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Vision-guided robotic carton loading

Any pack, any orientation —
into the carton at line speed.

Peregrine takes primary packages from your flow wrapper, thermoformer, or bagger and robotically loads them into top-load cartons — vision-guided, with no fixed tooling, in any orientation. High-payload sanitary delta robots with VOB tooling, while JLS TRAK and PCT (Positive Carton Transport) keep every carton under full control through loading.
See the Peregrine run your product See technical specs
Up to 7
Robot heads per system
Vision
Guided — no fixed tooling
IP69K-capable
Washdown construction
50%
Smaller footprint vs. traditional*
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 Peregrine watercolor bird illustration

The JLS Peregrine is a vision-guided robotic carton loader. It receives primary packages from a flow wrapper, thermoformer, or bagger and loads them into top-load cartons with no fixed tooling — vision identifies each pack's position and orientation, high-payload, washdown-capable delta robots pick and load, and JLS TRAK with PCT (Positive Carton Transport) keeps full carton control through loading. IP69K-capable, throughput configured to your carton and product speed.

JLS Peregrine integrated robotic cartoning system with feature callouts — vision-guided carton loading, JLS TRAK, and PCT carton control

In action

Watch the Peregrine load cartons — vision-guided, at full speed

Peregrine — vision-guided carton loading JLS Peregrine

Peregrine — vision-guided carton loading

The standalone Peregrine picking primary packages and loading top-load cartons — JLS TRAK and PCT (Positive Carton Transport) keeping every carton under control.

Why Peregrine

Built to keep the carton under control.

The transfer between forming and loading is the leading source of downtime on traditional cartoning lines. Peregrine eliminates it — PCT never releases the carton, JLS TRAK moves it at high speed, and vision-guided delta robots load any pack format without fixed tooling or guides.

Any pack in. Loaded carton out. Every Peregrine is configured to your primary pack, your carton style, and your throughput target — so one of the most variable steps on the line becomes one of the most predictable.

Applications & Package Types

The Peregrine — robotic carton loading

Peregrine receives primary packages from an upstream process — a flow wrapper, thermoformer, or VFFS bagger — then robotically picks and loads them into top-load cartons. Vision identifies the position and orientation of each pack, so high-payload, washdown-capable delta robots load a wide variety of products with no fixed tooling or guides. JLS TRAK moves cartons at high speed and PCT keeps full control of every carton through loading. Add robots to scale throughput.

Products Cartoned

BakerySnack cakes, cookies, muffins
CheeseSticks, cubes, blocks
Frozen foodsIQF, finger foods, ice cream novelties
Meat & poultrySausage, bacon, nuggets, meatballs
Assembled sandwichesWrapped & bagged
Other productsTalk to our engineers

Primary packs loaded

Flow packsFlow-wrapped product
Thermoformed pouchesSealed protein packs
Flexible bags / VFFSBagger output
Sleeves & naked productVision-guided, no tooling
Top-load cartonsTri-seal & other styles
Multi-countBack-to-back SKUs

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 system around your product, package, and line — robots, tooling, vision, and controls engineered and programmed in-house. We prove it on your actual product in our York, PA Flight Lab before final design, so the line runs at rate, holds consistent placement every cycle, and stands up to daily washdown.

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

Test before you commit

See the Peregrine load your
cartons before you commit.

Send us your product. We'll run it on a live Peregrine — your primary packs picked and loaded into your carton, with the tooling configured for it — 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

The core systems on the Peregrine — JLS TRAK, PCT carton control, VOB tooling, JLS EyeQ vision, and the control software — are designed, built, and programmed in-house at our York, PA facility. These are the innovations that make the Peregrine a vision-guided robotic carton loader food manufacturers can run day-shift and night-shift without a dedicated technician.

Stainless steel construction icon
IP69K*-Capable Components

Cleanable to Washdown Construction

Round-tube stainless frame (open-channel available as an option), sloped surfaces, open cable channels, and NEMA 4X controls — offered in cleanable construction for bakery and dry environments, and full sanitary washdown construction for wet protein. Built for the food zone from day one. Not retrofitted.

IP69K*-Capable Minimal Harborage NEMA 4X
Vision-guided accuracy
Track · Acquire · Place at Full Speed

Vision-Guided Delta Robotics

2D + 3D JLS EyeQ vision tracks the position and orientation of every primary pack on the infeed in real time — directing high-payload, washdown-capable delta robots to pick and load with no fixed tooling or manual alignment. throughput matched to your line — systems scale to as many as seven robot heads.

