Otto Oehme GmbH puts an end to manual palletizing

At a glance

For over 100 years, Otto Oehme GmbH has been synonymous with high-quality cleaning products “Made in Germany.” Founded in 1923, the family business is now in its fourth generation and is based in Allersberg near Nuremberg, employing around 50 people. It supplies business customers in the hotel, catering, building cleaning, and municipal sectors. In addition to the headquarters, branches in Berlin, Leipzig, and Frankfurt ensure customer proximity in sales. The company's production has been highly automated for years – from filling to packaging. Until recently, only one final step was still done manually: palletizing cartons containing 1-liter bottles. This was physically demanding work, involving up to 15 pallets per day. By investing in a compact palletizing cell from coboworx, Otto Oehme is now closing this gap – and showing how medium-sized companies can future-proof their processes. This decision marks another milestone in the continuous development of Otto Oehme GmbH and underlines its commitment to combining tradition with innovation in order to meet the increasing demands of the market.

The Challenge

While Otto Oehme GmbH has gradually modernized and automated its production in recent years, one final, crucial step remained analog for a long time: palletizing cartons weighing 12 to 15 kilograms each. Up to 15 pallets per day had to be stacked manually in time with the line – a process that was technically simple but required enormous physical effort. Despite well-organized job rotation, it was almost impossible to recruit employees for this strenuous task on a permanent basis or to schedule them for the long term. Especially when order volumes were high, individual employees had to stand in the same position for several days in a row – with noticeable consequences such as back pain or, inevitably, sick days. “Especially during intensive production weeks, we noticed that this type of strain can lead to back pain or sick leave – which is understandable, of course,” recalls Managing Director Carlos Oehme.

The solution

For Carlos Oehme, the path to finding the right automation solution began with just a few clicks using the coboworx online configurator. What convinced him was the combination of transparency, simplicity, and sophisticated technology. The implementation went smoothly: measurements, delivery, gripper adjustment—everything fit together seamlessly. Commissioning went without a hitch, and the robot worked reliably right from the start. The solution scored points not only in terms of functionality, but also in terms of quality. “No corners were cut on materials here. Everything is robust,” says Oehme, “which is not always the case.” Solid metal, high-quality components, and a stable construction ensure durability and safety in operation. Another plus point was the flexible rental model: Instead of a large initial investment, the system could be introduced at a manageable monthly cost – without any bank negotiations or leasing contracts. “What ultimately convinced me was clearly the price-performance ratio,” summarizes Oehme. “The solution was technically well thought out, cleanly implemented, and attractively priced – even compared to competitors.”