Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1498036
PalletCentral • March-April 2023 47 grocery industry. ey are expanding applications in the wood industry, like pallets, currently working with pallet companies on sortation and inspection. e pallet sorter is a turn-key AI system using their Neocortex software to handle variability. It is designed for all types and brands of pallets, slip sheets and debris, and can process up to 400 pallets per hour with stacks to 20 high. It is designed to capture data analytics for additional analysis and inventory control. e use of 3D sensor data and AI result in accurate quality checks. "Based on industry standards, expectations are programmed into our software, and used to evaluate pallet quality. Grading becomes automated. e process costs less than the salary of a manual inspector. Applications include damage, ink markings, twisted blocks, and protruding nail heads," says Michael Warner, Account Executive, Universal Logic. e solution works to empower robots to handle extreme variability with speed, agility, and accuracy. eir system is AI/sensor-driven software technology that works with a variety of equipment. "Universal has set reference standards for the equipment, which gives customers a great deal of fl exibly to meet their needs. When combined with the subscription for Neocortex software, the integration is straight forward," he says. e Neocortex software can integrate with ERP software, adding value to reporting methods. Why Automate? e experts agree that there are many good reasons to adopt automation. Sustainability. A pallet company should evaluate their use of innovation as a matter of business sustainability to adapt to a diminishing workforce, and higher product demands. Increased Data. On demand and automatic production reports can be generated to measure through-put, start time, downtime, and idle time. Production Investment. Equipment investments off er ROI in two to four years, according to Doug Wenninger, Alliance Automation.