Packaging OEM - Developing the next generation packaging machines.

The SOMIC 202 cartoner collects, groups, and packs pre-packaged products into single-piece corrugated cartons.

Secondary packaging

SOMIC brings space-saving cartoner to Pack Expo International

August 26, 2026

SOMIC Packaging is bringing its new SOMIC 202 cartoner to North America. The compact machine handles RSCs, trays, and wraparound cartons at speeds up to 20 packs per minute.

FOCUS Integration will show its CUBE palletizing system at Pack Expo 2026.

KUKA to show automation for packaging and food at Pack Expo 2026

August 24, 2026

Quest’s Flexible One packaging system, which brings together technologies from multiple ProMach brands, uses robotic case packing technology to handle cookie boxes.

Quest integrates robotics into Flexible One packaging platform

August 21, 2026

Dexterity’s Mech loads boxes into a truck as part of its automated truck-loading operations.

Dexterity ‘superhumanoid’ robot uses physical AI for truck loading and unloading

August 20, 2026

Featured

Direct Conveyors’ conveyor technology positions and manipulates packages for downstream processes (left side of image). Rockwell Automation’s OTTO autonomous mobile robots connect material movement with production demand (right side of image).

Digital Transformation

Beyond the conveyor: How automation connects packaging lines to the warehouse

August 18, 2026

3D Printing in Packaging: Rethinking Engineering, Tooling, and Production

August 6, 2026

Pepperl+Fuchs industrial sensor lab demonstrates conveyor automation with a photoelectric sensor detecting tote movement for zone-based material handling and packaging efficiency.

Vision systems and sensors

Sensing a trend: Pepperl+Fuchs enables smarter movement across packaging lines

May 20, 2026

Business

mk North America VersaMove pallet handling system with a QR code providing access to equipment-specific information and support resources.

Integrated equipment

mk North America uses QR codes to simplify conveyor support

August 12, 2026

What if a QR code on a conveyor could put the right manual, spare parts list, and drawings in your hands in seconds? mk North America is putting that idea into practice.

Nestlé Confectionery implemented augmented reality (AR) packaging on two of its brands, KitKat and Quality Street, to assist shoppers who are living with sight loss or impairment, so they can easily access product information.

On the Line: Packaging plays a bigger role in consumer engagement

July 16, 2026

In Episode 251 of The Robot Report Podcast, hosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman are joined by special guest Sarah Wynn, senior editor at sibling site Packaging OEM, to chat about their experiences on the show floor at Automate last month.

The Robot Report Podcast: Editors recap physical AI, edge computing, and robotics at Automate

July 2, 2026

Among the most viewed stories from the first six months of 2026: Sun Centre USA’s POUCH3 Cuboid format, Amazon Transparency’s 2D barcode traceability work, a Schneider Electric robot, and a Combi Packaging Systems employee working on an end-of-line robotic system.

The most-read packaging stories of 2026… so far

July 2, 2026

Technology

More Technology

On the Line: Building flexibility into material handling

August 20, 2026

Close-up view of a 3D printed pattern used for thermoforming. tooling applications.

On the Line: 3D printing moves beyond prototyping

August 13, 2026

The SEW-EURODRIVE PxG economy series includes P1.G, P2.G, and P3.G planetary servo gear units with peak torque ratings from 11 to 500 Nm.

Components / instrumentation

SEW-EURODRIVE expands PxG servo lineup with economy series

August 10, 2026

Machinery

The FlexLink RC20 collaborative palletizer moves cases into position for palletizing at speeds of up to 12 boxes per minute with double pick.

FlexLink brings higher payloads to collaborative palletizing

August 17, 2026

Harpak-ULMA’s VTC 840 WD vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) system is designed for high-sanitation food packaging applications with IP66 washdown capability.

Primary packaging

Harpak-ULMA VFFS system simplifies cleaning, reduces utility use

August 14, 2026

A box travels through AMC Automation's Zero-Pressure Accumulation (ZPA) Conveyor System, which uses run-on-demand conveying and 24V DC gear motors to support single-piece flow.

Integrated equipment

AMC Automation targets single-piece flow with new conveyor system

August 10, 2026

BW Packaging's Hayssen intelligent sanitary bagger packages organic kale at Little Bear Produce.

