Skip to main content

Robotic flow wrapper loading for primary product handling

Flow wrappers demand perfect timing.
Talon FW keeps every flight fed.

A vision-guided robotic loader that feeds your horizontal flow wrappers without missing a flight — single, stacked, or shingled. Mechanical or VOB 2.0 (vacuum-on-board) tooling configured to your exact product, from cupcakes to cuts of protein. Compact footprint. Built for continuous, high-speed production.
See the Talon FW run your product See technical specs
Up to 1,200
Pieces/min — quad-head, 6-cell
Compact
Small-footprint design
IP69K-capable
Cleanable to washdown 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 Talon watercolor bird illustration

The JLS Talon FW is a vision-guided robotic system that loads food products into horizontal flow wrappers — single, stacked, or shingled — for high-speed continuous production. Built for washdown environments with IP69K-capable construction and mechanical or VOB 2.0 vacuum-on-board tooling configured to your exact product, it is engineered, programmed, and supported entirely in-house by JLS.

In action

See Talon FW feed a moving flow wrapper

Talon FW — hygienic flow wrapper loading Talon FW

Talon FW — hygienic flow wrapper loading

Vision-guided Talon FW robots place product into a moving horizontal flow wrapper — single, stacked, or shingled — keeping every flight filled.

Why Talon FW

Built to keep the wrapper running.

Flow wrappers do not wait. When loading falls behind, production speed, package quality, labor efficiency, and usable output all take the hit. Talon FW was built specifically for that moment — synchronizing vision-guided robotic picking, product-specific tooling, and moving wrapper flights so high-speed flow-wrap lines stay fed.

Random product in. Timed placement out. Every Talon FW is configured around your product, your wrapper, your loading pattern, and your target rate — so the most repetitive job on the line becomes one of the most predictable.

Applications & Package Types

The Talon FW — robotic flow wrapper loading

A vision-guided robotic loader that keeps your horizontal flow wrappers fed — 24/7 — without missing a flight. The Talon FW picks product in random orientation off the infeed and places it into moving flow wrapper flights single, stacked, or shingled, onto bare flights, cardboard inserts, or chipboard and plastic trays. Single-pick or gang-pick mechanical tooling handles baked goods; VOB 2.0 vacuum-on-board tooling handles wet, cold, and irregular product. Built for the continuous flow a wrapper demands, in a high-speed, small-footprint package. Easy to operate.

Industries Served

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

Loading Styles & Pack Formats

Single-FileOne product per flight
StackedMulti-count stacks
ShingledOverlapping patterns
Cardboard InsertOnto inserts in-flight
Tray Into WrapperPlastic or chipboard trays
Multi-LaneParallel wrapper lanes

The Talon Line

Talon FWYou’re here
Talon TFThermoformer loading
Talon TLTray loading
Talon SASandwich assembly
Talon RDRaw dough

The Challenge

The gap most flow-wrap lines share — and the system built to close it.

✕The Problem

A flow wrapper that can't stop is only as good as what feeds it

Every missed flight is an empty package — and a downstream reject.

Most horizontal flow wrappers can't be started and stopped — they need a steady supply into every flight. Hand-loading that pace is fast, repetitive work that's increasingly difficult to staff. When a loader falls behind, flights run empty, product backs up, and rejects climb. Add 40%+ annual turnover, rising ergonomic claims, and a shrinking labor pool, and the cost of manual loading keeps climbing.

40%+
Annual packer turnover rate
24–36 mo
Typical full-payback window
Continuous
Flow a wrapper demands every flight
✓The Solution

Up to 1,200/min vision-guided flow wrapper loading — wrapper speed, every flight filled

One Talon FW keeps the wrapper fed — completely.

The Talon FW matches your flow wrapper's pace and scales with it — 3 or 4 heads across 2 to 6 cells, up to 1,200 pieces per minute. Vision-guided delta robots find product in random orientation and place it into every moving flight — single, stacked, or shingled — with no manual alignment and no stopping for product variation. Designed, built, and programmed entirely by JLS.

24–36 mo
Typical ROI timeline
Under 5 min
Tool-less changeover
In-House
Controls & software, by JLS

Test before you commit

See the Talon FW feed your
flow wrapper before you commit.

Send us your product. We'll run it on a live Talon FW in York, PA — picked and placed into a flow wrapper at your exact size, weight, and pack pattern, 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

Every component of the Talon FW was designed, built, and programmed under one roof — from sanitary frame engineering to JLS-engineered VOB tooling to easy-to-operate controls and software. Backed by multiple patents, these are the innovations that make the Talon FW one of JLS's most capable flow wrapper loading platforms.

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 vision tracks product position and orientation on the infeed in real time — directing delta robots to pick random-orientation product and place it into every moving flight, in configurations up to 1,200 pieces per minute with no manual alignment.

Up to 1,200/min 2D + 3D 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. Needle tooling available. 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
3–4 Heads · 2–6 Cells

Multi-Cell, Multi-Head Modularity

Scale throughput to match your wrapper — 3 or 4 robot heads across 2 to 6 cells, reaching up to 1,200 pieces per minute. Add cells as your line speed grows without changing the platform or the controls.

