Signode has updated its end-of-line automation portfolio designed specifically for producers of empty containers, responding to the industry’s trend in upstream operations toward higher-speed production with greater reliance on integrated, predictable automation.

Empty container markets—which, relevant to the food supply chain, include packaging like aluminum cans, glass and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, jars, and lightweight rigid plastics—share a common challenge. These products are shipped, stored, and handled before filling, making unit stability and process control essential. Variability in labor, manual handling, or standalone equipment can lead to deformation, product loss, or bottlenecks that ripple downstream.

Signode’s automation capabilities combine conveying, robotic palletizing, strapping, and unitizing into a unified workflow. These solutions are purpose-built for empty-container packaging, helping customers maintain throughput and load integrity while reducing manual touchpoints. The system offers flexibility to handle steps from robotic bulk pallet unitizing to high-density storage with the StorFast Automated Storage and Retrieval System (StorFast ASRS). This integration connects packaging lines with automated warehousing, driving efficiency and line continuity.

Across empty-container manufacturing, customers are leveraging these systems to reduce manual intervention, stabilize high-density stacks, improve pack-out accuracy, and create a more predictable and repeatable flow into filling and downstream processes. To support these uses, Signode has made advancements to its equipment portfolio to include optimized strap application for lightweight formats, enhanced control interfaces, and tighter integration with plant-wide automation and data platforms.

Signode offers hands-on testing through its ISTA-certified Packaging Lab at its Customer Experience Center (CEC) in Roselle, Illinois. In partnership with Signode engineers, producers can explore how Signode equipment and consumables perform with specific container types and line configurations. Real-world transit conditions are simulated in a controlled environment, giving teams the insight needed to make data-driven decisions. Tests are tailored to unique product and distribution setups.

Signode: www.signode.com