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Non-vision robotic case packing with a proprietary two-axis kinematic robot arm

Reliable mechanics. Serious speed.
Hawk keeps case packing moving.

A compact non-vision robotic case packer built for standardized, high-volume secondary packaging — cartons, cases, trays, clamshells, rigid containers and canisters, and multi-packs. A proprietary two-axis kinematic robot arm with custom VOB 2.0 (vacuum-on-board) tooling. No vision calibration required. IP65-rated cleanable construction. Designed, built, and serviced entirely by JLS Automation.
See the Hawk run your product See technical specs
Up to 220+
Cartons/min by configuration
Fixed logic
No calibration required
IP65
Rated, cleanable stainless construction
24–36
Months typical ROI
Multiple PatentsAll in Food Packaging Automation
In-House ProgrammingControls, Vision & Robotics Expertise
Factory-Tested ReliabilityBacked by JLS Service & Support
World-Class ServiceDedicated Installation, Startup & Support
24–26 Week Delivery WindowFor Standardized Platforms
JLS Hawk watercolor bird illustration

The JLS Hawk is a compact robotic case packer built around a proprietary two-axis kinematic robot arm for secondary packaging of cartons, corrugated cases, display trays, and multi-packs. Non-vision fixed pick-and-place logic eliminates cameras and calibration cycles. Up to 60 cases per minute, with cartoning rates up to 220+ per minute depending on configuration. VOB 2.0 vacuum-on-board tooling configured to your exact product. IP65-rated construction. Designed, built, and supported by JLS Automation.

JLS Hawk compact robotic case packer built on a proprietary two-axis kinematic robot arm

In action

Watch it acquire, pick, and place — at full production speed

Case packing of cartons | JLS Hawk robotic case packer Live Production Line

Case packing of cartons | JLS Hawk robotic case packer

The Hawk compact two-axis robotic case packer loading cartons at production speed. Non-vision design — no cameras, no calibration. JLS-engineered VOB 2.0 tooling. IP65-rated cleanable construction.

Why Hawk

Built to keep the case packing station running.

Manual case packing is the most overstaffed, highest-turnover step on the line. When packers can't keep up, throughput drops and labor costs climb. The Hawk was built specifically for that moment — a mechanically simple proprietary two-axis kinematic robot arm with fixed pick-and-place logic that closes the gap between your packaging line and the case.

Standardized product in. Consistent case out. Every Hawk is configured around your product, your secondary container format, and your target rate — so the most repetitive job on the line becomes one of the most predictable.

Applications & Package Types

The Hawk — Non-Vision Robotic Case Packing

A robotic case packer that automates standardized secondary packaging workflows — 24/7 — with IP65-rated cleanable construction. The Hawk uses a proprietary two-axis kinematic robot arm with custom VOB 2.0 food-safe tooling to pick and place product into retail cartons, corrugated cases, display trays, and multi-packs at up to 220+ cartons/min depending on configuration. Mechanically simple architecture reduces operator training and maintenance burden. Several configurations available. Purpose-built for food. Single-pick or gang-pick mechanical tooling handles baked goods; VOB 2.0 vacuum-on-board tooling handles wet, cold, and irregular product. Built to keep pace with your packaging line, in a high-speed, small-footprint package. Easy to operate.

Industries Served

BakeryCupcakes, muffins, cookies, cakes
Meat & PoultryPortions, patties, fillets
Cheese & DairyWedges, rounds, portions
Snack Bars & SticksBars, sticks, combos
ConfectionBars, enrobed products
IQF / FrozenFinger foods, entrees

Loading Styles & Pack Formats

Single-FileOne product per case slot
Stacked / verticalMulti-count stacks
ShingledOverlapping patterns
Into TraysPlastic or chipboard trays
Multi-LaneParallel infeed lanes

Related JLS systems

HawkYou’re here
OspreyCase packing platform
Osprey TLTray loading
Osprey BPBags & pouches
Patty HawkFrozen patty case packing

The Challenge

The gap most food lines share — and the system built to close it.

✕The Problem

Manual handling at this station is hard to staff — and harder to keep consistent

The same repetitive work, every shift — capping throughput and adding food-safety risk.

The repetitive manual work at this step is increasingly difficult to staff, and consistency slips across shifts. When people fall behind, the line slows, rework climbs, and hand contact adds a food-safety exposure. Add high annual turnover, rising ergonomic claims, and a shrinking labor pool, and the cost of doing it by hand keeps climbing.

