Adept Technology And Harpak-ULMA Form Packaging Line Partnership

By Robb Frederick, contributing writer

Merger allows food production plants the use of USDA-approved robots, increasing efficiencies

Adept Technology, the largest U.S-based manufacturer of industrial robots, has announced a partnership with Harpak-ULMA, a provider of automated packing systems to the commercial food industry and other businesses. Harpak-ULMA will use the company's robots, software, and grippers to increase speed and efficiency on food-processing lines.

Harpak-ULMA specializes in fully automated packaging lines, tray sealing, flow wrap, thermoforming, cartoning and case packing in the meat, dairy, bakery, snack, and pet food industries. The current company formed in 2010 when Massachusetts-based Harpak merged with ULMA Packaging. The company's RAMA division offers secondary packaging equipment, including forming, closing, and cartoning machines and case erectors.

In addition to its work in the commercial food sector, Adept provides robotics systems and services to machine-tool and automotive component businesses, as well as medical, electronics, and semiconductor companies. “Automated primary food-packaging necessitates use of equipment that meets stringent requirements in every aspect, from gentle material handling at high speeds to compliance with strict sanitation requirements,” says Charles Harlfinger, CEO of Harpak-ULMA.

Adept will supply Harpak-ULMA with its SoftPIC silicone food grippers, which are designed for the handling of wet and irregularly shaped food products. Harpak-ULMA also will use Adept's Quattro s65OHS delta robot, a four-armed, overhead-mount system. The Quattro is IP-qualified, which indicates resistance to dust and immersion damage; it is also the only high-speed parallel robot accepted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for meat and poultry processing.

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