The Labotek LabKab Fully Automatic Bag Emptying System is an advanced industrial solution designed to deliver high speed, cleanliness, and maximum occupational safety in plastic raw material handling processes. It has been specifically developed for injection moulding, extrusion, compounding, and recycling plants where raw materials are supplied in palletized bags and need to be discharged in a controlled, efficient, and almost loss-free manner without operator intervention. Designed with Labotek’s extensive engineering expertise in automation, the LabKab series elevates bag emptying operations to a completely new level compared to manual and semi-automatic systems.
The basic operating principle of the LabKab system starts with positioning a full pallet of 25 kg bags in front of the machine. Using a movable trolley equipped with a specially designed hook system, the bags are gripped one by one, opened in a controlled manner by stainless steel cutting discs, and fully emptied. The system achieves a discharge efficiency of up to 99.9 percent, minimizing raw material loss while maximizing production efficiency. This level of efficiency represents a significant economic advantage, particularly in the processing of high-value engineering plastics and masterbatches.
At the core of the system is a PLC-controlled automation architecture. All machine functions are managed via an intuitive 7-inch touch screen interface that allows operators to easily monitor discharge speed, cycle times, safety parameters, and overall system status. The user interface ensures stable and repeatable operation without the need for complex adjustments. Optical and inductive sensors provide high-precision bag detection, positioning, and emptying, ensuring consistent performance across continuous production cycles.
The LabKab is available in two fully automatic main models: LabKab T12 and LabKab T18. The LabKab T12 offers a discharge capacity of up to 12 tons per hour, while the LabKab T18 reaches capacities of up to 18 tons per hour. Compared to manual bag emptying, these capacities provide a continuous and significantly higher throughput. The LabKab T12 is capable of completely emptying a full pallet consisting of 11 layers and a total of 55 bags in approximately 7 minutes. During this process, pallet feeding and removal of the empty pallet are handled by forklift, while all remaining operations are performed fully automatically without human intervention.
In terms of dimensions, the LabKab T12 has approximate overall dimensions of 2280 x 3600 x 5150 mm, while the LabKab T18 measures approximately 2280 x 3550 x 6580 mm. Machine weights are around 2600 kg for the T12 model and approximately 2800 kg for the T18 model. From an energy perspective, the T12 operates with an installed power of about 9 kW, while the T18 requires approximately 13.5 kW. Considering the high throughput and automation level, these power consumption figures represent a highly energy-efficient solution.
LabKab systems are suitable for discharging plastic granules, pellets, powders, and similar free-flowing materials. They are fully compatible with plastic, jute, and woven polypropylene bags, offering flexibility for both standard raw material packaging and special bag types. Thanks to low energy consumption, minimal maintenance requirements, and long service intervals, the total cost of ownership is significantly reduced over the lifetime of the system.
Safety is one of the strongest features of the Labotek LabKab system. The machine is equipped with safety barriers, emergency stop buttons, and protective structures fully compliant with CE standards. TÜV and CE certifications ensure safe operation in both European and global markets. By eliminating manual handling, dust exposure, and physical strain, the system delivers major advantages in operator ergonomics and workplace safety, particularly in high-capacity production facilities.
The LabKab system can be integrated with a wide range of optional equipment. An empty bag compactor significantly reduces the volume of discharged bags, simplifying waste management. An automatic pallet stacker allows empty pallets to be stacked without operator involvement. Infeed and outfeed belt conveyors enable fully automated pallet feeding and pallet removal, allowing the LabKab to become an integral part of a centralized material handling and feeding system.
The newly enhanced LabKab design is manufactured in two main modules, simplifying transportation and on-site installation. This modular structure provides logistical advantages, especially for international shipments, and reduces installation time at the customer’s facility. Labotek’s 24-month warranty further underlines the long-term reliability of the system and supports uninterrupted production continuity.
In conclusion, the Labotek LabKab Fully Automatic Bag Emptying System is an ideal investment for plastic processing plants seeking a high-capacity, safe, clean, and operator-independent raw material discharge solution. By increasing efficiency, reducing labor costs, and ensuring process standardization, it delivers measurable operational benefits in injection moulding, extrusion, masterbatch, compounding, and recycling applications. Engineered with Labotek’s proven automation expertise, the LabKab system raises the automation level of modern plastic production facilities to a new benchmark.
