It takes more than a brush to fill paint store orders

Purpose – To report on the design and development of a robotic order‐building system that both depalletizes pails of paint and then repalletizes them by customer order instructions. Design/methodology/approach – A paint products manufacturer called in a custom material‐handling robot builder not only to design the robot but to design and commission the entire order‐building system. Findings – Robot handling of heavy paint pails can speed order building, reduce workforce injuries and improve accuracy of shipments. Practical implications – Do not rule out robotic handling of odd shapes in thinking of how robotics can automate operations. Finding a system integrator who has experience with products of one's own type can prove a key to project success. Originality/value – Learning of the success of another company in addressing tough to handle containers can provide ideas for addressing a company's own automation needs.