Up to 1,200/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

Before the wrapper, the Talon FW builds the exact presentation your pack calls for — stacking multiple counts, grouping mixed items, or shingling product into overlapping patterns. Vision-guided placement keeps the pattern consistent flight after flight, so what reaches the wrapper is already arranged the way it ships.

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
An integrated feeder places cardboard inserts, pads, or chipboard trays into the flight ahead of product — so the Talon FW loads product and its carrier in one continuous flow.
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 Talon FW is configured to your product, format, and facility. Talk to a JLS application engineer about your exact requirements.
Talk to an Engineer →

Flexible wrapper integration

Robotic loading for the flow wrapper already on your floor.

Already have a flow wrapper in place? Talon FW is engineered to integrate with your current wrapping line — tracking wrapper flights and loading product in time through coordinated mechanical integration, controls communication, and flight-tracking synchronization.

Need the wrapper too? JLS can coordinate with Reiser to support a complete flow-wrapping and robotic loading system, with the wrapper, robot, infeed, and product handling planned together from the start.

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 Talon FW ships from the same proven platform. Our application engineers tailor the tooling, infeed conveyors, and number of cells to your exact product and flow wrapper — whether you're loading cupcakes, snack bars, cheese, or protein portions. One team, one facility, one integration.

Fits your line. Day one.

A vision-guided robotic loader built to keep horizontal flow wrappers fed — continuously, accurately, and without missing a flight. Talon FW picks randomly oriented product from the infeed and places it into moving wrapper flights as single, stacked, or shingled loads. It can load bare flights, cardboard inserts, chipboard, or plastic trays. Single-pick or gang-pick mechanical tooling handles baked goods, while VOB 2.0 vacuum-on-board tooling handles wet, cold, and irregular products. Built for the continuous motion a flow wrapper demands, Talon FW delivers high-speed loading in a compact, easy-to-operate package.

UPSTREAM Product supply / slicer TALON FW PRIMARY LOADING VOB 2.0 · VISION PER APPLICATION DOWNSTREAM Horizontal flow wrapper OUTPUT Case packing
JLS + Reiser: Expertise across the line

Planning more than just flow wrapper 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

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

JLS robotics replaced manual loading on a high-throughput cheese line gently, without compromising sanitation.
Barron County Cheese JLS Talon™

Specs & Configuration

Talon FW technical specifications

Configuration snapshot

Talon FW is not one fixed machine — it scales by cell and head configuration to match your target rate and footprint. Most lines run 3 or 4 robot heads across 2 to 6 cells.

2 cells
From ~300 ppm*
Lower-rate applications and a smaller footprint.
4 cells
Mid-range*
Mid- to high-rate applications.
6 cells
Up to ~1,200 ppm*
Highest-speed applications.

*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 ~300 ppm (2 cells) up to ~1,200 ppm (quad-head, 6 cells)*
Robot Heads / Cells 3 or 4 heads; 2 to 6 cells
Robot Type Delta-style 4-axis, IP69K-capable (Codian)
End-of-Arm Tooling Single-pick or gang-pick mechanical; VOB 2.0 vacuum optional; needle tooling available
Product Size 1 oz – 1 lb typical (baked goods); larger formats per application
Loading Styles Single, stacked, or shingled — onto flights, cardboard inserts, or trays
Vision System JLS EyeQ 2D/3D product acquisition with conveyor tracking
Control System B&R Automation
Construction Level Cleanable or full sanitary washdown construction
Sanitation rating IP69K-capable components; cleanable to washdown construction
Frame Construction Round-tube stainless frame (standard); open-channel frame available as an option
Estimated Footprint (excl. guards / wrappers) 2 cells ≈ 34 ft × 8 ft; 6 cells ≈ 81 ft × 8 ft
Electrical Supply 480V ±10%, 3-phase, 60Hz
Air Supply 80 PSI, clean, dry, lube-free
Electrical Enclosures NEMA 4X rated; UL/cUL listed
Uptime Target Factory-tested reliability (application-dependent)
Lead Time Confirmed at proposal

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

Where should we send your copy?

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

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

Compare

Talon FW vs. the field

Feature Manual Loading Standard Pick-and-Place Talon FW
Throughput Limited by hand speed Varies; fixed cells Up to ~1,200/min*
Keeps a Non-Stop Wrapper Fed Falls behind, empty flights Depends on configuration Designed to fill every flight
Variable product position/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 ✓ In-house programming

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

Bakery Application Example · JLS Talon FW™ Flow Wrapper Loading

Keeping a high-speed flow wrapper fed — without a line full of loaders.

A leading bakery needed to automate loading of snack cakes into a continuously running horizontal flow wrapper. Hand-loading the flights was fast, repetitive work that had become difficult to staff, and when loaders fell behind, flights ran empty and rejects climbed downstream. The line needed a solution that could match the wrapper’s pace and never let it run dry.