On the Line: Packaging partnerships, machinery, and robotics

August 6, 2026

Applications

More Applications

Dexterity’s Mech loads boxes into a truck as part of its automated truck-loading operations.

Dexterity ‘superhumanoid’ robot uses physical AI for truck loading and unloading

August 20, 2026

Beckhoff Automation worked with Dexterity and its Mech robot to build a control architecture for trailer loading and unloading.

Provisur’s Formax Free Movement System uses free-floating movers on an electromagnetic surface to automate product handling between slicing and packaging.

Filling and Processing

Provisur connects slicing and packaging with free-movement system

August 3, 2026

Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar bottles with peel-off collectible stickers are displayed on an Ohio retail shelf as part of the company’s FIFA World Cup packaging campaign.

How Coca-Cola is making packaging part of the World Cup experience

July 13, 2026

Resources

3D Printing in Packaging: Rethinking Engineering, Tooling, and Production

August 6, 2026

Robotics on the Packaging Line: Enabling Faster, More Flexible Operations

May 1, 2026

The New Remote Management Mindset in Packaging: Smart, Scalable, Secure Service

February 19, 2026

The New PLC Play: Virtual, open, and AI-enabled

December 22, 2025

Latest Podcasts

In Episode 251 of The Robot Report Podcast, hosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman are joined by special guest Sarah Wynn, senior editor at sibling site Packaging OEM, to chat about their experiences on the show floor at Automate last month.

The Robot Report Podcast: Editors recap physical AI, edge computing, and robotics at Automate

July 2, 2026

Piab Group’s BLFF vacuum suction cup (left side of image) is designed to handle a range of packaging formats, from flexible pouches to cases, while a Fanuc industrial robot (right side of image) demonstrates mixed-SKU “rainbow pallet” capability with Ziploc bags, boxes of macaroni and cheese, and Kleenex at Modex 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Robot Report Podcast: Editors recap Modex palletizing, e-commerce, end-of-line automation

April 18, 2026

Spencer Cramer, founder and CEO of ei3, joins The Downtime podcast to discuss remote connectivity and OEE in manufacturing.

The Downtime podcast: ei3 on remote management and OEM service models

April 9, 2026

keep browsing

The igus twisterchain energy chain supports cable management on compact industrial robots with rotation angles of more than 600°.

igus energy chain supports pick-and-place robots with 600° cable rotation

August 5, 2026

WeighPack Systems’ Swifty S-3600 Duplex premade pouch machine uses two independent pouch lanes to fill and seal up to 80 pouches per minute, supporting stand-up, zipper, and quad pouches with terminating gussets.

Primary packaging

WeighPack expands Swifty Bagger lineup with duplex pouch machine

July 31, 2026

A BW Packaging palletizing system. The company recently announced a strategic partnership with Crown Packaging Corp. to expand packaging automation and integrated packaging solutions across North America.

BW Packaging teams with Crown Packaging to expand automation capabilities

July 30, 2026

Timing screws from Morrison Container Handling Solutions help guide containers through packaging equipment.

On the Line: How timing screws, HMIs, and software support packaging uptime

July 30, 2026

Destaco's palletizing gripper, shown at Automate 2026, is designed for robotic handling of heavy bags in end-of-line packaging applications.

Destaco palletizing gripper targets heavy bag handling applications

July 29, 2026

condition monitoring.

On the Line: Supporting the next generation of packaging equipment

July 23, 2026

Automated packaging systems are becoming more integrated into broader warehouse operations.

Packaging automation shifts to ease warehouse integration, says Interact Analysis

July 21, 2026

Nord Drivesystems highlighted a variety of its variable frequency drives, including the NORDAC Flex, at ProMat 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

Components / instrumentation

Nord supports bakery equipment with washdown-ready drive systems

July 15, 2026

Packaging OEM’s parent company, WTWH Media, today announced it has rebranded as Arrowfly. The new name and identity reflect the company's transformation from a specialized trade publisher into an omnichannel B2B media, events, and marketing company where hard-to-reach professional decision-makers gather for trusted journalism, industry intelligence, and high-impact experiences that move their markets forward.

Packaging OEM’s parent company, WTWH Media, rebrands as Arrowfly

July 13, 2026

Robotics demonstrations at the Kassow Robots (left side of image) and ABB (right side of image) booths showcased automation technologies featured at Automate 2026.

On the Line: AI, robotics, and the future of packaging automation

July 9, 2026