Palletiser FAQs, AGV and AMR FAQs

Granta Automation is one of the UK's most experienced robotic palletising specialists and a KUKA Platinum and Yaskawa partner. Established in 2006 and based in Linton, Cambridge, we design, build, install and support end-of-line automation for manufacturers across the UK and Ireland.

We specialise in palletising and end-of-line automation — robotic, compact, cobot and prebuilt palletisers, plus container unloading, depalletising, cross-stacking, AMRs and AGVs. Focusing on palletising means real depth of expertise rather than a little of everything.

We help companies and people achieve with automation — strengthening the heart of the economy and making a positive contribution to many people's lives.

Helpful, Expert, Reliable and Quick. These came directly from asking our customers what they think of when they think of Granta — so they reflect how we actually work, not just what we aspire to.

We are helpful to all, with a positive attitude of respect, humility and happiness.

We are proficient, highly skilled and competent in all we do.

We hold integrity, honesty, loyalty, meeting our promises and high product quality as our key reliability standards.

We are quick and efficient in thinking, responding and producing results — but never at the expense of quality.

Cambridge Road, Linton, Cambridge, CB21 4NN. We have our own design, build and assembly facilities.

We work with manufacturers throughout the UK and Ireland, with nationwide installation and support.

We offer the complete range and match the right system to your line rather than pushing one product; our programming software is patented and set up by your own operators in minutes; we're a top-tier partner of both KUKA and Yaskawa; and we back everything with in-house UK support. That combination of range, ease of use, partnerships and support is hard to match.

Yes — Granta is a KUKA Platinum system partner, KUKA's highest partner tier.

Yes — we're a Yaskawa partner and use Yaskawa robots across many of our systems. We choose KUKA or Yaskawa depending on which best suits your application.

KUKA or Yaskawa, depending on the system — both are world-leading, fully supported industrial robot platforms.

Yes — our modular palletiser system and our easy-programming software are both patented.

Because palletising is all we do, we've solved a huge range of product, pattern and layout challenges before, our systems are refined and standardised, and our lead times and support reflect that focus.

Yes — send us your product and we'll set a system up and show you it being palletised, so you have proof before any commitment.

Yes — we can arrange a demonstration, a free site visit and feasibility assessment, and share videos of our systems running.

Yes — we aim to give you the best possible solution for your needs at the best possible price, and we're typically competitive against comparable suppliers, with finance options on every quote.

Our focus is the UK and Ireland, where we can provide the fast installation and responsive in-house support our customers value.

Since 2006 — nearly two decades specialising in palletising and automation.

We're a stable, experienced team, with several people who have been with us since the very start in 2006 and many long-serving engineers — so you benefit from deep, retained know-how.

We typically have around 15–25 palletising projects in progress at any one time — and we order our robots in batches of 25, which reflects the scale we operate at.

Yes — we've delivered systems across food and beverage, distribution and haulage, agriculture and feed, construction products, pharmaceutical and medical, and chemical sectors, handling a huge variety of products.

We're an established, recognised UK automation business with our own premises, a full engineering team and long-standing manufacturer partnerships.

Yes — we continue to grow our range (cobot, compact, AMRs) and our install base, and we're increasingly recognised as a leading UK palletising brand.

Three core palletising systems — the cobot palletiser, the compact palletiser and the modular palletiser — plus a standardised prebuilt palletiser, container unloading, depalletising, layer forming, AMRs and AGVs.

It depends on your speed, available space, product and budget — and we'll advise honestly. As a guide: a cobot suits lower speeds and shared spaces; a compact suits high speed in a small footprint with pallet-truck take-off; and a modular suits flexibility, growth and the widest range of applications.

The cobot is collaborative and can run without guarding; the compact is a high-speed industrial-robot system in a very small footprint with pallet-truck take-off; the modular is a fully flexible, reconfigurable industrial system built from standard plug-and-play modules.

Yes — the compact and modular systems run at high speed (industrial-robot speeds), and can include row gripping to pick multiple items at once for higher throughput.

The compact palletiser is designed specifically for limited space, with a very small footprint, low-profile conveyors and pallet-truck take-off — no forklift access needed.

Yes — the modular system is designed to be reconfigured and extended as your needs change, so it's genuinely future-proof.

Yes — many of our systems are available as single or double infeed / single or double lane configurations to suit your line.

Yes — systems can take single or double infeeds and store multiple stack patterns, so one cell can serve more than one product or line.

