In industry, ergonomics is not only a health and safety requirement; it is also an important element in creating a safe and welcoming working environment. Companies that prioritise the comfort of their workstations promote the well-being of their employees and foster trust and long-term relationships within teams.
This leads to greater satisfaction in performing tasks, job stability and fewer errors, as well as higher quality and better utilisation of production capacity. Cedo is a good example of a company that introduces solutions to improve everyday comfort on production lines, including modernising packaging processes.
Ergonomics is not just about equipment and tools; it is a mindset. Systematically implementing improvements reduces employees’ workload and streamlines processes.
In plants where hundreds of repetitive operations are performed daily, even minor changes to workstations can enhance comfort and work pace. Human-centred design should be an ongoing process. Each implementation provides new insights that can be used to make further improvements. Recently, Cedo introduced scissor lifts in the packaging area and an automatic waste unloading system, among other things. These solutions have relieved the team of their most arduous tasks. As part of the ‘Gauge Saving Programme – Stage 2’ project, we are now taking things a step further by combining improved ergonomics with automated product weight control, says Daniel Bęben, process engineering manager at Cedo.
Improvements in packaging
Changes have been introduced to one of the company’s production halls that redefine how operators work and how quality control is carried out. These changes make the packaging process more precise. The project aims to improve ergonomics and increase the accuracy with which the weight of rolls and the number of products in cartons are checked.
This initiative builds on the success of an earlier pilot project, which delivered clear benefits for employees and improved process efficiency. As part of the second stage, new packaging stations equipped with scissor lifts and a modern weighing system with dedicated software will be introduced, says the expert.
Scissor lifts – greater comfort at work
The lifts have been designed to allow cartons to be conveniently placed at waist height, eliminating the need to bend down to place the initial layers. More advanced devices, which will be installed in two additional halls by the end of the year (six units in total), will have a platform that can descend below floor level. This will facilitate access to the upper layers of cartons on pallets.
Thanks to two sensors and an automatic adjustment system, the platform can adapt to the employee’s needs in a matter of seconds. This reduces muscle strain, minimises the risk of injury and enables smooth operation throughout the day. Daniel Bęben explains that, since the introduction of the scissor lifts, the entire process has become smoother and less tiring.
Intelligent weighing system – greater precision
The second pillar of the project is an integrated weighing system with dedicated software. The system automatically counts the rolls in a carton, weighs each one in real time, signals when the permissible weight is exceeded and records historical data. Each product has its own ‘recipe’ containing information such as the weight of the carton, the number of rolls, and the minimum and maximum weight.
Thanks to the system, counting and weighing rolls is done automatically. Information about packaging progress, average weight and warning messages is displayed on the screen. This greatly simplifies daily work, enabling employees to focus on other tasks. Automation in this area ensures consistent data and full quality control, explains a Cedo engineer.
Next steps
In future stages, Cedo plans to extend the solution to other production lines to standardise ergonomics and control standards throughout the company.
Our goal is to continuously develop workstations, and ergonomics is a key element of our strategy. This creates an environment in which employees can utilise their experience and knowledge to the fullest,” concludes Daniel Bęben.
