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Robotic taco forming and packaging line

Hot off the line, into the pack —
the award-winning Tacobots.

A complete, JLS-integrated taco packaging line. The award-winning “Tacobots” use a unique two-pick mechanical tool — with independent actuation of each side — to pick and pack fragile tacos while still warm, fast. JLS integrates taco folding and turning conveyors, tray erecting, IP69K-capable delta robots, vision, tray wrapping, and inline checkweighing and x-ray into one line.
Talk to a line integration specialist See what's in the line
“Tacobots”
Two-pick mechanical tool
Hot & Fresh
Packs warm tacos at speed
IP69K-capable¹
Washdown-rated delta robots
Full-System FAT
York, PA — FAT-tested
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

The JLS taco packaging line is a complete integrated robotic system for forming, picking, and packing hot tacos, taquitos, and tortilla products. The award-winning “Tacobots” use a unique two-pick mechanical tool to handle fragile, shaped product gently while still warm. JLS integrates folding and turning conveyors, tray erecting, IP69K-capable delta robots, vision, tray wrapping, and inline checkweighing and x-ray into one FAT-tested line.

In action

Watch the “Tacobots” run

JLS taco packaging line — the “Tacobots” JLS Taco Line

JLS taco packaging line — the “Tacobots”

See the award-winning JLS taco line — the “Tacobots” — fold, orient, two-pick, tray, wrap, and inspect hot tacos and tortilla products on one integrated, vision-guided line.

Why the taco line

No robot picks a fragile taco like this.

Taco shells and soft-wrapped tortilla products are among the most difficult food items to pick reliably at commercial rates. Their shape, temperature, and fragility break conventional robotic tooling. JLS engineered the “Tacobots” — a delta robot system with a unique two-pick mechanical tool that actuates each side independently — to handle this challenge gently, at speed, while product is still warm from the line.

One integrated line. One purchase order. One team. JLS takes full system responsibility from in-feed through inspection — designing, building, programming, and FAT-testing the whole line in York, PA before it ships.

Applications & package types

The taco line — form, pick, pack

JLS builds the complete taco packaging line and takes full system responsibility. The award-winning “Tacobots” use a unique two-pick mechanical tool — with independent actuation of each side — to pick and pack fresh, hot tacos at speed. JLS integrates the full line around them: custom high-speed in-feed, taco folding and turning conveyors, tray erecting and gluing, IP69K-capable delta robots, vision, tray wrapping, and inline checkweighing and x-ray — FAT-tested as one system.

Products handled

Hard taco shellsFolded, fragile
Soft tacosTortilla-wrapped
Taquitos & rolledHigh-volume formats
Other tortilla productsTalk to our engineers

Tray & pack formats

Single tacoOne taco per tray cell
Multi-countMultiple tacos per tray
Arranged / stackedStacked or shingled in tray
HMI recipe changeoverCounts & formats on HMI

What's in the integrated line

Taco Packaging LineYou’re here
Folding & turning conveyorsOrient product
IP69K-capable delta robotsTwo-pick tool
Tray erecting & gluingInline, in registration
Tray wrapperSealed, inline
Checkweighing & x-rayEvery pack verified

The challenge

Fragile, warm tacos that break when handled the conventional way

✕The Problem

Hot, fragile tacos crack and crush in standard packing

Packing warm, shaped tacos by hand is fast, repetitive work that's hard to staff.

Freshly formed tacos are warm, shaped, and fragile, so conventional pick-and-place tooling tends to crack or crush them. That leaves many lines packing by hand — fast, repetitive work that is increasingly difficult to staff — while damaged product drives up rejects and rework.

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

The award-winning Tacobots pick and pack tacos while warm

A unique two-pick mechanical tool, integrated into one JLS line.

The Tacobots use a unique two-pick mechanical tool — with independent actuation of each side — to pick fragile, shaped tacos and pack them while still warm, fast. JLS integrates folding and turning conveyors, tray handling, vision, wrapping, and inspection into one coordinated line, taking full system responsibility.

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

Test before you commit

See the two-pick tool handle your
taco or tortilla product before you commit.

Send us your product. We'll run it on the taco line at JLS in York, PA — picked and placed into trays at your exact count and format, with the tooling configured for your product — before any capital commitment.

Live
Robotic test with real product
U.S. built
Designed & tested in York, PA
No
Commitment required
Test your product in the Flight Lab

Precision in motion

How the JLS taco line forms, picks, and packs

Five integrated steps. Product in, packed and inspected tray out — gently handled the whole way.

