Seamless Material Handling for Reliable, Consistent Packing
Consistent product feed is critical to reliable packing performance.
Whether you're bagging powders, granules, flakes, pellets, snack products, or chemical materials, your bagging system's performance depends entirely on the quality and stability of the upstream material delivery.
Robbe bagging systems, integrated by Gough Engineering, provide a complete production-line solution - from controlled sieving and classification through to stable, repeatable delivery into automated packing systems.
By combining proven Robbe bagging equipment with engineered conveying, dosing, and line controls, Gough Engineering helps manufacturers achieve higher throughput, fewer stoppages, improved hygiene, and consistent pack weights.
About Robbe Bagging Systems
Robbe is a leading manufacturer of industrial bagging equipment, specialising in reliable, accurate, and efficient packing solutions for powders, granules, flakes, and bulk materials across food, chemical, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing sectors. Since 1845, Robbe Industries nv has specialised in weighing, packaging, and transport processes that have served customers across various sectors.
Built for operational durability and weighing accuracy, Robbe systems are designed to deliver consistent pack weights and high throughput with minimal downtime. Their equipment range includes open-mouth bagging machines, valve baggers, and bulk bag filling systems, all engineered for demanding production environments.
When integrated with properly engineered upstream material handling and controls, Robbe bagging systems form the foundation of dependable, high-performance packing lines.
Why Does Bagging Line Integration Matter?
Bagging equipment is often specified correctly, yet line performance still suffers. Why?
The problem is upstream variability.
Common issues that kill bagging performance:
- Surging or starving the bagger – leading to speed loss and inconsistent weights
- Product segregation or damage during transfer, especially for fragile or mixed-size materials
- Dust and spillage around transitions and hoppers
- Bridging or rat-holing in intermediate hoppers
- Poor accessibility for cleaning, inspection, and changeover
- Mismatched controls causing stop-start behaviour and unnecessary downtime
An integrated approach solves these issues by treating the bagger and the material-handling line as one coordinated system, not separate pieces of equipment fighting each other.
The Integrated Process: From Production to Pack
A typical Robbe + Gough Engineering line is designed around five controlled stages:
1. Controlled Pick-Up from the Process
Material is collected from upstream equipment (mixers, mills, screeners, bins, reactors, or coolers) using transfer points engineered to suit your product's behaviour—whether it's free-flowing, cohesive, dusty, abrasive, or fragile.
Key design goals:
- Stable, predictable flow into the conveying stage
- Minimal drop height and product degradation
- Dust containment and easy clean-down
2. Conveying and Transfer to Packing
Gough Engineering designs the conveying route to protect your product and maintain flow consistency into the packing area. The conveying solution is selected based on whether you need gentle handling, sanitation compliance, or the ability to handle distance and elevation changes.
Typical integration considerations:
- Gentle vs. high-capacity transport
- Contained transfers and dust control
- CIP/cleaning access where required
- Wear protection for abrasive products
- Hygienic design and materials selection (food/pharma/chemical)
3. Buffering and Conditioning Before Bagging
A well-sized buffer hopper or surge arrangement decouples the process from packing. This prevents upstream variations from affecting pack speed and weight control.
Options often included:
- Level measurement and high/low logic
- Anti-bridging measures (product-dependent)
- De-dusting, venting, and filtration interfaces
- Safe ac2cess for inspection and maintenance
4. Accurate Feeding, Weighing, and Bagging
Robbe bagging systems receive material under controlled conditions for accurate, repeatable filling. The result? Improved weight consistency, reduced rework, and fewer bagger interruptions.
Outcomes you can expect:
- Higher OEE through fewer stops and smoother running
- Reduced giveaway through stable feed conditions
- Cleaner operation with better dust management
5. Discharge, Check, and Onward Conveying
Where required, Gough Engineering can integrate downstream handling such as bag take-away conveyors, checkweighers, metal detection, and end-of-line connections.
What About Controls and Automation?
A major benefit of an engineered integration is coordinated controls. Rather than independent machines fighting each other, your line operates with:
- Interlocked start/stop sequencing – safe, repeatable line operation
- Level-based buffering control – prevent starving or overfilling
- Fault handling and recovery logic – reduce downtime and operator intervention
- Recipe/changeover support – where multiple SKUs are run
- Data signals to site systems (where applicable) – alarms, run status, production counts
This "single system" approach reduces commissioning time and improves reliability in daily operation.
How Is the System Designed for Your Specific Needs?
Gough Engineering integration is specified based on:
- Material characteristics – flowability, dustiness, fragility, abrasiveness
- Target throughput and bag formats
- Hygiene requirements – food grade/pharmaceutical/ chemical
- Available footprint – working within your existing facility constraints
- Operator workflow – safety, access, and ease of use
- Utilities and site standards – power, compressed air, PLC platforms
The final result is a line that feeds the bagger consistently, maintains product quality, and supports safe, efficient operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is Robbe?
Robbe is a leading manufacturer of industrial bagging systems known for reliability, accuracy, and durability. Their equipment is designed for filling bags with powders, granules, flakes, and other bulk materials across food, chemical, and manufacturing applications.
- What problems does poor bagging line integration cause?
Without proper integration, you'll see inconsistent bag weights, frequent stoppages, product waste from spillage or degradation, dust emissions, difficult cleaning and changeovers, and frustrated operators constantly troubleshooting feed issues.
- How does buffering improve bagging accuracy?
A buffer hopper decouples your upstream process from the bagger. Even if your mixer or reactor runs in batches, the bagger sees continuous, stable flow—leading to consistent weights and faster cycle times without interruptions.
- Can the system handle multiple product types?
Yes. Through recipe-based controls and consideration of material characteristics during design, integrated systems can be configured for multi-product operation with controlled changeovers.
- What conveying options work best for fragile products?
For fragile materials like flakes, extruded snacks, or delicate granules, Gough Engineering typically specifies gentle conveying solutions such as tubular drag conveyors, low-velocity pneumatic systems, or carefully designed belt conveyors with minimal transfer points.
- How long does commissioning take for an integrated line?
Because the entire line is designed as one coordinated system with integrated controls, commissioning is typically faster than piecing together separate equipment. Most integrated lines are commissioned and validated within days rather than weeks.
- What industries use Robbe bagging systems with Gough integration?
Common applications include food ingredients, snack foods, breakfast cereals, pet food, chemicals, fertilisers, minerals, plastics, and pharmaceutical powders—essentially any industry requiring accurate, repeatable bag filling.
About Gough Engineering
Gough Engineering specialises in the design and integration of engineered material handling and processing solutions for industrial production environments. With a strong focus on sieving, screening, classification, conveying, and system integration, Gough works closely with clients to ensure bulk materials move through production lines efficiently, safely, and consistently.
By taking a system-level approach, Gough Engineering ensures that individual machines operate as part of a coordinated production line rather than in isolation—delivering robust, reliable solutions that improve uptime, product quality, and overall operational performance.
Ready to discuss your bagging line integration?
Contact Gough Engineering to explore how a properly integrated Robbe bagging system can transform your packing operation.
To learn more about Gough Engineering’s standard equipment and bespoke system design, visit
www.goughengineering.com
You can also speak directly with the team on +44 (0)1782 657770.
