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Automated Palletizing Cuts Manual Labor and Boosts Retention at Myllyn Paras

Case Study

1/24/2022

Grain products on pallets after robotic palletizing-crop

Industry

Food & Commodities

Application

Palletizing

Robot Solution

OMRON TM12 Cobot

Transforming a manual bottleneck into a safer, automated workflow

For decades, Myllyn Paras operated Finland’s oldest mill, processing 75,000 tonnes of grain annually. Despite its modern output, one critical process lagged behind: palletizing. The task—lifting and stacking heavy packs of oatmeal and other products—was entirely manual, placing intense physical demands on workers and leading to high turnover at the station. When Myllyn Paras sought a solution, Dimalog Oy evaluated the site’s unique constraints. After reviewing available floorspace and the variety of products requiring palletization, Dimalog recommended the OMRON TM12 collaborative robot, engineered for high payloads and extended reach.

The implementation of the robotic palletizing system required a custom-designed gripper, tailored and tested by Dimalog, to handle varying product sizes. Integrated safety features—including perimeter fencing and an OMRON safety laser scanner—ensured that the system would halt instantly if a person entered the working zone. The TM12’s built-in vision system enabled accurate object recognition, even under challenging lighting conditions, allowing the robot to adapt to different batch weights and packaging formats.

Since deploying the robotic palletizing system, Myllyn Paras has eliminated the most strenuous manual tasks from its palletizing line. Employees report a significantly improved work environment, with reduced physical strain and a more pleasant daily routine. The automation has stabilized throughput, minimized workplace injuries, and allowed staff to focus on higher-value responsibilities.

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“Working with OMRON has been a delight for Dimalog Oy. In the future, we plan to develop similar, easily accessible palletising cell solutions that will bring new benefits to both of our companies.” — Aki Hänninen, Dimalog Oy’s Project Manager

Results at a glance:

Manual palletizing replaced with automated, collaborative robots
Ergonomic risks and employee turnover at the palletizing station reduced
Flexible solution adapts to a wide range of batch sizes and packaging types
Enhanced safety with integrated vision and laser scanner technology

Practical automation for food manufacturing

In food manufacturing, palletizing can place steady demands on production teams, especially in high-throughput environments where consistency, safety, and uptime all matter. OMRON helps manufacturers like Myllyn Paras address these challenges with robotic palletizing systems designed to fit real production needs.

Whether the goal is to reduce manual strain, improve end-of-line flow, or create a safer working environment, our team can help identify an automation approach that supports your operations today and as they evolve.