# Pharmaceutical Packaging Automation and End-of-Line Solutions. Robotic palletizing, case packing and conveyor systems for finished, packaged pharmaceutical products, matched to each line's rate and space. Source: https://trfautomation.com/industries/pharmaceutical/ Pharmaceutical packaging automation from TRF Industrial Automation means robotic palletizing, case packing and conveyor systems at the end of the line, after primary packaging. TRF is a U.S.-based company and part of the Torfresma Group, and it supports pharmaceutical manufacturers across the United States. Pharmaceutical automation covers many steps, and TRF is involved in only one: the end of the line, once the product is in its final package. Pharmaceutical palletizing is usually a lower-speed, high-mix job, with frequent product changes and little room after packaging. TRF does not enter the process or the primary packaging. It takes the finished carton or case, moves it and builds the pallet. ## Key Facts About Pharmaceutical Packaging Automation | Topic | What TRF offers pharmaceutical manufacturers | |---|---| | Scope | Robotic palletizing, case packing and conveyor systems at the end of the line, after primary packaging | | Typical packages | Cartons and cases | | Platforms | TRFCobot, TRFCompact, TRFSpeed, TRFSubzero, TRFRapidpack, TRFOnepack, TRFDroppack, TRFIntraflow and TRFCleanflow, plus [custom palletizers](https://trfautomation.com/robotic-palletizing/custom-palletizer/) | | Delivery model | One partner accountable for the agreed scope of engineering, manufacturing, controls, installation and commissioning | | Coverage | Pharmaceutical manufacturers across the United States | ## What Does Pharmaceutical Packaging Automation Include at the End of the Line? TRF automates three jobs after primary packaging, and each one is sized to the line it serves instead of being sold as a fixed package. **Robotic palletizing.** A robot builds the pallet from cartons and cases in the pattern the customer expects. TRF offers collaborative, compact and high-speed palletizing, and lower-speed lines with many products often start with a collaborative cell. See the [robotic palletizing](https://trfautomation.com/robotic-palletizing/) page for the full range of platforms. **Case packing.** Finished cartons go into shipping cases by robot or by an integrated machine that forms, packs and seals the case. The Sales Engineer reviews the carton and the line setup to choose the platform. See the [case packing](https://trfautomation.com/case-packing/) page for the three case packer platforms. **Conveyor systems.** Conveyors carry cartons and cases from packing to the palletizer, with accumulation and merging that deliver them to the robot in an organized flow. The [case conveyor systems](https://trfautomation.com/conveyor-systems/case-conveyor-intralogistics/) page describes the modules. ## How TRF Evaluates a Pharmaceutical Line Pharmaceutical lines vary in rate, carton size and product count. A Sales Engineer reviews six points of the line before recommending platforms: - **Application.** What is packed or palletized (cartons and cases), its dimensions, how it arrives from primary packaging and how it has to leave the cell. - **Speed.** The line rate in products per minute or cases per minute, today and at the planned growth. The rate points to a cobot, a compact industrial robot or a high-speed system. - **Weight.** The weight of each case, bag or pail, which sets the gripper and the platform class. - **Pallet pattern.** The pallet size, the layer pattern, the stack height and any requirement from the customer receiving the pallet. - **Space.** The floor area and ceiling height after primary packaging, including plants where the new cell has to fit around current equipment. - **Integration.** The conveyors, controls and machines already in place, and the point where TRF connects to each of them. ## Platforms for Pharmaceutical Packaging Automation The platforms that usually come up in pharmaceutical packaging depend on the rate and on how often the product changes. - **Palletizing.** [TRFCobot](https://trfautomation.com/robotic-palletizing/cobot-palletizer/) palletizes with stored recipes on lower-speed, high-mix lines, [TRFCompact](https://trfautomation.com/robotic-palletizing/compact-palletizer/) fits higher rates in limited space, and [TRFSpeed](https://trfautomation.com/robotic-palletizing/high-speed-palletizer/) fits high-volume or multi-line operations. - **Case packing.** [TRFOnepack](https://trfautomation.com/case-packing/integrated-case-packer/) erects, packs and seals the case in one machine, and [TRFRapidpack](https://trfautomation.com/case-packing/robotic-case-packer/) suits many products and variable packs. - **Conveying.** [TRFIntraflow](https://trfautomation.com/conveyor-systems/case-conveyor-intralogistics/) moves, accumulates and routes cartons and cases between packing and the palletizer. *Typical ranges for commercial screening. TRF engineering confirms final capacity for each application (product, end-of-arm tool, pallet pattern, reach and process).* When an application falls outside the standard platforms, TRF engineers a [custom palletizer](https://trfautomation.com/robotic-palletizing/custom-palletizer/) around your products and throughput. ## How a Pharmaceutical Project Moves From First Call to Commissioning A TRF project follows the same path in every segment, so you know what to expect from the first conversation: 1. **Information.** You send the package formats, case sizes, line speeds, shifts and a drawing or photos of the space after primary packaging. 2. **Screening.** A Sales Engineer reviews the six points above and screens the platforms that fit the line. 3. **Layout and proposal.** TRF shows how the equipment fits in your plant and defines the scope that the proposal covers. 4. **Engineering and manufacturing.** TRF engineers the mechanics and the controls as one system for the agreed scope. 5. **Installation and commissioning.** The same partner installs and commissions the system, so one team is accountable for the project. Start with the information you already have. A partial drawing and a list of products are enough for a first conversation with a Sales Engineer about pharmaceutical packaging automation. ## Projects and Videos for Pharmaceutical TRF gathers projects and videos of applications in pharmaceutical and in neighboring segments. During the evaluation, the Sales Engineer shows the examples closest to your packages, line rate and space, so you can see how a similar end of line is arranged before you decide. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can a collaborative palletizer fit a lower-speed pharmaceutical line? It can, when the rate and the case weight are within the platform range. TRFCobot is designed for lower-speed, high-mix lines, with typical ranges of up to 10 cases per minute and cases up to 26 lb. The Sales Engineer confirms the numbers for your product. ### How does the system handle frequent product changes? The controls store a pallet pattern for each product, so changing from one carton size to another is done from the operator panel. TRF reviews your product list and the length of each run to decide how many recipes the system needs. ### What information does the plant provide for a first review? The Sales Engineer asks for the carton and case dimensions and weight, the rate, the pallet specification, a drawing of the space and the equipment already in place. Photos of the discharge of the packaging machine are also useful. ### How much floor space does the end of a pharmaceutical line need? It depends on the platform, the pallet size and the number of pallet positions. A compact cell can fit into limited space, and the Sales Engineer compares layouts against your drawing before proposing a configuration. ### How can a pharmaceutical plant estimate payback for a lower-speed line? Payback comes from the labor hours the system replaces, shifts per day, local labor cost and the installed cost. The [palletizing ROI calculator](https://trfautomation.com/tools/palletizing-roi-calculator/) applies this method, and the Sales Engineer helps with the inputs. ## Start Your Pharmaceutical Packaging Automation Project Pharmaceutical packaging automation works when every step after the final package is sized for the same line: the case packer for the rate, the conveyors for the flow and the palletizer for the carton, case weight and pallet pattern. Send your formats, case sizes, line speeds and shifts, and a TRF Sales Engineer will screen the platforms that fit. [Talk to a Sales Engineer](https://trfautomation.com/contact/) [Calculate your payback](https://trfautomation.com/tools/palletizing-roi-calculator/) --- TRF Industrial Automation | 14840 W 107th St, Lenexa, KS 66215, United States | (913) 242-8019 | Serving the United States