Scales to 7 Robot Heads JLS EyeQ vision Real-Time Tracking
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
JLS TRAK · PCT Carton Control

JLS TRAK + PCT Carton Control

JLS TRAK moves cartons at high speed and PCT (Positive Carton Transport) keeps every carton under positive control from erection through loading — eliminating the transfer-point jams that cause downtime in traditional cartoners.

PCT Never Releases Eliminates Transfer Jams
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 by JLS, so new recipes and remote support come directly from the team that built your system.

In-House Programming ERP/MES Ready

Options & Add-Ons

More ways to fit your line.

Product stacking, grouping and shingling

Stacking, grouping & shingling

The Peregrine can load multiple primary packs per carton in a single robotic pass — multi-count collation and back-to-back SKU changeover without fixed tooling or mechanical guides. Vision identifies each pack's position and orientation so loading stays consistent across every product and count.

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

Stacked
Multi-count
presentation
Shingled
Overlapping
pack patterns
Recipe
Pattern changes
on the HMI
Cardboard insert and tray feeding
Cardboard Insert & Tray Feeding
Tri-seal and other top-load carton styles run on the same platform — carton style, count, and load pattern are recipe settings on the HMI, not mechanical changes.
Integrated sanitary infeed
Integrated Sanitary Infeed
JLS coordinates sanitary infeed conveyors that present product cleanly and consistently to the robots — the steady, even supply vision-guided picking depends on.
IP69K washdown upgrade icon
IP69K* Washdown Upgrade
Add washdown-capable construction with IP69K*-rated components for wet protein environments — specified per application.
Configure Your System
Need Something Specific?
Every Peregrine is configured to your primary pack, carton format, and facility. Talk to a JLS application engineer about your exact requirements.
Talk to an Engineer →

Application Engineering & Integration

Configured for your product. Scalable across your line.

Every Peregrine ships from the same proven platform — configured to your carton style and primary pack, with Positive Carton Transport keeping full control of the carton from forming through loading. One team, one facility, one integration.

UPSTREAM Flow-wrapped / bagged product PEREGRINE ROBOTIC CARTONING CARTON LOADING PER APPLICATION DOWNSTREAM Case packing OUTPUT Distribution
JLS + Reiser: Expertise across the line

Planning more than just carton loading?

JLS and Reiser (a leading food processing and packaging equipment company) help deliver complete lines — from product preparation and primary loading through packaging, case packing, and load securement — engineered as one coordinated solution.

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

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Specs & Configuration

Peregrine technical specifications

Configuration snapshot

Peregrine scales by robot head count to match your target rate, product mix, and footprint. Add robot heads to increase throughput without adding line length.

1 robot head
Entry throughput*
Lower-rate or smaller-footprint applications.
2 robot heads
Mid-range*
Mid- to high-rate applications.
throughput configured to your line
Rated throughput*
Add heads to scale throughput without adding line length.

*Actual throughput varies by product, carton format, count per carton, and configuration. JLS confirms the right configuration for your product and target rate during a line assessment.

Specification Value
Throughput throughput configured to your carton and product speed
Carton Control JLS TRAK high-speed track + PCT (Positive Carton Transport)
Robot Type High-payload sanitary delta robots
End-of-Arm Tooling VOB vacuum-on-board tooling
Vision System JLS EyeQ vision system
Control System B&R control platform
Washdown Rating Washdown options with IP69K-rated components*
Frame Construction Open-frame stainless NEMA 4X
Footprint Space-saving footprint vs. traditional top- and end-load cartoners
Electrical Supply 480VAC 3-phase 60Hz
Air Supply 80+ PSI

*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

Peregrine vs. the field

Feature Manual Loading Traditional Cartoner Peregrine
Footprint N/A Right-angle offsets, large Space-saving — inline
Transfer-Point Downtime N/A Carton dropped at transfer PCT never releases
Pack Flexibility Manual sorting Fixed tooling per pack Vision-guided, any pack
Washdown Rating N/A Varies by build IP69K*-capable
Labor Required Multiple loaders/line 1–2 operators Eliminates manual loading positions
Changeover N/A Stop-and-go, hours Recipe change in seconds; tool-less swap in minutes
Throughput Limited by hand speed Varies Scales with robot heads
In-House Programming N/A Varies by vendor ✓ In-house by JLS

Based on typical carton loading installations. *Estimated rates vary by product, tooling, and configuration.

Cartoning Application Example · JLS Peregrine Vision-Guided Robotic Carton Loading

Recovering floor space — and removing manual loading positions — with a vision-guided robotic cartoner.

A food manufacturer running multiple flow-wrapper lines was hand-loading primary packages into top-load cartons downstream. The manual positions were difficult to staff consistently across all shifts, and the line footprint left little room for expansion. The operation needed a solution that could match production speed without requiring a machine as large as a traditional cartoner.

