News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Sparta manufacturer BASF has completed a five-year project to improve its work environment for team members.
The project focused on better ergonomics, safety and production. Site Manager Andy Schmitt said work began by improving the safety of the facility by reducing human wear related to the packaging operation. Schmitt said robotics now handle folding dense cardboard that once required repetitive human effort.
“Makes it a more enjoyable place for our people to work,” Schmitt said. “Where it’s not as much of an ergonomic strain on them but it’s something where they can use more of their mental strength on producing products versus their physical strength.”
Schmitt said the box folding technology at the Sparta facility is a first for BASF. He said the majority of product is packaged in large boxes. He said they are essentially four feet high, wide, and deep. Schmitt said prior to the upgrades people had to fold the boxes from very thick, sometimes seven layer, cardboard.
“Now all the operator has to do is essentially load the unfolded boxes onto the robot,” Schmitt said. “And the robot does the hard ergonomic part of it.”
He said they are also using Auto Guided Vehicles (AGV) to move some of the materials around the facility.
“It reduces the ergonomic concerns of a person getting on and off of a forklift, up to 100 too 200 times a shift,” Schmitt said.
Schmitt said all of the improvements have allowed BASF to increase their production of plastic pellets used by automobile parts manufacturers and other consumer goods manufacturers.
