Custom machine · Agriculture
Seedling tray handling system
An automated tray and rack handling system Mexx built for Withcott Seedlings. It moves trays through washing, storage, seeding and palletising, with ABB robots doing the palletising and de-palletising.
Project snapshot
The job at a glance
Client
Withcott Seedlings
Industry
Agriculture, seedling nursery
Product
Seedling trays and racks
Mexx scope
Tray and rack handling, robotics and controls
The challenge
Trays and racks moving at high rates, safely
Trays and racks had to move reliably between washing, storage, seeding and palletising, across several tray variants, without bottlenecks or awkward manual handling. The design targeted at least 1,500 trays an hour, with an aim of 3,000.
Racks arrived stacked up to 12 high for forklift handling, but trays needed to be unloaded at a safe working height. After washing, the racks had to be re-stacked 6 high.
What we built
One system, from wash line to pallet
Trays, pallets and racks move between washing, storage, seeding and finished handling in a controlled sequence, run from one Omron PLC and HMI platform.
01
Storage infeed
Washed trays are stacked and palletised into storage.
02
Robotic de-palletising
ABB robots de-palletise trays to supply the seeders.
03
Seeder infeed
Trays are de-stacked for a controlled feed into the seeders.
04
Manual loading
A loading point at a safe working height for manual trays.
05
Seeder outfeed
Seeded trays are stacked and palletised.
06
Rack de-stacking
Servo lifts separate racks from forklift-loaded stacks.
07
Tray unloading
Racks are presented at a safe height for unloading and washing.
08
Rack re-stacking
Racks are re-stacked after washing for the next stage.
The result
Racks at a safe working height, not 12 high
The system automates tray stacking, palletising and rack handling, and keeps the seeders fed. It was designed to be modular, so it can be extended as production grows.
See it running
The tray system in operation
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Next step
Planning an automated handling system?
Tell us what you need to move, stack or palletise, and how many. An engineer will get back to you within one business day.