High output and 99.9% OEE support successful development of the Royal British Legion's new plastic-free poppy

New, sustainable approach allows Remembrance poppy to be automatically assembled faster and more efficiently

MILTON KEYNES, England, Nov. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world's largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced that its automation technology sits at the heart of new machines that assemble the Royal British Legion's new plastic-free poppy.

Designed and built by Rockwell Automation Gold OEM partner Sewtec Automation, the machines are being used to assemble the new paper poppies at two UK sites, the Royal British Legion in Aylesford, Kent and Lady Haig's Poppy Factory in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The Royal British Legion has been developing the plastic-free poppy for the past three years, in collaboration with specialist partners, as it works to reduce its use of single-use plastic and be economical, sustainable, and less impactful to the environment.

The poppy has been created from bespoke red and green paper produced from a blend of renewable fibers from responsible sources, 50 percent of which come from the offcuts created during the production of paper coffee cups.

"We are extremely proud to be involved in this project," explains Phil Hadfield, managing director at Rockwell Automation UK. "The new machines underwent a development process and subsequent design evolution based on highly effective teamworking and interactions that were not unlike those of many of our other industrial customers."

"The original paper poppy design had to be fine-tuned to cater for the capabilities of automated assembly machines," explains Mark Atkins, director of business support at Sewtec. "We then developed a proof-of-concept test rig that could manipulate, assemble, and emboss the poppies at the desired rate of 120 per minute. This then evolved into the full machine, which at full speed, delivers and OEE of 99.9%. There is very little waste."

Director of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, Andy Taylor-Whyte said: "We want to encourage as many people as possible to get a poppy this year and show their gratitude and support to those in the Armed Forces whose service and sacrifice should never be forgotten. We're so proud that this year, we have our new plastic-free poppy too, so that the public can wear this poignant symbol of Remembrance, with less impact on the environment.

Learn more about the sustainability benefits you can find with Rockwell Automation.

About Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 29,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries. To learn more about how we are bringing the Connected Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2267400/Poppy_image_1.jpg
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1981317/Rockwell_Automation_Logo.jpg