Step 1: tacos arrive on the in-feed conveyor
1

Hot tacos and tortilla products arrive on the in-feed

In-feed
›
Step 2: tacos oriented on the conveyor
2

Folding & turning conveyors orient each product

Orient
›
Step 3: two-pick tool lifts two tacos
3

Vision-guided delta robots two-pick each taco gently

Two-pick · Vision-guided
›
Step 4: tacos loaded into trays
4

Robots load erected, glued trays

Tray load
›
Step 5: tray packed, inspected, and exiting
5

Tray wrapped, checkweighed, and x-ray verified before exit

Wrap & inspect

Engineering & integration

What makes the Taco Packaging Line different

Six engineering decisions that let the taco line handle fragile, shaped product reliably, at speed, every shift.

Two-pick mechanical tool icon
JLS Exclusive · Patent-Pending

Unique two-pick mechanical tool

The two-pick mechanical tool actuates each side independently, so it can pick fragile, shaped tacos gently and reliably — and pack them while still warm. This is the engineering that makes the “Tacobots” possible.

Independent actuation Handles warm product
Vision-guided robotics icon
Vision-Guided · Consistent Pick

Vision-guided delta robots

IP69K-capable delta robots use vision to identify product position and orientation before every pick — ensuring consistent placement into trays even as product arrives with natural variation from the forming line.

IP69K-capable¹ Gentle & warm
Conveyor orientation icon
Integrated · Purpose-Built

Folding & turning conveyors

Specialised folding and turning conveyors orient each fragile, shaped product before the robots pick it — the steady, consistent presentation that vision-guided picking depends on at commercial rates.

Consistent orientation Reduces pick misses
Tool-less changeover — under 5 minutes
On-the-fly · HMI-driven

On-the-fly changeover

Switch products and tray formats from the HMI. Recipes drive the robots, conveyors, and tray handling so different SKUs run with minimal mechanical adjustment — keeping a fast-moving prepared-foods line productive across its product mix.

Seconds on HMI Back-to-back SKUs
Full-system integration icon
One integrated line

Full-system integration

JLS integrates the whole line — folding and turning conveyors, tray erecting and gluing, vision-guided robots, tray wrapping, and inline checkweighing and x-ray — as one system with single-source accountability. The complete line is proven with a full-system FAT before it ships.

Conveyors → inspection Full-system FAT
B&R controls and in-house programming icon
York, PA · Designed & programmed in-house

Single control platform & in-house software

One B&R platform runs the conveyors, robots, tray handling, and inspection from a single HMI. Software is written and owned entirely by JLS, so new recipes and remote support come directly from the team that built your line.

No 3rd-party software ERP/MES ready

Talk to a JLS application specialist

See exactly how an integrated JLS taco line fits your operation.

Our application specialists know food production — not just robots. Share your product, your line layout, and your throughput targets. JLS takes full system responsibility — concept, design, integration, full-system FAT, install, and training — and our PMP-certified project team runs it start to finish.

JLS + Reiser: Expertise across the line

Planning the complete taco line — or more?

JLS and Reiser (a leading food processing and packaging equipment company) help deliver complete lines — from forming and primary loading through tray handling, wrapping, inspection, and case packing — 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

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

Taco line — what’s in the system

Configuration snapshot

The taco line configuration is sized to your throughput target and product format. Robot count and line layout are confirmed during a line assessment.

Pick & Pack
Tacobots*
Two-pick mechanical tool picks and packs fragile tacos while warm.
Fold & Turn
Integrated*
Folding and turning conveyors and tray handling feed the robots.
Wrap & Inspect
Single-Source*
Vision, wrapping, and inspection integrated as one coordinated line.

*Line configuration varies by product, tooling, and layout. JLS confirms the right configuration for your product and target rate during a line assessment.

Specification Value
Products handled Hard taco shells, soft tacos, taquitos, tortilla products
End-of-arm tooling Unique two-pick mechanical tool — independent side actuation, gentle handling
Robot type IP69K-capable¹ vision-guided delta robots
Line components Folding & turning conveyors, tray erecting & gluing, robots, tray wrapper, checkweigher, x-ray
Vision system Vision-guided product identification (position & orientation) for a consistent pick
Pack formats Single, multi-count, stacked, shingled, or arranged trays
Inspection Inline checkweighing and x-ray verification
Control system B&R Automation — single platform for conveyors, robots, tray handling, and HMI
Changeover HMI recipe-driven across products and tray formats
Sanitation rating IP69K-capable¹ washdown
Construction Open-frame stainless; minimal harborage; NEMA 4X controls
Recognition 2021 ProFood World Manufacturing Innovation Award
Electrical supply 480VAC, 3-phase, 60Hz
Air supply 80+ PSI, clean, dry, lube-free
Built Designed, built & supported in York, PA