A collaborative robotic palletiser that can work safely alongside people. It uses a sturdy, industrial-grade 30 kg-payload collaborative robot designed for 24/7 use, with easy programming and a choice of grippers.

The cobot uses a 30 kg-payload collaborative robot.

Yes — it's a sturdy, industrial-grade cobot designed for round-the-clock use.

It's available with or without guarding. It can run fully collaboratively with no fencing, or at higher speed with guarding or safety scanners.

In the no-guarding configuration it runs in collaborative mode all the time — no guarding, light curtains or safety scanners — with single or double infeed and single or double pallet positions.

It has guarding around the cell with a light curtain for entry. It runs at full industrial-robot speed, and automatically slows to collaborative speed if the light curtain is broken.

Safety area scanners monitor the cell. The robot runs at full industrial speed and slows to collaborative speed whenever the scanners detect movement in the safety zone.

Yes — the cobot palletiser is quick to install and, like all our systems, programmed by your own operators.

A wide range — boxes, cases, bags and more — using a choice of gripper options to suit your product.

A high-speed palletiser built for applications that need an industrial robot but have limited space and require pallet-truck take-off. It has a very small footprint, low-profile conveyors and a 140 kg-payload robot.

A 140 kg-payload industrial robot.

Pallets can be removed with a pallet truck rather than a forklift, and pallets feed automatically through the system — giving high-speed running in a very compact footprint, ideal where space is tight or forklifts aren't allowed.

Yes — the auto versions have low-profile out-feed conveyors so finished pallets are removed while the robot keeps running, with new pallets fed in automatically.

Static (load a new pallet as needed while running, with manual take-off through a gate); Auto (finished pallets exit on low-profile conveyors while the robot keeps running); and Auto with Pallet Feeder (fully automatic pallet feeding and flow through the system).

The simplest option — you load a single new pallet as required while the robot runs, and remove full pallets manually through a gate with a pallet truck or forklift. The system pauses while a full pallet is removed. Available single or double lane.

It has low-profile out-feed conveyors so full pallets are removed with a pallet truck or forklift while the robot continues running, with new pallets fed in as needed. Available single or double lane.

It adds fully automatic empty-pallet feeding and fully automated pallet flow, so the robot runs continuously and full pallets exit on low-profile conveyors. Available single or double lane.

Yes — row gripping can be included to increase throughput, and slip sheets and auto pallet feeding can be added to any layout.

Our flexible, fully configurable industrial palletising system, built from standard plug-and-play modules. It's very quick to install and reconfigure, with short lead times — the 'Lego' of palletisers.

Because it's built from standard modules you can rearrange, extend and reconfigure as your production changes — it grows with your company rather than being fixed.

It uses 1.58 m square platform modules with all components plug-and-play for quick installation, an integrated cable channel in each platform, and guarding that fixes straight to the platform.

Yes — both the modular system and its easy-programming software are patented.

A wide range of standard modules, including infeed conveyors, double infeed, square rollers and sack pick, under-grip conveyor, robot, infeed bump turn, pallet feeder, layer former, pallet transfer unit, pallet infeed and slip-sheet stacks, pallet turner, pallet conveyor and more.

Yes — layouts are configured to your requirements from the standard modules, so you get a tailored system built from proven, standardised parts.

Yes — plug-and-play modules make it very quick to install and reconfigure, which also keeps lead times short.

A standardised, fully tested palletiser you can install yourself with step-by-step instructions — a fast, lower-cost route into robotic palletising for simpler box applications.

It's openly priced from £57,900 + VAT — unusual in a market where prices are normally only 'on application'.

It uses a 140 kg robot with a vacuum foam-pad gripper and handles boxes up to 25 kg at up to eight a minute.

You install it yourself following clear step-by-step instructions, with a typical lead time of one to two months.

First-time automators and simpler box applications who want a proven, low-cost, quick-to-deploy system.

Yes — we're the UK specialist in automated container unloading. A boom conveyor extends into the container, the product is loaded onto it and conveyed to the palletising cell, where it's automatically palletised.

A boom conveyor reaches into the container; product is placed onto it and conveyed to the palletiser, which stacks it automatically at the far end.

Yes — with our auto-programming option the system automatically measures boxes and creates palletising programs, so it copes with the mix of sizes a real container holds.

Custom extras such as pallet stretch-wrapping, labelling and automatic pallet feeders, plus auto-programming for automatic box measuring and program creation.

