Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

Pollard Banknote Ltd., a leading global producer of high-volume gaming tickets has undergone rapid growth in its ticket finishing facility in Sault Ste. Marie and is well positioned to expand its market further. To do this successfully, new efficiencies in the process relating to the packaging of finished product that have been identified must be realized through automation with robotics.Currently, the gaming tickets are processed on assembly lines and are transferred to a final packaging station where they are boxed and palletized manually, in a variety of different configurations as specified by the customer. Introduction of robotics will allow the heavy boxes from multiple lines to be custom palletized and will streamline the process resulting in cost savings.The project with Sault College will involve the development of custom software and design and deployment of hardware and communications, including grippers and sensing systems to conduct a proof of concept, in the College's Robotics Lab, on a strategically selected sample of 5 representative products that Pollard produces.The expected outcomes of this project include the introduction of an additional processing line to handle the anticipated new business and new jobs related to the expansion of global market share. Also, there will be a reduced risk of injury to the workers that are currently handling the heavy boxes by hand.