Chronic
Turnover in manual packing roles
24–36 mo
Typical full-payback window
Line rate
Throughput manual handling can't sustain
✓The Solution

Engineered robotic automation configured to your exact product

JLS engineers, tests, and installs the system — proven before it ships.

JLS designs the Hawk around your carton, case, and line — the proprietary two-axis robot arm, mechanical or VOB 2.0 tooling, and controls are built and programmed in-house. We prove it on your actual product in our York, PA Flight Lab before final design, so the system runs at rate with repeatable placement every cycle.

24–36 mo
Typical ROI timeline
Minutes
Recipe-driven changeover
In-house
Controls & software, by JLS

Test before you commit

See the Hawk run your
product before you commit.

Send us your product. We'll run it on a live Hawk in our York, PA Flight Lab — same speed, same format, tooling configured for your product — before any capital commitment.

Live
Robotic test with real product
U.S. Built
U.S. built automation
No
Commitment required
Test your product in the Flight Lab

Core Technology

The Engineering Behind the Precision

Every component of the Hawk was designed, built, and programmed under one roof — from sanitary round-tube frame engineering to JLS-engineered VOB tooling to easy-to-operate controls and software. Backed by multiple patents, these are the innovations that keep the Hawk mechanically simple — no cameras, fewer moving parts, less to maintain, and less to train.

Stainless steel construction icon
IP65-Rated Construction

Cleanable to Washdown Construction

Round-tube stainless frame (standard), sloped surfaces, and NEMA 4X controls — offered in cleanable construction standard, with enhanced washdown options scoped per application (up to IP65). Built for the food zone from day one. Not retrofitted.

IP65-Rated Minimal Harborage NEMA 4X
Proprietary two-axis kinematic robot arm
Pick · Place · No Calibration

Proprietary two-axis robot arm

JLS's proprietary two-axis kinematic robot arm picks and places product from a standardized, consistent infeed into cartons, cases, and trays — using fixed pick-and-place logic at up to 60 cases per minute, with cartoning rates up to 220+ per minute depending on configuration. Mechanically simple — fast to learn, easy to maintain.

Up to 60 cases/min Non-Vision No Calibration
VOB vacuum tooling icon
Mechanical · Vacuum · Gang-Pick

Flexible Tooling — Mechanical or VOB 2.0

Single-pick or gang-pick mechanical tooling handles baked goods; JLS-engineered VOB 2.0 vacuum-on-board tooling handles wet, cold, or irregular product — cutting compressed air use by 50%+ versus conventional vacuum systems. Every tool is configured and lab-tested for your exact product.

Mechanical or Vacuum 50%+ Air Savings Multiple Patents
Tool-less changeover — under 5 minutes
Built Into VOB 2.0

Tool-less Changeover — Under 5 Min

Select the new recipe on the HMI, swap the end-of-arm tooling by hand, and run. Every SKU your plant produces is pre-loaded before the system ships — no wrenches, no programming, no maintenance call.

<5 Min SKU Swap Pre-loaded Recipes
Multi-cell, multi-head modularity
Several Configurations Available

Configurable scaling

Scale throughput to match your line — up to 60 cases per minute, with cartoning rates up to 220+ per minute depending on configuration, or and up to 4 cases per cycle with added heads. Several configurations are available — throughput grows with your line speed without changing the platform or the controls.

Up to 220+ cartons/min Scales With Your Line
In-house programming and HMI icon
York, PA · Designed & Programmed In-House

Operator HMI & In-House Software

Touchscreen interface designed for plant-floor operators — select a recipe and run, no engineer required. Software is written and owned entirely by JLS, so new recipes and remote support come directly from the team that built your system.

No 3rd-Party Software ERP/MES Ready

Options & Add-Ons

More ways to fit your line.

Product stacking, grouping and shingling

Stacking, grouping & shingling

The Hawk FLEX — a standout configuration: one machine that runs BOTH flat-pack and vertical-pack formats. It extends the standard Hawk to vertical and flat-pack — handling stand-up pouches, pillow bags, and flat-packaged products that need a different orientation in the case. One robot platform, multiple pack formats.

Patterns are part of the product recipe — switching counts or arrangements happens on the HMI alongside changeover, with no mechanical re-tooling.