A great deal of container unloading is still done by hand — heavy, slow work that's hard to staff. Automating it removes one of the last major manual jobs in many operations.

Yes — most of our palletiser types and cell layouts can be run in reverse to depalletise product onto a production line, into a container, or for other depalletising applications.

Yes — a common use of a depalletising cell is re-stacking from Euro pallets to UK standard pallets, or from pallets onto a production line.

If stacks are poor quality, compensator tools can be used on the robot and alignment systems can accurately re-position the product before it's re-stacked.

No — there are many options to consider, so each depalletising system is designed to suit your specific requirements.

If it goes on a pallet, we can usually handle it — boxes and cases, bags and sacks, trays, barrels, and many awkward or delicate items — by matching the right gripper to your product.

A wide range, including bag grippers, vacuum and foam-vacuum cup grippers, row grippers (vacuum, foam and under), the under-gripper, vacuum bag grippers, layer grippers, barrel grippers, side-plate grippers and bespoke grippers.

Yes — we have dedicated bag and sack grippers and square-roller sack-pick modules for reliably handling bagged products such as feed, aggregates and chemicals.

Yes — the under-gripper supports product from beneath, making it ideal for open trays, unstable or delicate items that can't be gripped conventionally.

Yes — a dedicated barrel gripper is available for cylindrical products.

Yes — a layer gripper and layer-former module allow complete layers to be formed and placed for high-throughput applications.

We design and build bespoke grippers when needed, and offer a free trial so we can prove the handling on your actual product first.

Yes — the software stores multiple stack patterns and your operators can switch between them in minutes, so one system can run many products.

We actively serve food and beverage, distribution and haulage (container unloading), agriculture and feed mills, construction products, pharmaceutical and medical, and chemical — and we're happy to help any industry that needs palletising.

Yes — food and beverage is a core sector for us, palletising cases, trays, bottles, cans and more, with hygienic and BRC-aware system design.

Yes — we palletise bagged and sacked products such as animal feed, seed and aggregates, using robust bag grippers built for heavy, repetitive sacks.

Yes — we palletise building and construction products, including heavy and awkward items, matching the gripper and pattern to the product.

Yes — we deliver palletising for pharmaceutical and medical products, with the compliance, documentation and care those sectors require.

Yes — we palletise chemical products including bagged and drummed goods, with appropriate handling and safety design.

Yes — particularly with automated container unloading and palletising, which removes one of the most labour-intensive manual jobs in distribution.

Almost certainly — if your product goes onto or comes off a pallet, we're interested. Those sectors are simply where we're most active.

Yes — our easy-programming software lets you set up a new stack pattern in about five minutes, with no programming or robot skills required.

Your own operators. There's no need for a specialist robot programmer, which removes a lot of cost and inconvenience.

A conventional system typically needs 2–3 weeks for initial set-up and 1–2 days per new stack pattern using a trained programmer. A Granta system is typically 3–5 days to set up and about five minutes per stack pattern, done by anyone.

Yes — it automatically generates and optimises patterns for space efficiency, and you can pick from a list of standard patterns or drag-and-drop your own.

Yes — you can keep a library of standard patterns and select the one you need, making product changeovers quick.

An advanced option on top of our patented software: a laser measuring system automatically measures the product and creates the stack program, with auto size-error checking and minimal human input — you just name the new program and the software does the rest.

No — the software is designed so that anyone can create and change stack patterns without programming or robot knowledge.

Yes — our easy-programming software is patented, as is our modular system.

It depends on the system and product — from around 20+ products a minute on a cobot to 30+ on compact and modular systems, with row gripping available to increase throughput. Across our installed base, systems palletise well over 30,000 products an hour in live production.

Typically around 40% — and at least 15% — thanks to no breaks or holidays, a forced takt time, longer running hours and faster, consistent speeds.

Yes — patterns are optimised for square, stable, tightly-packed pallets that are ready to wrap, which also reduces transit damage.

Yes — stacks are built to be stable and square, ready for wrapping.

Yes — our systems are built for continuous, reliable running with no breaks, which is a big part of the production increase.

Depending on the gripper and product, it can pick single or multiple items — row gripping lets it handle a whole row at a time for higher speed.

Yes — our systems are designed and built to meet the Machinery Directive and UKCA marking standards. We take compliance very seriously.

Yes — a technical file is prepared for every project, and we follow a rigorous safety design and verification procedure.

