Cobot, palletising & automation guides
How cobot palletisers, AMRs and automation software actually work — written by Reeco's own engineering and service team, for the questions that come up before a trial.
What Is Robot Palletising and How Does It Work?
Robot palletising is the automated process of stacking products onto pallets using a robotic system, guided by conveyors, a gripper and a programmed stacking pattern.
Palletising BasicsWhat Types of Products Can Be Palletised With a Cobot?
Reeco's cobot palletisers handle boxes, trays, bags and containers across food, beverage, consumer goods and industrial materials, fitted with a gripper matched to the product.
Palletising BasicsCobot Palletising vs Manual Palletising: What Are the Benefits?
Cobot palletising improves consistency, reduces manual handling and injury risk, and frees operators for higher-value tasks compared with manual palletising.
Palletising BasicsCan a Cobot Palletiser Handle Multiple SKUs Without Retooling?
Yes — a cobot palletiser can handle multiple SKUs without retooling, provided products are within the system's handling range, by switching between preprogrammed software recipes.
Palletising BasicsWhat Is EasyStack Software and How Does It Simplify Palletising?
EasyStack is Reeco's palletising software that lets operators create and adjust pallet patterns quickly without complex programming or specialist robotics knowledge.
Palletising BasicsHow Do Conveyors Integrate With Robot Palletising Systems?
Reeco conveyors feed products to the robot pick point in a controlled way, and can be configured for irregular product shapes, variable speeds, label printers and sensors.
Palletising BasicsWhich Reeco Cobot Palletiser Model Is Right for Your Line?
Reeco's palletiser range runs from the entry-level RB Lite to the heavy-duty RB2000, with payload, reach and footprint the main factors in choosing between them.
Cobots & SafetyWhat Safety Features Do Cobots Have?
Force and collision detection, speed and separation monitoring, and how e-stop protection actually works.
Cobots & SafetyWhich Industries Benefit Most From Cobot Automation?
Cobot automation suits industries with flexible, repeatable handling tasks — food and beverage, manufacturing, logistics and consumer goods — especially with variable runs or limited floor space.
Cobots & SafetyWhat Is ISO 10218 and How Does It Apply to Cobot Installations?
ISO 10218-1 and ISO 10218-2 (2025) are the core international safety standards for industrial and collaborative robots, covering robot design and workcell integration.
Cobots & SafetyDo Cobots Need Safety Fencing or Guarding?
Cobots are designed to work without full safety fencing thanks to built-in monitoring and force-limiting, but a site-specific safety audit still determines what's needed.
Cobots & SafetyWhat Cobot Arm Does Reeco Use in Its Palletisers?
Reeco's cobot palletisers, including the RB1200 and RB25s, are built around OMRON's TM Series collaborative robot arms as part of Reeco's OMRON solution partnership.
Cobots & SafetyHow Do Reeco's Cobots Compare to Its FANUC Industrial Robot Arms?
Reeco pairs OMRON cobot arms for flexible, lower-footprint cells with full-size FANUC industrial arms for heavier-duty, higher-throughput palletising systems like the RB2000.
AMRs & WarehouseHow Do You Monitor AMR Fleet Performance With FLOW?
Reeco's FLOW (Fleet Operations Workspace) gives operators real-time visibility of AMR fleet movements, utilisation, delays and throughput to identify inefficiencies.
AMRs & WarehouseWhat Are the Different Types of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)?
Reeco's OMRON AMR range spans Light-Duty (LD), Mid-Duty (MD) and Heavy-Duty (HD) series, covering payloads from around 60kg up to 1500kg.
AMRs & WarehouseHow Do AMRs Navigate a Warehouse Without Wires or Tape?
OMRON AMRs used by Reeco navigate freely using scanners and sensors to map their surroundings and plan routes, unlike traditional AGVs that follow fixed wires, tape or reflectors.
AMRs & WarehouseAMR vs AGV: What's the Difference?
AMRs navigate freely using onboard sensors and mapping, while traditional AGVs follow a fixed path such as embedded wires, magnetic tape or reflectors.
AMRs & WarehouseWhat Safety Standards Do AMRs Need to Meet?
