edge. The company is dedicated to enhancing its integration and analytics capabilities to become the industry leader in print manufacturing efficiency and automation, exceeding customer expectations.
Finding qualified, motivated, and available personnel is nearly impossible and threatens our long-term goals
However, like other print service providers, Cober faces challenges in achieving productivity, continuity, and profitability.
“One of the biggest challenges we face is labor,” says Erwin Driever, Vice President of Technology at Cober. “Finding qualified, motivated, and available personnel is nearly impossible and threatens our long-term goals. We prefer our team members to work in areas where they have expertise and can be most productive. We don’t want highly trained HP Indigo press operators to spend time retrieving substrates or transporting printed media to the finishing department. The labor situation is unlikely to change soon, so we must explore new processes and technologies to support our future growth and increase productivity. This allows our team to focus on their primary roles within our printing, finishing, and shipping departments.”
As a customer-focused business driven by technology, Cober decided to implement autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) specifically designed for the print industry. They believe these robots can handle all pre-print and post-print material tasks, moving products from department to department autonomously. After a thorough review, Cober selected MoviĜo Robotics for AMR automation, an HP partner. MoviĜo’s Ŝharko5HP AMR and INDI management software provide intelligent support for all B2 pallet, cart, and trolley transportation.
Driever explains: “The press operator places a finished pallet at a pickup location. MoviĜo’s vision system recognizes the pallet or cart and automatically creates a movement task for a robot. The same vision system also checks which drop-off location is available to avoid congestion. Finishing system operators can use a similar process to move jobs to the shipping area. The system can also communicate directly with print and finishing systems to create data-driven tasks. The AMRs’ tools and processes help keep our team members where their expertise and experience are needed—operating critical manufacturing systems.”
At Cober, the Ŝharko5 AMR transports B2-size pallets, carts, and trolleys in and out of, or close to, printing and finishing systems. For larger materials, MoviĜo Robotics offers the Ŝharko10 AMR, capable of transporting B1 pallets and pallets with rolls for larger and different printing and finishing equipment.
By investing in mobile robotics, Cober ensures that their team members can focus on their specialized skills, while robots handle the logistical tasks, enhancing productivity and supporting the company’s commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction.