Bottles & Containers
Automated Systems for Handling Bottles & Containers
Bottles and containers come in many forms — glass bottles, plastic jars, PET containers, rigid tubs, canisters, jugs, and specialty packaging — but they all share one critical requirement: they must be handled with precision from the production line through packing, palletizing, securing, and distribution.
Kaufman Engineered Systems designs, builds, and integrates automated systems for handling bottles and containers with the speed, consistency, and care required in modern manufacturing environments. Whether products are fragile, lightweight, slippery, top-heavy, nested, irregularly shaped, or prone to tipping, our team develops automation solutions that protect product integrity while improving throughput, safety, and end-of-line efficiency.
Using FANUC robots, custom end-of-arm tooling, engineered conveying, and integrated palletizing and depalletizing systems, Kaufman helps manufacturers move bottles and containers through the packaging process with greater reliability and less dependence on manual labor.
This image features an automated packaging line driven by a highly sophisticated conveyor network integrated with lane guides and sensors to direct the flow of glass bottles through the system.
Bottle & Container Challenges
Bottles and containers can create unique challenges throughout the packaging process. Their shape, material, weight, and surface characteristics all affect how they move, stack, and secure.
Product Protection
Glass and other fragile containers require careful handling to reduce the risk of breakage, cracking, chipping, or surface damage. Plastic containers may be less fragile, but they can still deform, scuff, tip, or shift if the system is not properly designed.
Kaufman systems are engineered to control product movement, limit unnecessary impact, and maintain consistent placement throughout the line.
Stable Stacking & Palletizing
Bottles and containers can be difficult to palletize because of smooth surfaces, variable weight distribution, changing product formats, or unstable load patterns. Filled containers may create heavy loads, while empty containers may be lightweight and prone to movement.
A successful palletizing system must account for product weight, layer pattern, pallet configuration, stacking height, and the securing method used after palletizing.
Controlled Conveying
Conveying bottles and containers requires careful attention to speed, accumulation, spacing, transfers, and vibration. Transition points are especially important because poor product control can lead to tipping, jamming, breakage, or downtime.
Kaufman integrates conveying solutions that support the full automation process, helping products move smoothly into packing, palletizing, depalletizing, wrapping, or other downstream operations.
Labor, Safety, & Consistency
Manual handling of bottles and containers can be repetitive, physically demanding, and difficult to maintain at high production volumes. Robotic automation helps reduce labor dependency, improve ergonomic safety, and deliver more consistent results across shifts.
By automating repetitive packing, palletizing, depalletizing, and product handling tasks, manufacturers can improve productivity while reducing variability and risk.
Our Solutions
Kaufman Engineered Systems provides more than a robot. We engineer complete automation systems that consider how bottles and containers move before, during, and after the robotic process.
Our systems can include any of the following:
- Robotic palletizing & depalletizing
- Case packing and tray packing
- Product picking, placing, and orienting
- Custom end-of-arm tooling (EOAT)
- Engineered conveyor systems
- Pallet handling and load transport
- Stretch wrapping and load securing
- Integrated controls and safety systems
- System installation, service, and support
Every application is evaluated based on the product, container material, packaging format, production rate, footprint, and operational goals. The result is a system designed to protect product quality, improve efficiency, and support long-term production demands.
Robotic Palletizing & Depalletizing
Robotic palletizing and depalletizing systems are especially valuable for bottle and container applications because they provide controlled, repeatable movement at production speeds that are difficult to maintain manually.
For glass containers, the system must prioritize careful handling and load stability. For plastic containers, the system may need to accommodate lightweight products, flexible packaging formats, multiple SKUs, or changing production requirements.
Kaufman designs each robotic system around the application, including tooling, pattern formation, pallet handling, infeed configuration, and downstream load-securing processes.
Benefits include:
KPal K5 EOAT palletizes and depalletizes full layers of bottles and cases.
- Consistent pallet patterns
- Improved load stability
- Reduced product damage
- Lower manual labor requirements
- Increased throughput
- Improved workplace safety
- Better consistency across shifts
- Flexibility for product or packaging changes
Custom End-of-Arm Tooling for Reliable Handling
The end-of-arm tool (EOAT) is one of the most important elements in a successful bottle- or container-handling system. Containers may need to be gripped, lifted, supported, vacuumed, clamped, or stabilized depending on their material, shape, weight, and orientation.