*Estimated rates vary by product, tooling, and configuration; needle tooling reduces estimated rates. 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

Taco line vs. manual packing

Feature Manual Loading Standard Pick-and-Place JLS Taco Line
Throughput Limited by hand speed Varies; fixed cells Packs warm tacos at speed
Handles Fragile, Warm Product Cracks or crushes tacos Not built for warm, fragile shapes Two-pick tool packs tacos while warm
Random Infeed Orientation Manual sorting Often needs fixed orientation Vision-guided, any orientation
Washdown Rating N/A IP65–IP67 (partial) IP69K*-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 integrated taco line installations. *Estimated results from installed systems; individual results vary. Customer anonymized.

Application Example · JLS Taco Packaging Line

Doubling labor productivity — without the manual grind.

A high-volume prepared-foods manufacturer was hand-loading fragile taco and tortilla products at a pace that was physically demanding to sustain over a full shift — and throughput was capped by what operators could manage by hand. The challenge wasn’t finding a robot that could pick a taco shell; it was picking fragile, shaped product consistently, at a commercial rate, and gently.

JLS engineered the “Tacobots” — a system with a unique two-pick mechanical tool that actuates each side independently to pick fragile, shaped tacos reliably and pack them while still warm — integrated with folding and turning conveyors, tray handling, vision, wrapping, and inspection. Pounds per man-hour more than doubled after installation, and the line was recognised with a 2021 ProFood World Manufacturing Innovation Award.

Our pounds per man hour has significantly increased — roughly over double over what we were.

— Senior Director of Engineering, prepared-foods producer

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See the configuration, throughput, and results behind this install.

Tell us more about your challenge

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FAQ

Questions our engineers get asked most

Taco line integration, the two-pick tool, IP69K-capable robots, and full-system FAT — answered by JLS application engineers.

It is an award-winning integrated robotic line for packing hot tacos, taquitos, and tortilla products — nicknamed the “Tacobots.” It combines folding and turning conveyors, tray erecting and gluing, IP69K-capable vision-guided delta robots with a unique two-pick mechanical tool, tray wrapping, and inline checkweighing and x-ray, all on one B&R control platform.

The unique two-pick mechanical tool actuates each side independently, so it can pick fragile, shaped tacos gently and reliably and pack them while still warm. The mechanical design avoids the damage and inconsistency that make shaped product so hard to pick at commercial rates by hand or with conventional tooling.

Hard taco shells, soft tacos, taquitos, and other tortilla products. The line is engineered around the geometry of each product, with vision and folding and turning conveyors orienting product for a consistent pick before the robots pack it into trays.

On an installed line at a high-volume prepared-foods manufacturer, pounds per man-hour more than doubled after installation. The system earned a 2021 ProFood World Manufacturing Innovation Award and was the #1 most-read food-industry article of that year.

Yes. The delta robot cells are IP69K-capable for washdown, and the line's construction level (cleanable to full washdown) is configured per station to fit the sanitation demands of a hot prepared-foods environment.

A typical taco line includes in-feed and folding and turning conveyors, tray erecting and gluing, IP69K-capable vision-guided delta robots with the two-pick tool, a tray wrapper, and inline checkweighing and x-ray inspection — all integrated and controlled as one system.

A single B&R control platform runs the entire line from one HMI, and JLS writes and supports its own software. The complete line is integrated and proven with a full-system factory acceptance test (FAT) at JLS before it ships.

JLS engineers the robotic handling, loading, and packing systems and coordinates integration with Reiser and third-party equipment when it's in project scope, at its facility in York, Pennsylvania — U.S. designed and built, with single-source accountability for the whole integrated system.

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What can we help with? Optional — select any that apply.

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

¹ The delta robot cells in the JLS taco line are IP69K-capable (full washdown rated). System-level ingress protection for the complete integrated line varies by configuration. Contact your JLS representative for full details on your application.

Ready to see the two-pick tool handle your product?

Tell us about your taco or tortilla format. JLS will show you exactly how an integrated line fits your production — before any commitment.

Talk to a line integration specialist Test your product in the Flight Lab

Over a thousand custom systems. Single-source accountability from concept to commission.

  • Designed, built & FAT-tested in York, PA
  • PMP-certified project management
  • In-house B&R controls programming
  • On-site commissioning & training
  • Ongoing service & remote diagnostics
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