Depending on the system: full guarding, light curtains or area scanners, collaborative force-limited operation (cobot), safety interlocks and emergency stops — all designed and verified to the required standards.

Safety systems (light curtains, scanners or guarding interlocks) stop or slow the robot, and interlocks prevent it restarting while the guarded area is occupied — it won't run until the area is confirmed clear.

Yes — Granta is ISO 9001 certified.

Yes — Granta is NAPIT registered, supporting our electrical compliance.

We deliver a compliant, documented, guarded system with a technical file; as the operator you're responsible for safe use (for example under PUWER in the UK), and our training and documentation make that straightforward.

Yes — systems come with a comprehensive user manual, compliance pack and process signage, and our systems remove manual handling, which helps reduce H&S claims to zero.

Get in touch or use our online tools. We'll usually arrange a free site visit, produce CAD drawings and a detailed proposal, and work with you to reach the best possible solution at the best possible price.

Yes — for most projects we visit your site to understand your product, line, space and requirements before we design and quote.

Yes — we produce CAD drawings and a detailed proposal so you can see exactly what's being proposed and how it fits your space.

We pride ourselves on a fast quoting process — timescales depend on the complexity of the system, and we'll keep you informed.

Yes — we work with you to refine the design to your needs and budget, rather than simply quoting a fixed package.

Yes — leasing and hire options are included in every quote so you can see the finance route alongside the outright price.

No — the site visit, feasibility and proposal are provided free, and we also offer a free product trial.

We follow a clear, Prince 2-based project roadmap: Diaspec phase, detailed product specification (signed off), prepare for manufacturing, assembly at Granta, commissioning at Granta, your Factory Acceptance Test, install and production commencement, and support contract set-up.

It's the detailed specification stage at the start of the project, where we work through and agree the exact product specification before manufacturing begins.

Before your system leaves us, it's assembled and commissioned at Granta and you carry out a Factory Acceptance Test — checking it performs as specified — so there are no surprises on site.

With a Prince 2 project-management system, a live online project-progress tracker and weekly email reporting, so you always know where your project stands.

Yes — weekly email reports plus a live online progress tracker keep you updated throughout.

Yes — we plan for it, with contingency options such as temporary extra conveyoring, splitting the install, temporary extra staff, volume testing at Granta beforehand, and arranging extra storage.

Yes — we provide a free internal marketing pack (pull-up banner and literature) answering staff questions like 'what's coming, why, will I lose my job, how will this benefit me, and what to expect during install' — tailored to your project.

Yes — it's assembled and commissioned at Granta and volume-tested before installation, and you sign it off at the Factory Acceptance Test.

It depends on the system and is specified in your proposal. On-site installation and commissioning typically runs in two key stages, each around one to five days depending on the system.

We quote realistic lead times but usually beat them — a simple system can be installed within two months of order, and when everything aligns we've gone from order to installed in under two weeks.

As a guide: prebuilt 1–2 months, cobot 2–4 months, and compact or modular 4–6 months — and we typically beat these. The modular system's plug-and-play design keeps lead times short.

There are two key stages. Stage 1 (mechanical) needs no production apart from a few sample boxes or bags. Stage 2 needs intermittent full-speed production so engineers can test and fine-tune — by the end, production is running smoothly.

Very little at first — just a few samples for the mechanical stage — then intermittent full-speed production during the final commissioning stage so the system can be tested and adjusted.

Yes — we install and support systems across the UK and Ireland with our own engineers.

Most systems are fixed in place; the modular system can be reconfigured and extended. We'll confirm the best arrangement for your site.

Yes — training is included as part of installation, covering both operations and engineering staff, with test and certification.

Classroom training (safety, program overview, scenarios and fault conditions, plus a knowledge quiz); practical training on the system (cell walk-round, demonstration, and each person setting up their own programs); and a knowledge test with certificates issued.

Yes — optional advanced training covers advanced programming options, all hardware, detailed fault diagnostics and routine maintenance checks.

Yes — training includes a knowledge test, trainee acknowledgement and issued certificates.

Training is delivered as part of the installation process on site, so your team learns on the actual system.

Yes — we provide a comprehensive user manual and training material, and can support your team's ongoing learning.

Yes — our standard support package includes three service visits per year, plus on-site and remote support.

Yes — in-house UK service and support from the team that built your system.

Yes — systems can be connected by ethernet or Wi-Fi so our engineers can often diagnose and resolve issues remotely, reducing downtime.

