PACKAGING
Before investing in a robotic system, manufacturers should ensure that any potential supplier understands their specific production needs.
Manufacturing facilities – especially packaging halls – are busy, often crowded spaces. A compact, modular system that can be configured to fit your available footprint will pay dividends.
correct rate before it gets to the customer’s site – thereby increasing the chance of project success from day one.
MISTAKE #6: NOT FUTUREPROOFING YOUR TECHNOLOGY
may not even have English as their first language. Simple HMIs with touch screens, intuitive menus, colour coding and clear visual cues – as opposed to lengthy technical jargon – will ensure your system can be widely used by all production staff, so check with your supplier that their systems are as user-friendly as this. At Tekpak, we always ask for feedback on usability from a variety of staff members following the FAT and SAT stages of a project, including those working on the shop floor. Making sure that operatives can easily alter packaging formats and layouts on the HMI, for example, is essential to the long-term success of your automation project.
MISTAKE #4: NOT BUILDING IN PRODUCTION FLEXIBILITY
One of the biggest mistakes a manufacturer can make is choosing an automated system that’s perfect for them now. Automation is a big investment and consumer demands change rapidly. If your solution has been specified for one particular application, on one particular line, for one particular product, it may quickly become obsolete if your product range alters. When we deliver a system to a customer, we make it clear that we have not merely sold them a machine but the software, too. We ensure that both can be altered as required, to offer maximum production flexibility now and in the future – whether that be a change of size, speed, product type or configuration.
UKManufacturing Spring 2026
For example, we previously installed a high-speed vial coding line that was initially designed to handle three vial sizes. We are currently collaborating with the client to introduce a fourth, smaller format. Thanks to the original futureproof design of all modules, this addition can be implemented seamlessly without any mechanical modifications, providing full flexibility with no complications or unplanned downtime.
MISTAKE #5: NOT HAVING A SINGLE POINT OF RESPONSIBILITY
An automated line may comprise equipment from numerous OEMS. However, for a project to succeed, the overall system needs to be ‘owned’, installed, managed and – most importantly – made compliant by one single company. Having a single point of responsibility will limit your risk, reduce admin load and speed up installation and delivery time, while giving you peace of mind that your solution meets the necessary regulations such as CE, Cyber Resilience and Machinery Directive, as well as validation requirements if applicable.
Some companies go a step further. For example, one of our current customers has ordered additional equipment from a different supplier which will run alongside the robotic pick-and-place packaging cell we are building for them. We have arranged for this equipment to be delivered to our workshop so we can integrate it with our cell and ensure it’s running at the
Technology is changing fast. AI tools are becoming increasingly common in automation systems, with AI-enabled vision systems helping to position parts accurately, quality check products and increase worker safety, among other things. How can you ensure your automation system is fit for the AI revolution and won’t be outdated in a few years’ time, while remaining confident that your data is safe and secure? Firstly, check that your supplier’s software can be remotely updated as technology evolves and make sure any smart features are included in the FAT and SAT checks. In addition, ask if their solution is compliant with the incoming EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). Beginning in September 2026 with full enforcement taking place in December 2027, the CRA sets mandatory cybersecurity requirements for hardware and software products with a digital element. At Tekpak, all our systems are CRA-compliant as standard, well before the Act becomes enforceable.
MISTAKE #7: NOT THINKING ABOUT AFTER CARE
Finally, do not forget that your relationship with your automation supplier should not end at the point of installation – think of it as a partnership rather than a sales transaction. To ensure you get the best out of your system, your supplier should offer training, warranty and after-sales support for as long as you need it, including remote access to limit unexpected downtime. After the SAT has been completed, our engineers usually remain on site for a week. After this, our service agreements and warranties, including remote access as standard, make sure our systems are never left unsupported. We will continue to support the customer for as long as they need us – in fact, we are still caring for some machines 12 years after they were first installed. Make sure your supplier views your investment as a long-term partnership, not just a quick sale.
Tekpak Automation
www.tekpakautomation.com
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