For the past almost 20 years, Pace Processing, a commercial bakery located in British Columbia, Canada has experienced consistent growth. That growth has led the company to adopt an automation strategy, but that presents its own challenges.

Robots in picking, packing and palletizing applications have performed some new feats—thanks to clever system integrators who have given them sensitive touch, better grips and keen vision.

The NJM semimanual Cumulus Model SLPP-15 case packer features a servo-driven, 2-axis pick-and-place robot that packs up to 10 cases or 180 bottles per min.

The JLS Talon robotic pick-and-place system and Osprey robotic case packers have open, hygienic, stainless steel frames with minimal horizontal surfaces and sloped control boxes.

The Somic 424 T2 (D) multipurpose, retail-ready case packer system forms and loads soft, rigid or flexible products, such as cans and pouches, into tightly condensed packages.

The Delkor Performance Loader compact, mid-range servo-driven case packing system for rigid containers includes a pick-and-place gantry and an infeed system that loads up to 200 containers per min.

The SOMIC-FLEX III multi-component packaging machine produces any type of packaging carton, from a single wraparound carton to a multiple-component cover-tray-carton combination.

A collaborative robotic automation system, the Proco Robo Packer case packer requires no special guarding to work interactively with personnel.

Able to run multiple sizes of side-load sleeves or end-load cartons at speeds up to 160 per min., the PMI HS1-12 horizontal sleeve/cartoner features a product in-feed system, rotary sleeve/carton feeder and integral pusher head.

Capable of being incorporated into virtually any existing end-of-line packing process, the Paxiom top-load, modular robotic pick-and-place cell can be combined with synchronized conveying systems.