Digital Transformation

Robotics Industry ‘Poised for an Explosion of Growth’

Automation leaders say the next wave of robotics growth will depend on systems that are simpler to use, easier to maintain, and able to improve after deployment, with humanoid robots adding new questions around task, form, and safety.

July 9, 2026

Digital Transformation

Logistics/Supply Chain

'Hard and Messy': What Sysco Learned by Getting Out in Front of EPR Reporting

Packaged food distributor Sysco started building its EPR data infrastructure two years ago, before most brand owners knew they would need one. Now, fees are live. Here's what a sustainability director at Sysco learned when she looked around and realized she was ahead of the curve.

July 7, 2026

Podcasts

Through the Line Podcast: AI Mines Product Reviews for Packaging Insights

How does PackSense, an AI-powered system for product quality insights, address the gap between controlled testing and real-world experience?

July 7, 2026

Digital Transformation

Boxed Water Brand Hands Heavy Case Stacking to Robotics

The brand turned to a full-service robotic automation model to take physical strain off workers at the end of the line while maintaining uptime and adapting to a growing case mix.

July 2, 2026

Digital Transformation

Ask the Right Questions of AI in Packaging

AI is accelerating packaging innovation—but long-term success depends on defining the right problems before seeking the right answers.

June 29, 2026

Robotics

Siemens: AI Must Earn Its Place on the Control Layer

In a Day 2 keynote at Automate, Siemens Digital Industries leaders Chris Stevens and Annemarie Breu walked the audience through what it takes for AI and automation to deliver real shop-floor impact.

June 23, 2026

Robotics

Getting Industrial Automation Right the First Time

Vention's Brendan Sterne argues that simulation, digital twins, and AI-assisted virtual commissioning are turning costly automation rework into a digital exercise.

June 23, 2026

Robotics

Physical AI Dominates Automate 2026’s Opening Day, While Humanoids Steal the Show Floor

New eight-axis arms, seven-axis cobots, and AI-driven platforms put physical AI to work in Chicago. Backflipping robots and coffee-pouring humanoids are the fun part, but they aren't ready for the packaging line.

June 23, 2026

Digital Transformation

Xaar Opens New Asia Pacific Headquarters in Dongguan to Strengthen Regional Support and Innovation

Xaar

Xaar's China headquarters combines manufacturing, technical services, R&D, and customer support capabilities to accelerate industrial inkjet innovation across the region.

June 22, 2026

Robotics

Novarc and Yaskawa Enter Strategic Memorandum of Understanding to Advance AI-powered Autonomous Welding Automation

Yaskawa America, Inc.

Novarc and Yaskawa partnership aims to integrate AI-powered welding intelligence with industrial robotics, advancing autonomous welding, improving precision, and enabling connected Industry 4.0 fabrication environments.

June 16, 2026

Logistics/Supply Chain

Live at GS1 Connect: Driscoll's Gives a Billion Clamshells Unique IDs

The fresh berry juggernaut had more than two million consumer survey responses, but no way to act on any of them. Changing that now is item-level serialization via one unique QR code per clamshell, across four thousand growers and a billion packages.

June 11, 2026

Contract Packaging

Portland Co-packer Doubles Production With Single Data Platform

Portland Bottling Company replaces disconnected, paper-based plant operations with a single connected platform, reaching 99% inventory accuracy and 100% shipping accuracy while doubling production volume.

June 9, 2026

Podcasts

Through the Line Podcast: Why Packaging Robotics Is Surging

What's behind the sudden surge in packaging robotics—and is it here to stay?

June 9, 2026