Interpack highlights automation and digital ecosystems for global production lines

Leading machinery manufacturers and material suppliers utilised the global stage to showcase how open-architecture robotics, unified cloud telemetry, and specialised substrate handling are driving shop-floor efficiency across the food, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods sectors.

The synchronisation of line robotics is shifting the focus from standalone assets to complete turnkey packaging systems. Machinery specialist, ProMach highlighted this shift by demonstrating how collaboration and customised line configurations allow converters to transition away from fragmented components toward integrated mechanical environments.

Manufacturing teams are designing custom systems that align feeding, secondary processing, and end-of-line palletising into a single layout. To support this, Clevertech Group collaborated with Piab Group to showcase advanced robotic systems specifically engineered for end-of-line handovers.

Simone Cervi, mechatronic director at Clevertech, and Filippo Maria V, sales manager at Piab, detailed how combining open-architecture mechatronics with high-precision vacuum handling systems optimises mechanical handovers at high speeds. This framework allows manufacturing plants to minimise product damage and reduce mechanical bottlenecks during sorting and secondary packaging cycles.

In primary cartoning and case-packing operations, Mpac Group demonstrated its latest automation solutions, targeting improved line availability and decreased footprint configuration. The machinery layouts focused on showing how automated changeover sequences can protect operating margins for consumer brands navigating short-run product variations.

Similarly, GroupMosca introduced its newly structured brand architecture designed to unify its strapping technology and transit-packaging divisions. The group emphasised that consolidating its equipment lines under a single banner allows packaging operations to simplify logistics. This ensures that mechanical tension controls and load-containment data transfer smoothly between separate wrapping and strapping assets.

For pharma manufacturing, the production floor is transitioning toward fully integrated digital ecosystems. IMA Pharma showcased an asset network that links AI, advanced robotics, and real-time digital intelligence across the entire pharmaceutical processing and packaging chain.

The integrated system operates by capturing live telemetry from primary blister and liquid filling operations and transferring those data packets to cartoning and serialisation modules. This replaces traditional monitoring with a continuous tracking system, allowing QC teams to predict batch compliance, automate rejection protocols, and accelerate line clearance times.

In food processing and preservation, GEA Food Processing and Packaging utilised live demonstrations combining accuracy with software to help food brands minimise raw material giveaway and ensure sealing integrity. The platform integrates processing controls directly with final primary sealing machinery to optimise thermal application windows and web tension configurations. This prevents film stretching and protects product shelf life.

Material suppliers and extrusion machinery manufacturers addressed tightening global recycling frameworks by showcasing commercial applications for mono-material film structures. The Windmoeller & Hoelscher Group presented a dedicated display of commercial packaging solutions produced by global converters utilising MDO-PE structures.

The demonstration illustrated that mono-material polyolefin laminates can replicate the optical clarity, structural stiffness, and tensile strength of traditional multi-layer, non-recyclable structures. By controlling film orientation and cooling parameters during the film-blowing stage, converters can run these eco-friendly substrates on high-speed FFS lines without causing film tearing or losing barrier performance.