The Swiss company Robotronic and Mitsubishi Electric's Factory Automation EMEA division have introduced a new automated palletizing cell for handling vials and pre-filled syringes. This compact system is designed to help the pharmaceutical industry cope with drug shortages in Europe.

Shortages of medicines, including children's cough syrups, antibiotics and cancer drugs, have become a serious problem for patients and the healthcare system. The European Medicines Agency attributes the situation to manufacturing and quality issues that require strengthening the supply chain.

Mike Weber, founder of Robotronic, noted that faster manufacturing processes are needed to reduce delivery times and meet growing demand. The company specializes in creating robotic solutions for the pharmaceutical industry. The new system provides high performance with minimal size.

Photo: Mitsubishi Electric / Robotronic

The key element of the solution was the FR series robots from Mitsubishi Electric. These compact devices are equipped with SoftTouch technology, which allows you to handle fragile products without damage. The robots work in confined spaces at high speed, processing up to 600 units per minute.

Stefan Knauf, manager of Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation, emphasized that the built-in control system ensures the safety and accuracy of the robots. This minimizes the risk of damage to glass products and meets the stringent requirements of the pharmaceutical industry.

The companies are confident that their joint developments will help reduce delivery times and strengthen the drug supply chain.