One of the major manufacturers and suppliers of pulp and paper machinery, Parason, is associating with ABB, a technology leader in automation, in India to automate and scale up the production of sustainable and compostable packaging solutions. The partnership ensures that Parason’s customers reduce their dependence on single-use plastics and Styrofoam packaging.
These moulded fibre tableware products are widely used across multiple industries, including restaurants and cafes, food catering, transport, travel, and industry canteens.
ABB robots, combined with Parason’s machinery, will support expediting the effective manufacturing of agro-waste products—creating 100 per cent eco-friendly compostable packaging solutions. ABB initially deployed 10 robots at Parason’s five-forming machine cell and added another 20 robots at the end of last year.
According to Subrata Karmakar, Country President for Robotics & Discrete Automation Business at ABB India, the 3.5 million tons of plastic waste generated in India per annum create various hazards, which is why India has initiated a nationwide ban on single-use plastic.
Compared to manual pick-and-place applications, ABB robots will help increase OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) performance by 30% while eliminating ergonomic risks for the workforce and improving overall health and safety. The shift to ABB’s robotic solutions has also enabled the business to divert the workforce to more meaningful, interesting, and rewarding tasks.
Madhure Desarda, Director of Operations at Parason Group, said, “Every year, India generates about 500 million tonnes of farm waste, which can now be used to create sustainable packaging solutions. ABB’s automated solutions have helped us create a viable, cost-effective value chain and maintain a low-carbon environment.”
This year, Parason intends to deploy 250 machine cells, which have the capacity to replace 150 tonnes of single-use plastic per day.
By developing the latest innovative digital and AI learning technologies for smarter robotics, ABB is helping businesses like Parason operate more sustainably and become more flexible, efficient, and resilient all around the world. ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation, as one of the world’s leading robotics and machine automation suppliers, is the only company with a comprehensive and integrated portfolio covering robots, autonomous mobile robots, and machine automation solutions, all designed and orchestrated by our value-creating software.