Mondo & Scaglione<\/a><\/strong> has been designing, developing, manufacturing and testing market-ready solutions in-house, distinguishing itself through a strong focus on robotics. In this context, the Canelli-based company identifies its main competitive advantage for end-of-line operations and a concrete response to today\u2019s dominant requirements: flexibility, an increase in cycle counts compared to traditional systems, higher productivity and reduced footprint. Fabrizio Panza, partner at Mondo & Scaglione, outlines the company\u2019s vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhich end-of-line technologies (robotics, vision systems, advanced automation, sustainable packaging solutions, digitalisation) are currently generating a real industrial advantage for the user, and what benefits do they offer?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\u00abRobotics is certainly making significant inroads into \u2018end-of-line\u2019 machines and packaging machinery in general. As far as we are concerned, we have been \u2018pushing\u2019 our customers towards this solution for several years now. When we started, around twenty years ago, it was very difficult to get the message across that this solution was the most suitable for the customer, whereas today robotics is no longer seen as a complex system but as a problem-solving system. Using robots today means gaining advantages in terms of flexibility, an increase in the number of cycles compared to traditional systems, and therefore greater productivity and a reduction in floor space. At this point, it is clear that for certain product \u201chandling\u201d functions, such as pick & place and palletising operations, robots are the most suitable solution<\/em>\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow are bottlers\u2019 requirements evolving (micro-batches, high variability, customised packaging, hybrid lines) and which end-of-line technological choices are now crucial to ensuring production continuity and a return on investment?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\u00abThe increasingly competitive and fast-paced market, with ever-shorter time-to-market, requires our customers to organise themselves in a highly flexible manner in order to supply large quantities of goods in very short timeframes. Trends, which are far more changeable than in the past, also mean that customers need to equip themselves with highly flexible machines to switch from one product type or format to the next within tight timeframes. Robots, with their much faster cycle times compared to traditional machines, meet the need to operate at high speeds. Furthermore, as they can perform format changes fully automatically, they provide users with the flexibility needed to switch from one product batch or format to the next in a short time and without the need for an operator. Obviously, the above not only offers technical advantages to the end customer but also economic benefits, allowing for a reduction in the staff required to operate the line and increasing production volumes in a shorter time than the standard<\/em>\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow significant is the integration of the end-of-line equipment with the rest of the line and with systems (monitoring, OEE, predictive maintenance, Industry 4.0 connectivity) in creating industrial value? What features should a user look for to avoid ending up with a system that quickly becomes obsolete?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\u00abToday, it is essential that all the machines comprising a packaging line communicate with one another; the line is now regarded as a single machine that takes in a \u2018raw\u2019 product input and produces a finished, stocked output. Industry 4.0 has helped to accelerate a modernisation process that was already underway, assisting the customer in two key ways: firstly, by enabling them to collect data on all stages of the production line\u2019s operation, thereby helping them make rapid decisions on what actions to take to improve its efficiency; and secondly, by allowing them to receive remote assistance should any machine encounter problems during production. The advice we would give to any customer is certainly to purchase machines that incorporate all the connectivity tools currently available on the market<\/em>\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat is your strategic vision for the end-of-line sector in the coming years, and what distinctive feature characterises your technological and design approach?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\u00abFor us, robotics is not a new discovery but simply the natural evolution of a sector we envisaged almost twenty years ago. The speed and ease of format and product changes, the reduction in machine footprint, and the ever-increasing integration between machines \u2013 enabling high-performance, flexible lines in compact spaces \u2013 are what we have been working on and continue to focus on for the future. Our DNA has always driven us to create solutions based on market demand, often tailored to the specific needs of individual customers. We have been doing this for 55 years, and we intend to continue with this philosophy for the next 55 years<\/em>\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n