Factorio Forums

Yesterday i sumbled uppon Friday Facts #225 - Bots versus belts (part 2) and this is my idea how to make belts competable to bots:

Create new inserter type "Pack inserter"
- recipe requires at least stack inserter and blue circuit
- can grab only full stack of items from container
- requires, that container has wooden chests in it to work (1 pack == 1 stack + 1 wooden chest)
- can unpack packed items from belt into container
- cannot unpack from belt to belt even if target belt has enouch thruput
- will not unpack if at destination is not enouch space

Packed items:
- visually will use same texture as wooden chest with "Show Info" mode active only scaled
- normal inserters can move these packs, but only to another belt, not in container (pack inserter required for that)
- on belt will occupy both lanes
- will bet stuck in from of splitter / underground belt
- burner, fast, filter and long range inserters cannot move these (too heavy ...

PS: last 3 lines for packed items are there, so packing has some drawbacks and dont make bots obsolete...

Mockup image: (Pack inserters represented by inserters in middle)

This has been proposed many, many, many times before (read the monster threads about those FFFs about it). There is even one or more mods that do this, but I forgot which ones. I am sure someone else can point you to them.

Corresponding "frequently-suggested" thread:

viewtopic.php?f=80&t=19343 Boxing / Packaging / Container / Cargobox : Pre-Filling