AMRs and other driverless industrial trucks are covered by ISO 3691-4:2023, which sets requirements for obstacle detection, E-stop placement and safe operation.
AMRs & WarehouseHow Do AMRs Transport Pallets From Palletiser to Dispatch?
Reeco's centrally-managed OMRON AMRs collect completed pallets directly from the palletiser and transport them autonomously through to dispatch.
Software & MonitoringHow Can Palletiser Performance Be Tracked and Improved?
How Robominder combines production data and video to show output, downtime and recurring faults.
Software & MonitoringCan Cobot and AMR Systems Be Monitored Remotely?
Yes — Reeco systems use CCTV and secure remote access so engineers can diagnose faults and review performance off-site, speeding up fault diagnosis and reducing callouts.
Software & MonitoringCan I Replay Footage of a Palletiser Fault or Stoppage?
Yes — Robominder links every logged event to video playback, so you can watch exactly what happened at the moment a palletiser fault or stoppage occurred.
Software & MonitoringWhat's the Difference Between Robominder and FLOW?
Robominder is Reeco's cell-level dashboard for palletiser output, downtime and video, while FLOW is the fleet-level operations workspace for AMR visibility.
Software & MonitoringWhy Does Reeco Use CCTV as Part of Its Automation Systems?
Reeco installs CCTV alongside secure remote access hardware so engineers can combine video footage with HMI data to diagnose faults quickly, without needing to be on site.
Software & MonitoringEasyStack, Robominder and FLOW: A Guide to Reeco's Automation Software
EasyStack programs pallet patterns, Robominder monitors palletiser output and downtime, and FLOW tracks AMR fleet performance — together covering an automated end-of-line.
Service & MaintenanceWhat Does Cobot and AMR Service Support Include?
Cobot and AMR service support covers preventative servicing, remote diagnostics and on-site breakdown response, with each visit including testing, inspection and cleaning.
Service & MaintenanceWhat Service Packages Are Available for Cobot Palletisers and AMRs?
Reeco offers structured service plans for palletisers and AMRs, including routine maintenance, remote support, priority breakdown response and corrective visits.
Service & MaintenanceIs Operator Training Included in Automation Support?
Yes — Reeco provides on-site training for operators and maintenance teams so systems are run efficiently, basic faults are handled internally, and equipment stays maintained between visits.
Service & MaintenanceWho Needs Cobot and AMR Service Support?
Cobot and AMR service support is essential for UK manufacturers running palletising systems, AMR fleets or integrated automation who need to protect uptime and resolve faults quickly.
Service & MaintenanceWhat's the Difference Between Preventative Maintenance and Breakdown Support?
Preventative maintenance is scheduled work to reduce wear and avoid faults before they happen, while breakdown support responds after a fault has already stopped the line.
Service & MaintenanceHow Quickly Can Reeco Respond to an Automation Breakdown?
Response speed depends on your service tier — Reeco's priority breakdown response packages are built to resolve faults faster than standard remote or scheduled support.
Buying & ROIHow Long Does It Take to Install a Cobot Palletiser?
Typical install timelines, what affects them, and whether your line needs to stop for it.
Buying & ROIWhat Is the Typical ROI Timeline for Automation Projects?
Automation projects typically deliver ROI within 12 to 24 months, depending on labour savings, shift patterns, output levels and the extent of manual handling being replaced.
Buying & ROICan I Lease Automation Equipment Instead of Buying?
Yes — Reeco offers leasing options as an alternative to buying automation equipment outright, spreading the cost over time without a large upfront investment.
Buying & ROIWhat Does a Service Contract Cover?
A Reeco service contract typically covers scheduled servicing, fault response, software updates and technical support, with coverage depending on the agreement level.
Buying & ROIWhat Happens During a Free Trial or Proof-of-Concept?
Reeco's free trials physically run your own product through a palletising cell, while AMR proof-of-concept trials demonstrate how the fleet would be programmed and managed.
Buying & ROIWhat Does the Automation Design and Customisation Process Involve?
Reeco's design and customisation process adapts a palletising or AMR system to your specific product, layout and throughput before installation begins.