The Robot ShiftBuyer's Guide
01Receive05Ship

Unloading and palletizing robots

Robots that empty containers and build pallets.

Commercial

Sold and running daily at many sites, with reference customers you can call.

3D model of a unloading robot

What it does

A mobile robot drives into a container, finds each carton with cameras and moves it onto a conveyor. At the outbound end, palletizing robots build stable mixed pallets.

The numbers

300/hcases unloaded at UNIS, CaliforniaReported
29.9 kgmax carton weight, RockyOneSpec
15–80 cmcarton size range, RockyOneSpec

Best for

  • Floor-loaded containers with mixed cartons
  • Heavy, repetitive lifting at docks
  • Mixed-case pallets for retail

Watch out for

  • Carton limits apply, such as 29.9 kg on XYZ RockyOne.
  • One reported US site runs 300 cases an hour. Compare that with your team.
  • Collapsed or shifted loads still need people.

What it costs

Vendors quote per project and do not publish unit prices.

Why we rate it commercial

Robotic palletizing is mature. Container unloading is newer, with named customers such as UNIS in California and BAUHAUS in Germany.

Who makes it in China

Ask every vendor

  • What cases per hour at a live site, for our carton mix?
  • What happens with a collapsed or shifted load?
  • Can one robot serve two dock doors?
Check payback for this robot

Sources