Kaufman designs and builds custom end-of-arm tools in-house to match the specific demands of each application. This allows the robot to handle products efficiently while minimizing the risk of damage, misplacement, or dropped product.
The right tooling can help accommodate:
- Fragile glass containers
- Lightweight plastic containers
- Empty or filled products
- Round, square, tapered, or irregular shapes
- Multiple product sizes
- Cases, trays, bundles, or individual units
- Product orientation requirements
This system uses the proprietary K5 full layer end-of-arm tool to securely pick a full layer of plastic bottles and safely place them on the pallet.
Integrated Components for Securing and Conveying Loads
Robotic palletizing and depalletizing systems are especially valuable for bottle and container applications because they provide controlled, repeatable movement at production speeds that are difficult to maintain manually.
For glass containers, the system must prioritize careful handling and load stability. For plastic containers, the system may need to accommodate lightweight products, flexible packaging formats, multiple SKUs, or changing production requirements.
Kaufman designs each robotic system around the application, including tooling, pattern formation, pallet handling, infeed configuration, and downstream load-securing processes.
Benefits include:
Paced conveying to gently accumulate rows of glass bottles until the full tier passes through to the Palletizer.
- Consistent pallet patterns
- Improved load stability
- Reduced product damage
- Lower manual labor requirements
- Increased throughput
- Improved workplace safety
- Better consistency across shifts
- Flexibility for product or packaging changes
Every application is evaluated based on the product, container material, packaging format, production rate, footprint, and operational goals. The result is a system designed to protect product quality, improve efficiency, and support long-term production demands.
System Videos
View our Channel
KPac Case Packing, KPal C XL Palletizing, and KForce Stretch Wrapping – Full VideoClick Here to Open Full Screen
KPal K5 Full Layer Bulk Glass Bottle Palletizing SystemClick Here to Open Full Screen
KPal Full Layer Bulk Palletizing for Plastic BottlesClick Here to Open Full Screen
Robotic Machine Loader for Small Plastic ContainersClick Here to Open Full Screen
Robotic Soft-Packer for Glass BottlesClick Here to Open Full Screen
Robotic Case Packing System for Large Plastic BottlesClick Here to Open Full Screen
Robo-Laner, Full Layer Palletizing, Strapping, and Stretch Wrapping Plastic BottlesClick Here to Open Full Screen
KPal K5 Full Layer Glass Depalletizing SystemClick Here to Open Full Screen
KPal K5 Palletizing & Depalletizing with Lights Out FunctionalityClick Here to Open Full Screen
KPal K5 Depalletizing Plastic Containers, Then Palletizing The Bundled ContainersClick Here to Open Full Screen
Robotic Picking and Palletizing Wide-Rim Plastic ContainersClick Here to Open Full Screen
Conveying, Tier-Forming, Palletizing, Strapping, and Wrapping Glass BottlesClick Here to Open Full Screen
Why Choose Kaufman Engineered Systems
Choosing Kaufman means working with an experienced automation partner that understands the full end-of-line process. Our team designs systems around real production conditions, not just the robot cell.
Kaufman integrates robotics, custom tooling, conveyor design, controls, pallet handling, stretch wrapping, and load securing into systems built for performance, durability, and long-term reliability.
Manufacturers choose Kaufman for:
- Decades of automation experience
- FANUC robotic integration
- Custom end-of-arm tooling designed in-house
- Systems engineered around product-specific requirements
- Experience with fragile, rigid, lightweight, and irregular products
- Complete end-of-line automation capabilities
- Improved productivity, safety, and consistency
- Long-term service and support
Whether you are handling glass bottles, plastic jars, PET containers, rigid tubs, or specialty packaging, Kaufman can design an automated system that protects your product and improves your operation.
Request Quote
Contact Us
Join Our Mailing List
Product Types
Kaufman Engineered Systems designs, manufactures, and integrates solutions to handle an almost limitless range of products.