Cermex RoboSelex for bottle collating ahead of case packing

Sidel has launched Cermex RoboSelex, a bottle collating and arranging system designed to work with case-packing machines. The solution was developed for lightweight packaging with unusual shapes used by manufacturers of food, household care and personal care products. The system can handle various bottle shapes and batch configurations, reaching an output of up to 320 products per minute. Its design limits product accumulation and is intended to maintain a continuous, stable flow, streamline configuration changes and preserve long-term production flexibility.

"Cermex RoboSelex is based on the proven ProSelex concept and is equipped with a robotic row-forming device, enabling operation without product accumulation as well as fast and repeatable format changeovers thanks to a reduced number of change parts," said Guillaume Bornard, Innovation and Packaging Platform Director at Sidel Packing Solutions.

Responding to changing market requirements

According to the company, the development of unconventional packaging designs and regulations limiting the use of plastics are increasing demand for lighter packaging solutions. This creates challenges in transporting and handling bottles with complex shapes, which must remain stable and undamaged throughout the process.

At the same time, production runs are becoming shorter, the number of formats and stock-keeping units is increasing, and pack counts vary from small to large batches. As a result, manufacturers require fast, repeatable and straightforward format changeovers without reducing output or compromising product integrity.

Cermex RoboSelex, first presented at the interpack trade fair in Düsseldorf in May, was developed to provide a continuous, optimised product flow to case-packing machines.

Robotic row forming

Cermex RoboSelex is based on the Cermex ProSelex concept and uses a row-forming device mounted on a robotic arm. The system is equipped with two Delta robots that ensure a smooth process without product accumulation. This is intended to reduce friction and eliminate the risk of impacts, scratches and jams.

The solution is designed to handle bottles with complex shapes, including tapered, asymmetric and narrow-base designs. It supports batch configurations ranging from 3 × 1 to 8 × 6 units per case, depending on product size. Batches are formed directly at the source, eliminating the need for an intermediate turning table.

The system's smooth and precise operation also makes it possible to eliminate separators for bottles with unstable or complex shapes. For bottles that cannot be accumulated, separators are generally used for transport between machines. This increases process complexity because they must be managed during format changeovers, generate additional production costs and require storage space. According to Sidel, using Cermex RoboSelex reduces this operational complexity and the associated costs.

Format changeovers and system operation

Cermex RoboSelex was designed for fast and repeatable format changeovers. Changing the product arrangement typically takes around one minute, while switching to a different bottle format takes no more than two minutes and thirty seconds.

The simplified mechanical design reduces the number of parts used, so format changeovers do not require extensive operator training. During changeover, only the comb mounted on the robot is replaced. A quick-mounting system is used, requiring no additional mechanical adjustments, while the base system is fully accessible from floor level.

The comb is the only part tailored to a specific format. According to the manufacturer, this reduces the cost of introducing new formats and shortens the time to market for new products by reducing the time required to design and manufacture tooling. Adjustment of the front guides has also been simplified in both manual and motor-driven versions.