Stacked / vertical
Multi-count
presentation
Shingled
Overlapping
pack patterns
Recipe
Pattern changes
on the HMI
Integrated sanitary infeed
Integrated Cleanable Infeed
JLS coordinates sanitary infeed conveyors that present product cleanly and consistently to the robots — the steady, even, repeatable supply that the Hawk's fixed pick-and-place depends on.
Enhanced washdown options icon
Enhanced Washdown Options
The Hawk is IP65-rated with a round-tube stainless frame as standard; enhanced washdown options can be specified for wet environments — scoped per application.
Configure Your System
Need Something Specific?
Every Hawk is configured to your product, format, and facility. Talk to a JLS application engineer about your exact requirements.
Talk to an Engineer →

Flexible line integration

Robotic case packing for the line already on your floor.

Already have upstream packaging equipment in place? The Hawk is engineered to integrate with your current line — accepting product from all major OEM packaging lines through coordinated mechanical interface, controls communication, and timing synchronization.

Need the full line? JLS builds complete end-of-line systems — tray loading, case packing, cartoning — integrated from one team and one facility.

Talk to an application specialist

Application Engineering & Integration

Configured for your product. Scalable across your line.

No two food plants run the same — but every Hawk ships from the same proven platform. Our application engineers tailor VOB 2.0 tooling, infeed conveyors, and case handling to your exact product and packaging formats — whether you're running rigid packs, pouches, bakery, frozen foods, or snacks. One team, one facility, one integration.

Fits your line. Day one.

A compact robotic case packer built to handle standardized secondary packaging — cartons, corrugated cases, display trays, and multi-packs — continuously and accurately. The proprietary two-axis kinematic robot arm picks product with VOB 2.0 vacuum tooling and places it into the case in programmed patterns at up to 60 cases per minute, with cartoning rates up to 220+ per minute depending on configuration. No vision system to calibrate or maintain. Start with a single Hawk cell and expand without reworking the line.

UPSTREAM Primary packaging HAWK 2-AXIS ROBOT ARM CASE PACKER PER APPLICATION DOWNSTREAM Case closing & sealing OUTPUT Distribution
JLS + Reiser: Expertise across the line

Planning more than just case packing?

JLS builds complete end-of-line systems — tray loading, case packing, cartoning — integrated as a single solution from one team.

Full food production line — JLS + Reiser: expertise across the line Ten production-line stages across four zones. JLS-built robotic automation stages are shown in purple; stages available through Reiser's OEM portfolio in blue; customer-selected or partner equipment in gray. Dashed lines mark coordinated integration points. Prepare. Portion. Form. Load. Seal. Case. Carton. Collate. Stack. Secure. 01Mixing &blendingGrindingEmulsifyingMarinatingTumblingAvailable throughReiser portfolio 02Forming &portioningStuffingExtrudingPatty formingDepositingAvailable throughReiser portfolio 03FurtherprocessingSlicingDicingShreddingTenderizingAvailable throughReiser portfolio 04PrimaryloadingPick & placeVision-guidedLane loadingProduct collationJLS TALON®JLS KESTREL™JLS Automation 05PrimarypackagingThermoformingTray sealingVacuum / MAPSkin packAvailable throughReiser portfolio 06CasepackingRobotic case loadingRobotic loadingWashdown configurationsHygienic optionsJLS OSPREY®HAWK™ · PATTY HAWK™Case erecting & sealing via partner equip.JLS Automation 07CartoningForm, load,close cartonsCompact footprintWashdown-capable designJLS PEREGRINE® ISPEREGRINE ISJLS Automation 08Collation /bundlingCount & stackBundle packMultipackPartner equipmentscope-dependent 09PalletizingLayer buildingRobotic palletizingSlip-sheet placeLayer padPartner equipmentscope-dependent 10LoadsecurementStretch wrapBandingCorner boardTop sheetPartner equipmentscope-dependent Tier 1 Primary Packaging The package that touches the product Tier 2 Secondary Packaging Cases, cartons, and multipacks for retail or distribution Tier 3 Tertiary Packaging Stretch wrap, ship-ready unit

Together, JLS and Reiser help food manufacturers develop coordinated processing and packaging lines—from product preparation and primary package loading and sealing through cartoning, case packing and load securement.

