In context
In early 2025, collaborative robots were increasingly adopted in pharmaceutical manufacturing to address ergonomic challenges and labor shortages while maintaining strict hygiene standards. This deployment at Takeda's Oranienburg plant exemplified how cobots could work alongside humans to improve both safety and efficiency.
What was reported
Takeda Pharmaceutical's facility in Oranienburg, Germany, produces over six billion tablets and capsules annually. Previously, workers manually moved 5.8 tonnes per shift to palletize packaged products, leading to significant sickness-related absences.
To alleviate this, Takeda partnered with system integrator SKDK to install a Fanuc CR-15iA collaborative robot. The cobot, with a 1,441 mm reach and 15 kg payload, works 24/7, scanning labels and stacking boxes onto pallets in a specific configuration—eight boxes per layer, four layers high. Since installation, it has processed around 8,000 packages without issues.
Worker acceptance was a priority. Takeda held informational sessions across shifts, framing the robot as a “new colleague” rather than a threat. The CR-15iA's lack of safety fencing allowed staff to work in close proximity, reducing reservations. Its smooth surfaces and IP67 protection on arm and wrist axes meet pharmaceutical hygiene demands.
Project manager Robert Gundlach noted the success has made the cell a template for other packing stations and inspired other Takeda sites to consider robotics.
“We sold the robots as new colleagues, not as new technology.”
Why it mattered
This case demonstrated that collaborative robots could effectively handle heavy, repetitive tasks in regulated environments, improving worker well-being and productivity. It also highlighted the importance of change management in automation adoption, offering a replicable model for pharmaceutical and other industries facing similar ergonomic and labor challenges.
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2025-02-07 · “Fanuc robots ‘ease pain’ for Takeda Pharmaceutical”