JLS engineered and installed a Peregrine system configured to the product and carton format. Vision-guided sanitary delta robots pick primary packages in any orientation and load them into cartons under full JLS TRAK and PCT control. The Peregrine recovered significant floor space compared to the traditional cartoner it replaced, and the manual loading positions were eliminated across all shifts.

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FAQ

Questions our engineers get asked most

Robotic carton loading, throughput, PCT, vision, sanitation, and ROI — answered by JLS application engineers.

JLS doesn't publish standard list pricing — cost is confirmed during the proposal process based on your product, carton format, target rate, and configuration. Most JLS Peregrine projects evaluate payback in the 24–36 month range, depending on labor cost, shift schedule, carton rate, and uptime improvement. JLS reviews your product, carton format, target speed, staffing model, and current production challenges to determine where a Peregrine creates the strongest return.

The Peregrine picks primary packages from an upstream process — a flow wrapper, thermoformer, or VFFS bagger — and loads them into top-load cartons. A JLS EyeQ vision system identifies the position and orientation of each primary pack so high-payload, washdown-capable delta robots can pick and load a wide variety of products with no fixed tooling or guides. JLS TRAK moves cartons at high speed and PCT (Positive Carton Transport) keeps every carton under full control from erection through loading.

The Peregrine loads flow packs, thermoformed pouches, flexible bags and VFFS output, sleeves, naked product, and multi-count collations. Because vision identifies each pack’s position and orientation, the Peregrine handles a wide variety of product and package combinations with no fixed tooling swap between formats. Contact JLS with your specific pack geometry for a full application assessment.

The Peregrine isn't capped at a single rate — throughput is configured to your carton and product speed, and systems scale to as many as seven robot heads on one line. Actual throughput depends on product, carton format, count per carton, and configuration. JLS confirms the right configuration for your product and target rate as part of a line assessment.

PCT stands for Positive Carton Transport — the JLS-developed carton control system that grips the carton from erection through loading and closing, keeping it under positive control at every transfer point. Traditional cartoners rely on carton stiffness and gravity at transfer points, which causes jams as board quality varies. PCT eliminates transfer-point jams, reducing downtime and allowing the Peregrine to run a wider range of carton styles and board weights.

Yes. The Peregrine can also be designed to close cartons. The original design paired robotic carton loading with a separate carton former and closer — the platform then evolved to include integrated robotic carton closing. Today JLS configures the Peregrine as loading-only, loading + closing, or as the fully integrated form-load-close Peregrine IS monoblock.

The Peregrine is engineered for a space-saving footprint versus traditional mechanical cartoners of equivalent throughput; the exact layout is confirmed during proposal development. Exact footprint depends on robot head count, carton size, and your line layout. JLS provides a layout drawing as part of the application assessment.

Changeover is recipe-driven — operators select the new SKU on the HMI and swap any necessary VOB tooling by hand, tool-less. Because vision guides pick placement rather than fixed mechanical guides, many format changes require only an HMI recipe change with no physical tooling swap. Contact JLS for changeover details specific to your product mix.

Yes. Washdown-capable construction — with IP69K-rated components — is available where the application requires it. System-level ingress protection varies by configuration. Contact your JLS representative for full details on your application.

The Peregrine is designed, built, programmed, and tested at JLS Automation’s facility in York, Pennsylvania. In-house B&R controls programming, in-house engineering, remote diagnostics, and direct access to the engineering team that built it are all part of the relationship.

It depends on the current process, shift schedule, and line speed, but the Peregrine typically eliminates repetitive manual carton loading positions and runs them consistently across every shift. Beyond headcount, food processors choose automation for consistency, food safety, ergonomics, and more predictable throughput when labor availability is tight.

Yes. Before any capital commitment, JLS can run your actual product and carton format in the Flight Lab — validating tooling, vision setup, carton control, and placement before final design, and reducing project risk. Contact JLS to discuss a Flight Lab trial for your application.

Often, yes. The Peregrine is frequently integrated into existing production and packaging lines. The final design depends on available floor space, line speed, product presentation, controls integration, sanitation access, and your upstream and downstream equipment. JLS reviews the full line so the system fits the way the plant already runs.

To scope a Peregrine system, JLS typically reviews your primary pack type and dimensions, photos or video of the current line, carton format and count, target speeds, SKU mix, labor model, sanitation requirements, available floor space, and the main production problem to solve. Clear application detail up front makes it easier to recommend the right configuration and estimate scope.

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* Washdown-capable construction — with IP69K-rated components — is available where the application requires it. System-level ingress protection varies by configuration. Contact your JLS representative for full details on your application.

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