Illustrative line architecture. Stages, equipment suppliers and sequence vary by product and project scope. Not every food line uses every stage, and slicing, cooking, freezing, inspection and other processes may occur in different positions.

Scroll left and right to scan the full line. Open the printable line map →

JLS-built robotic automation Available through Reiser’s OEM portfolio Customer-selected / third-party equipment Coordinated integration point

Reiser role across the line

Food-processing expertise, application development, equipment selection, product testing, and sales & lifecycle support.

JLS role at robotic packaging stages

Robotic engineering, product & package handling, controls interfaces, and integration & FAT when included in project scope.

Let’s talk more about planning your full line.

Tell us who you are and a bit about your line. An automation expert will reach out — and we’ll bring the right people from JLS and Reiser to the conversation.

Your details
Facility location
Your line today
What you're planning
What solution(s) are you interested in?* Select all that apply.
Project timeline

By submitting, you agree that JLS Automation and Robert Reiser & Co. may contact you about your inquiry.

The automation process is smooth, precise, and highly consistent, allowing our packaging lines to maintain production targets with greater reliability and less downtime.
Carlos O'Neill, Plant Manager Family Food Products · JLS Kestrel Collate & Load

Specs & Configuration

Hawk technical specifications

Configuration snapshot

The Hawk is available in several configurations. Throughput scales with configuration — up to 60 cases per minute, with cartoning rates up to 220+ per minute depending on configuration, loading up to 4 cases per cycle. Contact JLS for the right configuration for your line.

Standard configuration
Up to 60 cases/min*
Lower-rate applications and a smaller footprint.
High-rate configuration
Up to 220+ cartons/min*
Higher-rate applications on a single platform.
Your product
Lab-tested rate*
JLS confirms your rate in the Flight Lab before you commit.

*Estimated rates vary by product, tooling, and configuration. JLS confirms the right configuration for your product and target rate during a line assessment.

Specification Value
Estimated Throughput Up to 60 cases per minute; cartoning rates up to 220+ per minute depending on configuration — loads up to 4 cases at once*
Robot Heads Several configurations available — scaled to your line
Robot Type Proprietary two-axis kinematic robot arm; IP65-rated
End-of-Arm Tooling Single-pick or gang-pick mechanical; VOB 2.0 vacuum optional
Product Size Wide range — confirmed per application (cartons, cases, trays, clamshells, rigid containers)
Loading Styles Single, stacked (vertical), or shingled — into cases, cartons, trays, and clamshell packages
Vision System Fixed pick-and-place logic
Control System B&R Automation
Construction Level Cleanable construction (standard); washdown protection levels available as an option
Sanitation rating IP65-rated; cleanable stainless construction
Frame Construction Round-tube stainless frame (standard); minimal harborage points
Estimated Footprint (excl. guards) Varies by configuration — contact JLS for footprint and customization options
Electrical Supply 480V ±10%, 3-phase, 60Hz
Air Supply 80 PSI, clean, dry, lube-free
Electrical Enclosures NEMA 4X rated; UL/cUL listed
Reliability Factory-tested reliability — validated at FAT with your product
Lead Time Confirmed at proposal

*Estimated rates vary by product, tooling, and configuration; Specifications may vary by configuration — contact JLS for your specific application.

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What solution(s) are you interested in?* Select all that apply.

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Compare

Hawk vs. the field

Feature Manual Loading Standard Pick-and-Place Hawk
Throughput Limited by hand speed Varies; fixed cells Up to 220+ cartons/min*
Keeps the Case-Packing Line Moving Falls behind at peak Depends on configuration Designed to keep pace with the line
Calibration & Vision Maintenance N/A Cameras to calibrate and maintain Non-vision — no calibration
Washdown Rating N/A IP65–IP67 (partial) IP65*-capable
Labor Required 2–6 loaders/line 1–2 operators Eliminates manual loaders
Changeover Time N/A 15–30 min Typically <5 min, tool-less
Typical ROI N/A Varies by system 24–36 months
In-House Programming N/A ✗ 3rd-party contractors ✓ 100% in-house

Based on typical case packing installations. *Estimated rates vary by product, tooling, and configuration.

Case Packing Application Example · JLS Hawk Robotic Case Packer

Replacing four manual packing positions — without missing a count.

A mid-size food manufacturer needed to automate secondary case packing on a high-throughput line. Four manual positions were staffed per shift — inconsistent counts, ergonomic risk, and 40%+ annual turnover made the station the most expensive and least reliable step on the line.

