One collaborative robot for packing multiple products

Natura

In short

Natura, Brazil’s largest cosmetics multinational, has integrated a Universal Robots UR12e collaborative robot into its EKOS production line. Previously, the packing process was carried out manually by two employees. The high volume of packages not only created ergonomic challenges but also required repetitive tasks that added little value to production. Now, the robot handles 70 products per minute.

Innovating through collaboration

At Natura, innovation goes far beyond creating new products. It’s about rethinking services, exploring new business models, and, above all, sharing knowledge. The company believes in the power of collaboration, bringing together researchers, institutions, and the scientific community to exchange ideas and create positive change. Through this network, Natura seeks to inspire innovation that promotes well-being and harmony between people, within themselves, with others, and with nature.

Natura

Industry Medical and Cosmetics

Country Brazil

Number of Employees 40,000+

Cobot used UR12e

Automation challenges solved:

Same cobot performing the packaging of products of different sizes on a single production line and with quick tool change

Key value drivers:

Quick installation and programming

Flexibility

Collaboration with the operator

Safety

Tasks solved by collaborative robots:

Packing

Faster, smarter, safer packaging

The production line now handles eight different products, each with its own size and shape. To make this possible, the team implemented a quick-change system that allows three tools to be swapped in just a few minutes. This flexibility lets the collaborative robot adapt easily to different package sizes. It now packages 70 products per minute, which is much faster than the rest of the line.

The introduction of the Universal Robots collaborative robot aligns perfectly with Natura’s mission of innovation and sustainability. The entire integration process took around 120 days, while configuring the robot itself required only three days. For Natura’s engineers, the biggest challenge was developing a truly innovative solution that would deliver results, ensure a quick payback with minimal investment, and improve the ergonomics of daily work.

It was a very manual line, where we worked at the end of the line with two people packing the boxes, and that was very impactful for us who did the whole process of packing manually

Maria Correia de Meira, Machine Operator at Natura