JLS engineered and installed a multi-cell Talon FW system with gang-pick mechanical tooling configured to the product. Vision-guided delta robots find product in random orientation off the infeed and place it into every moving flight, so the wrapper runs continuously with no empty packages. Operators run it from the HMI, and changeover between counts happens in minutes.

It keeps our flow wrappers fed at line speed, and switching between products is quick — our operators were comfortable with it right away.

— Operations Manager, bakery & snack producer

Get the full case study

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

Tell us more about your challenge

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

Questions about this application? Talk to an expert →

FAQ

Questions our engineers get asked most

Flow wrapper loading, throughput, tooling, sanitation, and ROI — answered by JLS application engineers.

Pricing depends on the number of robot heads and cells, tooling complexity, and integration scope — it's confirmed during the proposal process for your specific application. Most customers evaluate cost against a typical payback window of 24–36 months, driven by labor cost, shift schedule, and line speed. JLS reviews your product, package format, line speed, staffing model, and current production challenges to scope an accurate quote.

Yes — that is exactly what it is built for. Most horizontal flow wrappers can't be repeatedly started and stopped, so they need a steady supply into every flight. Vision-guided delta robots track the moving flights and load single, stacked, or shingled product into each one without slowing the wrapper down — so the wrapper runs continuously and empty packages are eliminated.

The Talon FW loads baked goods such as cupcakes, muffins, cookies, snack cakes, and bars, as well as proteins, cheese portions, and snack products. Typical baked-goods formats run from about 1 oz to 1 lb; heavier or larger formats are handled per application. End-of-arm tooling is configured to your exact product geometry, weight, and surface.

Throughput depends on product, tooling, and configuration. The Talon FW uses 3 or 4 robot heads across 2 to 6 cells, with estimated rates ranging from roughly 300 pieces per minute (two cells) up to about 1,200 pieces per minute (quad-head, six cells). JLS confirms the right configuration for your product and target rate as part of a line assessment.

Both are available. Many baked-goods applications use single-pick or gang-pick mechanical tooling, while wet, irregular, or delicate products are often handled with VOB 2.0 vacuum-on-board tooling. Needle tooling is available for specific products. JLS engineers and tests the right tooling for your product in the Flight Lab before the system ships.

Yes. The Talon FW is designed to feed horizontal flow wrappers from all major OEMs. JLS handles the integration engineering — mechanical interface, controls communication, and flight-tracking synchronization — so the robot loads in time with your wrapper's flights without modifying the wrapper.

The Talon FW is a high-speed, small-footprint system. A two-cell configuration occupies roughly 34 ft by 8 ft, scaling to about 81 ft by 8 ft for a six-cell line (excluding tunnel guards and the flow wrappers themselves). Exact footprint depends on the number of cells and your line layout.

The Talon FW is offered in cleanable construction for bakery and dry environments and full sanitary washdown construction for wet protein applications, with IP69K-capable components. An optional open-channel frame keeps surfaces visible and accessible, and VOB tooling changes are tool-less, so sanitation is a fast tool swap rather than a teardown. Contact JLS for the construction level that matches your facility.

Tool-less changeover takes under 5 minutes — operators select the new recipe on the HMI and swap the end-of-arm tooling by hand, with no wrenches or programming. The Talon FW is designed, built, programmed, and tested at JLS Automation's facility in York, Pennsylvania, with remote diagnostics, on-site service, and direct access to the in-house engineering team that built it.

It depends on the current process, line speed, and shift schedule, but the Talon FW typically takes over repetitive manual positions for feeding a continuously running flow wrapper and runs them consistently across every shift. Beyond headcount, processors choose automation for consistency, ergonomics, food safety, uptime, and more predictable throughput when labor availability is tight.

Yes. Before any capital commitment, JLS runs your actual product on a Talon FW in our York, PA Flight Lab with tooling configured for it, and validates the application on your real product — validating tooling, pick method, and placement before final design and reducing project risk.

Often, yes. The Talon FW is frequently integrated into existing production and packaging lines. The final design depends on available floor space, line speed, product presentation, controls, 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 Talon FW system, JLS typically reviews your product type and dimensions, photos or video of the current line, package format, 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.

What do you want to know?

Ask us anything — an automation expert will follow up.

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.

* Specific components of the Talon FW are IP69K full washdown rated. System-level ingress protection varies by configuration. Contact your JLS representative for full details on your application.

Find out what your line is capable of.

We evaluate your line, your product, and your constraints — then show you what will work, what won't, and deliver a detailed ROI projection. No guesswork. No force-fitting.

Request a line assessment Call (717) 505-3800

Over 1,000 custom installs. Predictable, fast performance. Premier, dedicated service.

  • Fast response times (remote + on-site)
  • Experienced JLS technicians
  • Spare parts & lifecycle support
  • Training that sticks with your operators
Already running a JLS line?
Connect with the service experts who keep your automation performing.
Spare parts, preventive maintenance, retooling, training, and on-site support — from JLS's in-house support team, backed by the engineers who built your machine.
Services & Support Order Parts