“We chose Huld as our partner in this project, as they already had provided both product development and industrial design for us. That way, it was easy to broaden our cooperation into packaging design,” says Zenrobotics’ Head of Mechanical Engineering and Automation Esa Tirkkonen.
Zenrobotics takes advantage of artificial intelligence in their sorting robots to improve the quality of waste sorting. Huld’s experts designed a new package with consideration to both assembly of the robot and work ergonomics. The packages are an integral part of customer experience, and packaging design can improve the customers’ idea of the company.
Zenrobotics wanted to improve the user experience related to their robot packaging. The goal was to both improve work safety and cut down assembly time. Robot parts were to be packaged more systematically and effectively. The company also wanted to make the main package lighter and easier to open at the final destination. An update on its appearance was also desired. The objective was to make the design of the package reflect the high quality of the actual product inside.
“We chose Huld as our partner in this project, as they already had provided both product development and industrial design for us. That way, it was easy to broaden our cooperation into packaging design,” says Zenrobotics’ Head of Mechanical Engineering and Automation Esa Tirkkonen.
The project was launched with a concept phase that aimed to map out different constructions for the grouping and appearance of packaging. Alternative constructions were discussed with the client, evaluating their advantages and challenges. After this conceptualization phase, a model in which robot parts are divided into three plywood boxes was chosen. Thus, the boxes can be opened one-by-one following the assembly order. The empty spaces inside the parts were also utilized in the packaging design, so that all parts could fit in only one uniform package set.
The package was designed with special attention on work safety and ergonomics. This was accomplished by making the boxes containing the parts lower than before. Thus, all parts are at reasonable heights for handling and the workers do not have to lift heavy parts from elevated surfaces. The package walls are also made lighter, which makes it easier to both handle and store the unassembled packing parts as they do not require as much surface area. As it is not always possible to work at optimal conditions, moving separate packaging units will be easier also when working in tight spaces.
“To load and unload the devices in transport packages is now considerably easier, and the working positions are more ergonomic than before. The new package design has also improved our safety at work: the boxes are easy to handle and the parts easy to lift,” Esa Tirkkonen says.
Thanks to the modular packaging designed by Huld’s experts, both the company’s own personnel and clients get a remarkably better user experience. Parts in the new boxes are divided according to assembly order and arranged in logical entities. This way, the package can be opened and the robot installed in an effective way. The previous timber surfaces of the boxes were replaced with plywood, which enables Zenrobotics brand elements to be painted on the packaging surfaces.