In response to these challenges, Kinrise Snackfoods partnered with Konica Minolta Australia to deploy four autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) from Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) as part of an automated intralogistics solution. These robots are engineered to autonomously transport full pallets throughout the manufacturing facility, significantly reducing manual handling and enhancing safety. The system integrates with existing palletising robot cells and hood wrappers, creating a seamless flow of pallets from production to packaging. Kinrise Snackfoods also deployed MiRCharge, an autonomous charging station, and MiR Fleet, a fleet management software that manages job distribution, traffic management, and auto charging amongst the AMRs as part of its solution. This holistic approach delivers more efficient job distribution and traffic management within Kinrise Snackfoods’ facilities.
The implementation also featured Konica Minolta’s proprietary sConnect analytics software, giving Kinrise Snackfoods access to essential insights such as use rates, charging performance, and location heatmaps. This data is instrumental in driving further efficiencies and operational oversight, as access to real-time data lets the team make informed decisions that significantly enhance its operational efficiency.
Kathy Gavrilidis, head of operations, Kinrise Snackfoods, said “The implementation of MiR robots at Kinrise Snackfoods’ facility has given us greater productivity, greater operational efficiency, and improved our safety overall on our site. It has really been a valuable investment for Kinrise Snackfoods.”
Prior to implementation, Konica Minolta Australia conducted a thorough pre-simulation to ensure the solution was tailored to the specific needs of the Kinrise Snackfoods manufacturing environment. This simulation was critical in validating the functionality and integration of the AMRs with the existing systems, such as the palletising robot cells and hood wrappers. By simulating the real-world operations within the facility, potential issues were identified and addressed proactively, ensuring a smooth transition and minimising downtime.
Dev Mali, national capital program manager, Kinrise, said “The Konica Minolta Australia team was very professional, and provided a pre-simulation to ensure the solution was fit for purpose. Additionally, the support provided post implementation is second to none.”