JLS engineered and installed a Hawk robotic case packer with VOB 2.0 tooling configured to the product format. The two-axis overhead robot runs at up to 60 cases per minute, with cartoning rates up to 220+ per minute depending on configuration. Fixed pick-and-place logic handled the standardized product flow precisely. Changeover to a new SKU takes under five minutes from the HMI. The line now runs three shifts with consistent count accuracy and no staffing dependency at packing.

Their application engineers knew our product — they’d clearly tested something similar before they walked in the door.

— Engineering Director, Mid-Tier Case Packing Customer

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FAQ

Questions our engineers get asked most

Case packing, throughput, tooling, sanitation, and ROI — answered by JLS application engineers.

The Hawk is a robotic case packer built around JLS's proprietary two-axis kinematic robot arm for secondary case packing. The Hawk uses fixed pick-and-place logic on a standardized, consistent infeed — mechanically simple, fast to commission cycles, no vision maintenance. It runs at up to 60 cases per minute, with cartoning rates up to 220+ per minute depending on configuration, replacing 2 to 4 manual packing positions on a single line.

The Hawk's standard build is cleanable construction for drier, rigid secondary-packaging environments — a stainless tubular frame that minimizes bacterial harborage points, with sealed NEMA 4X controls. For wetter lines, higher levels of washdown protection, IP65-rated as standard. Your JLS representative will confirm the right construction level for your environment.

Most Hawk installations eliminate 2 to 4 manual packing positions per line. A single Hawk typically reaches payback in the 24–36-month range on direct labor alone — before factoring in reduced product damage and improved throughput consistency.

Most Hawk installations achieve full payback in 24 to 36 months. ROI is driven by labor savings, reduced product damage from inconsistent packing, lower workers' comp costs, and decreased turnover-related training expense. JLS provides an engineering-led line assessment with detailed ROI projection specific to your operation.

The Hawk is built on a proprietary two-axis kinematic robot arm with fixed pick-and-place logic — mechanically simpler, faster to commission, and optimized for standardized product flows. The Osprey TL uses vision-guided delta robots for high-accuracy tray loading where product position varies. Both use JLS VOB 2.0 tooling and B&R Automation controls. JLS engineers recommend the right system based on your product and line requirements.

Tool-less changeover on the Hawk takes under 5 minutes. Operators select the new product recipe on the HMI touchscreen and swap the end-of-arm tooling by hand — no wrenches, no programming, no maintenance call required. All SKU recipes are pre-loaded during commissioning before the system ships.

The Hawk handles rigid trays, pouches, pillow bags, bakery products, frozen items, snack packs, and standardized-format products suitable for fixed pick-and-place logic. The Hawk FLEX configuration adds vertical and flat-pack capability for stand-up pouches and flexible packaging formats.

Yes. The Hawk integrates with major upstream packaging OEMs, including Reiser. JLS application engineers handle the full integration scope — mechanical interface, controls communication, and timing synchronization.

The Hawk is built for food-plant sanitation from day one, with IP65-rated cleanable stainless construction designed for the food zone rather than retrofitted. The non-vision design eliminates camera maintenance, calibration, and vision system updates. VOB 2.0 tooling handles genuinely difficult products, and the system is designed and programmed in-house by JLS on commercially available B&R controls hardware.

Installation timelines vary by project scope and are confirmed during the proposal process. Pre-commissioning, including factory acceptance testing at JLS's facility, is completed before the system ships, so on-site time is focused on integration and operator training.

The Hawk is designed and manufactured at JLS Automation's facility in York, Pennsylvania. All engineering, programming, assembly, testing, and integration is done under one roof by JLS employees. Post-installation support includes remote diagnostics, on-site service, preventive maintenance programs, and direct access to the engineering team that built your system.

Yes. Before any capital commitment, JLS runs your actual product on a Hawk in our York, PA Flight Lab with tooling configured for it — validating pick method, placement, and rate capability — products per minute and the robot count needed to hit it — before final design, reducing project risk.

To scope a Hawk, JLS typically reviews your product type and dimensions, photos or video of the current line, secondary container format, target speeds, SKU mix, labor model, sanitation requirements, available floor space, and the main production problem to solve.

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* The Hawk is IP65-rated with cleanable stainless construction. Contact your JLS representative for full details on your application.

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