text: Overcartoning and boxing machines specialist Aries Packaging is moving into robotics. The company believes that greater automation will bring its clients greater flexibility, taking into account all end of line functionalities for bottles and containers.
  "We are in the process of extending our area of competence in end-of-line packaging systems, with an emphasis on research and development," said CEO Pascal de Guglielmo. "Our goal is to increase our know-how, in order to move towards even more streamlined systems mechanically.
  "We are striving to present our customers with ever increased flexibility. All of our developments thus centre on the flexibility of production lines, particularly high-speed lines, in the food processing industry. The idea is to combine these tools with our machines, in such a way as to optimise format range and format change processes."
  In comparison with standard kinetic solutions, robotisation permits coupling with vision systems for better quality control, orientation, and product sorting as well as handling of hard-to-mechanise planary bulk feed flows. Boxing and palletising systems are now becoming smarter and capable of working with a large variety of products.
  In addition, the recent acquisition of Centra Packaging, a company that specialises in boxing applications, has broadened Aries' field of application. The company now combines capabilities in packaging mechanisation, flexibility in the implementation of overcartoning (fast format changing), and production line integration, down from filling machine exit to palletising. The company believes that this establishes it as a truly global business.
  The Aries Packaging team is made up of specialised technicians from a variety of disciplines. The company is also an authorised integrator of ABB robots. Established in 1992, Aries currently employs 120 and posted revenues of €22 million in 2002.