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15 July 2025

Canadian containers benefit from range of systems automation from trays to pallets

ALS Mechatronic’s engineers have installed four production lines combining tray-erecting with container pick-and-place directly on to each pallet load, before wrapping and labelling.

Once the pallet-sized trays have been formed on two automatic erectors, they are automatically placed for palletisation by one of four Fanuc robots. In each of the four cells, the robots then position the different types of rigid container row-by-row on to the pallet load, using what ALS calls “precise manipulation and placement”.

The Canadian installation includes: 250m of Flexlink conveyor for continuous container infeed; a Signode vertical strapper and Robopac Rotoplate stretch wrapper for load stability; a fully-integrated print-on-demand pallet labeller; and a Rockwell Automation control system built around a SIL 3 Guardlogix Safety Processor. Also installed were 60m of safety fencing, as well as roller conveyor systems.

From concept to commissioning, says ALS, the system was tailored entirely to the customer’s needs—reflecting the supplier’s ethos of engineering solutions that fit process, space and performance demands.

“Our customer needed an adaptable automation setup that could handle multiple container formats with minimal manual intervention,” says ALS managing director Andrew Steward. “What we delivered wasn’t just about machines—it was about understanding their operation inside out and building a solution that truly works for them and optimises their space.” With over 250m of conveyor alone, he adds, the project’s physical scale was matched by its complexity. Each automation cell operates independently, allowing for flexible scheduling and maintenance, while still sustaining synchronised output across all four production lines. The result is an optimised, high-efficiency system with a strong focus on safety, uptime and traceability, says ALS.

The supplier emphasises the passion and care its team brings to each job. “With all our projects the strong relationships we build with our customers, at all levels in an organisation, is key,” says Steward. “That’s what delivers long-term success for them and us.”

01242 621315

www.alsmechatronic.com