Proco Machinery has integrated state-of-the-art cobot technology into a new take-out system for shuttle-type blow moulding machines, said to be faster than any other system on the market.
The Proco Robopik Take-Out System’s vacuum blower is mounted on top of the system. It utilizes the module’s hollow frame to keep the required flexible piping at a minimum while optimizing floor space efficiency.
A cobot is positioned below the moulds, mounted on a mobile-wheeled cart and docked to the main frame by location pins and an electromagnetic connection. It removes the containers and transfers them to the tail detabber in a ‘fluid, efficient, and rapid’ motion.
While tail detabbing is a standard feature, a deflashing upgrade can also be added at ‘minimal’ cost – and Proco Machinery has combined both operations into a single module for a more compact system.
Collecting both the tail flash and top flash, the integral scrap conveyor is designed to be wider and longer than current versions for easy and efficient scrap removal. The take-off vacuum conveyor is a standard flex-type conveyor that fits directly into the detabber or deflasher module to minimize cost and complexity.
The system conveys finished containers to the back or front of the moulding machine for subsequent flame treatment, dome trimming, leak testing, and other downstream operations.
The Robopik Take-Out System is designed to be configured in both left-hand and right-hand versions, and it can be changed over in the field to work in either direction.
Operators can remove the cobot by flicking a switch and wheeling it to one side. This gives them easier access to the moulds and head tooling, streamlining changeovers and maintenance while keeping downtime at a minimum.
This also means that the cobot can quickly be exchanged if it breaks, resulting in a ‘virtually new’ machine.
Proco Machinery claims that the Robopik Take-Out System rarely fails and requires ‘minimal’ maintenance and service. It is set to provide ‘many years of trouble-free operation’ and minimize changeovers by providing job storage within the system memory.
“Proco developed and patented the current Robopik Take-out System in 1995 and has sold more than 500 systems throughout North America,” said John McCormick, president of Proco. “This new product utilizes a cobot as the centrepiece of the system and offers many improvements over the current design.”
In other news, Sidel recently implemented cobots into an automated reel loading solution for beverage packaging labels. The cobots are expected to triple the reel capacity of other solutions on the market and bolster production efficiency.
Since then, E2Pack has unveiled its new EASYROCK automatic pallet unwrapping system. Engineered for demanding production environments, the system aims toimprove safety, increase consistency and support smoother integration into existing lines.
SOMIC also held a press event at interpack 2026 to showcase its product lineup, including CoboLoad cobot for automated and autonomous carton blank loading.
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