Palletizing in plain words
At the end of a packing line, filled cases arrive one after another. Someone — or something — has to stack them on a pallet in layers, turning cases so layers interlock. That is palletizing. A palletized load is then stretch wrapped, labelled and moved to the warehouse.
Types of palletizing
| Type | What is stacked | Typical machine |
|---|---|---|
| Case palletizing | Corrugated cases, shrink packs, trays | Robot or cobot palletizer |
| Bag palletizing | Sacks of flour, feed, fertilizer, powder | Robot with fork or finger gripper |
| Layer palletizing | Whole layers of cans or cases | Conventional layer palletizer |
| Mixed (case) palletizing | Different SKUs on one pallet for distribution | Robot with vision and software |
| Depalletizing | Empty bottles, cans or incoming cases from pallets | Layer sweep or robot |
Stacking patterns
Common patterns are column stacking (each case directly above the one below — strongest for compression), interlocked or brick patterns (layers rotate to tie the load together), and pinwheel patterns for square-ish cases. The best pattern balances pallet stability, compression strength of the case and pallet footprint usage.
Manual vs automatic palletizing
Manual palletizing is repetitive lifting, often 10–25 kg per case, hundreds of times per shift. A palletizer gives a consistent pattern and frees operators for other work. Collaborative robots such as our MD35F mobile collaborative palletizing robot (35 kg payload, 8–12 picks per minute) make automatic palletizing practical even on a single small line.
After palletizing
Full pallets are wrapped on a Turntable pallet stretch wrapping machine and transported by forklift or by an autonomous forklift such as the AMR1500F laser-guided unmanned forklift. For choosing a system, read the robotic palletizer guide.
Questions and answers
What does palletizing mean?
Stacking packed goods onto a pallet in a stable pattern for storage and transport.
What is the difference between a palletizer and a depalletizer?
A palletizer stacks products onto pallets at the end of a line; a depalletizer removes products or empty containers from pallets at the start of a line.
Can a robot palletize bags?
Yes, with a fork or finger gripper designed for sacks of powder, granules or feed.
What is mixed palletizing?
Building pallets that contain several different products, typically for shipments to stores, using robots with pattern software.
Related buying guides
Browse machines: Cartoning, case packing & palletizing