Support contracts can be arranged up to 24/7 cover depending on your needs — talk to us about the right level.

The standard support package includes three service visits per year, with options to increase cover.

Yes — we supply spares and can provide a suggested spares list, and can integrate with your stock system where useful.

It depends on the system and the level of cover you choose — we set this out clearly in your proposal, and many visits are covered by the support contract.

We build on current, long-life KUKA and Yaskawa robots, PLCs and HMIs with extended manufacturer support, and we advise on lifecycle and recommended spares so your system stays supportable for years.

Yes — the system can be linked by ethernet or Wi-Fi so we can connect remotely to assist when needed.

An Autonomous Mobile Robot — a driverless robot that moves pallets and loads around your site with no fixed track, planning its own route and avoiding obstacles.

Up to 1,500 kg, depending on the model.

Fast — under two hours to full charge, with a 20–80% top-up in under an hour, and up to around ten hours of runtime.

On a no-code, AI-driven platform — they can be configured and operational within about 48 hours, with automatic rack recognition to speed integration.

Using SLAM navigation with 360° laser scanners and 3D cameras for people and object detection, plus a safety bumper, acoustic and optical alerts and multiple emergency stops. If the path is blocked, the AMR routes around the obstacle automatically.

Yes — KUKA.AMR fleet management coordinates multiple AMRs (including mixed types and brands), with real-time monitoring.

High precision — positioning to millimetre-level accuracy using ground-texture odometry and QR positioning (around ±5 mm).

A standard single-phase supply — no special power required — with Wi-Fi and 5G connectivity.

Up to around 1.8 m/s unloaded and 1.5 m/s loaded, with velocity-dependent safety fields that grow with speed.

An Automated Guided Vehicle — a driverless vehicle built on proven forklift technology that moves pallets along set routes, in automatic or manual mode.

You simply pull the AGV around the environment to scan and map it, then set up routes — which are easy to modify later.

Using a 360° field of view that detects its surroundings, allowing it to manoeuvre continuously along the planned routes.

Yes — it has a dual mode, working automatically or manually as needed.

Yes — a user-friendly touch interface gives a full overview of the AGV's workflow and system information from a computer, tablet or phone.

Yes — quick installation and commissioning, and easy to integrate into existing environments.

Yes — stand-alone and inline pallet wrappers are available, with features such as a small footprint, auto film start, easy film change and auto film cut and weld.

Yes — labelling can be integrated into a system, including on container unloading lines.

A range of additional products — barcode readers, loading-dock and mobile container-unloading boom conveyors, auto-measuring systems, flex conveyors, box tapers and overhead or inline wrappers.

Yes — automatic pallet feeders and slip-sheet stacks can be included so empty pallets and slip sheets are handled without manual input.

Yes — our systems are designed to integrate with your production line, and can connect to stock or data systems where useful.

Yes — systems can log production and downtime data and generate reports, helping you track OEE and improve the line.

Bespoke systems are quoted to your line and application. Our standardised prebuilt palletiser is openly priced from £57,900 + VAT.

Payback is often less than a year, thanks to labour saving, the production increase (typically ~40%) and reduced HR and H&S costs. Our calculators give a figure for your line.

Yes — leasing is included in every quote. We've partnered with a leasing company so you can spread the cost, and you start saving over and above the lease payments from the day the system is installed.

Typically a three-year lease. Your production-cost savings usually exceed the lease payments from day one, and at the end of the term the palletiser becomes yours for a nominal 1% fee.

Yes — all our quotes come with leasing and hire options so you can choose the route that suits your business.

For most installs, yes — typically within a year once you count the production increase, redeployed labour, reduced manual-handling claims and lower HR costs, none of which are included in the basic lease-versus-savings comparison.

Yes — we provide payback, ROI, OEE and intangible-benefits calculators, and work through the numbers with you so the payback is clear.

We focus on being the best value — the right solution at a competitive price, backed by patented software, both robot-maker partnerships and full UK support. We're often more competitive than comparable suppliers.

Get in touch for a chat, a free product trial or a free site visit. We'll assess feasibility, produce drawings and a proposal, and work with you to design the best solution at the best price.

Yes — send us your product and we'll set a system up and show you it being palletised, so you have proof before committing.

Yes — we're happy to arrange a free site visit and feasibility assessment.

Details of your product, throughput, line and available space are a great start — and a site visit lets us capture the rest.

Call 01223 499488, email helpline@granta-automation.co.uk, or use the enquiry and tools on our website.