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Clevertech & KUKA: Four Robotic Technologies Shaping Packaging at Interpack 2026
Interpack has always marked a turning point for Clevertech — a moment that inspires new strategies and reinforces the company’s international outlook and strong human values. In 2026, Clevertech brings this spirit to the fair with four specialized technology stations powered by KUKA robots, showcasing its cross‑sector capability in material handling across Beverage, Pet Food, Food and secondary packaging. Alongside technical innovation, the company highlights the strength of a partnership built on trust, shared vision and years of collaboration. Visit Clevertech S.p.A. at the interpack 2026 trade show in Düsseldorf, Hall 14 / D39, from May 7 to 13, 2026
Marco Astore
19 marzo 2026
Technology
Tempo di lettura: 7' minuti
Values & Vision for Interpack 2026
“Interpack has always been a turning point for us,” explains Luca Carollo, Business Developer at Clevertech. “It reshapes the way we think, giving us new stimuli to refine and rewrite our strategies.”
For Luca Carollo, the heart of this edition lies in two dimensions: Clevertech’s growing international presence and the human values that define the company.
“Clevertech is a family in the truest sense,” he says. “We celebrate every success together and face every challenge as one team — from the founder to our workshop colleagues. This shared approach is what gives customers and partners full confidence in choosing us.”
At Interpack 2026Clevertech booth, 14D39, this mindset translates into four specialized technology stations, each demonstrating Clevertech’s cross‑sector expertise in material handling for Beverage, Pet Food, Food and secondary packaging.
Visitors will experience not only product‑handling innovations but also the evolution of a complete service ecosystem: Dynamic Lifecycle Service, predictive maintenance, training programs, 24/7 hotline, and advanced data‑driven control rooms for KPI and sustainability analysis.
A central role is played by the long‑standing collaboration with KUKA. “The idea of having only KUKA robots at our stand came naturally,” Luca Carollo recalls.
“I shared the first draft with Christina Stark, Global Key Account Manager Consumer Goods, and we immediately aligned. In less than two meetings, everything was defined — models, sizes, configurations. That level of trust is rare.”
He adds: “We are KUKA’s top integration partner in Italy by robot volume, and we are proud of the attention and confidence they place in us.”
Technical Focus: Food & Beverage - Aluminium Can Handling
“We are seeing a clear shift toward aluminium cans in the beverage industry,” explains Luca Carollo.
“They offer higher recyclability, better product protection and greater efficiency in transport logistics.” According to Luca Carollo, this trend is accelerating across multiple segments — from energy drinks to RTD cocktails — and is now expanding to sparkling wines aimed at younger consumers.
The engineering implications are equally significant. “Unlike PET, aluminium cans are globally standardized, extremely stable and allow very high production speeds,” he notes.
This simplicity in format management enables more compact, efficient and predictable line layouts compared to PET, where multiple machines, drying tunnels and labeling systems increase both complexity and footprint.
At Interpack 2026, Clevertech will present the patented Hybrid Sweep‑Off depalletizing head (EU: E1.C0019.12.EP.28; US: E1.C0019.12.US.28), designed to handle both full and empty cans with maximum precision. “The Hybrid Sweep‑Off maximizes every centimeter of usable space and guarantees reliable transfer without drops or machine stops,” says Luca Carollo.
The system also optimizes autoclave loading, ensuring full basket utilization and minimizing energy dispersion — a key factor in high‑throughput environments.
Beyond stability and speed, the system supports mixed flavors and unstable packaging during palletizing or depalletizing. “It’s a solution designed to guarantee accuracy at the highest levels, even under very demanding conditions,” Luca Carollo adds.
Wine & Spirits: Market Evolution and New Handling Demands
“The spirits market is undergoing a strong premiumization trend,” explains Paolo Soliani, Clevertech UK&Ireland Co-General Manager.
“We see increasingly sophisticated glass bottles, a wider variety of formats, and a growing focus on packaging as part of the brand experience.”
This shift introduces new handling challenges: bottles with irregular shapes, delicate finishes, and varying stability, combined with the need to process reused containers with inconsistent conditions.
“In this context, flexibility and gentle handling are essential, especially when depalletizing empty bottles or managing empty returns,” Paolo Soliani adds.
Adaptive Depalletizer & KUKA Integration: Precision for High‑Value Glass
At Interpack 2026, booth 14D39, Clevertech will showcase its Adaptive Depalletizer, featuring the patented technology E1.C0019.12.IT.32.
Designed for both PET and glass, the system transfers each layer safely and consistently, even when pallet alignment varies.
“The head automatically adjusts inclination, gripping and stability, preventing falls and damage and maintaining high efficiency even with non‑standard pallets,” says Paolo Soliani.
The adaptive controls also allow the system to process a wider range of formats, significantly expanding operational flexibility. KUKA robots lie at the core of the robotics cell’s performance. “KUKA gives us millimetric precision, force control and repeatability — exactly what is required when handling fragile glass,” Paolo Soliani notes.
This integration ensures a smooth, reliable process across multiple bottle types, supporting the segment’s growing complexity.
Looking ahead, Paolo Soliani remains optimistic: “Market feedback on the Adaptive Depalletizer has been extraordinary. With future AI integration, its performance will only increase further.”
Pet Food: Pouch Handling Trends & New Industry Demands
“Pouch handling in the pet food industry is becoming increasingly demanding,” explains Gael Seguin, Director & Key Account Manager Clevertech France .
“Their delicate nature, variable formats and the need for strict hygiene make the entire process far more complex than traditional packaging.”
Gael Seguin notes that the shift toward monomaterial pouches, driven by sustainability requirements, is reshaping investment choices and machine design.
The growing presence of wet areas and wash‑down zones adds additional constraints. “Equipment must guarantee hygienic design and reliable handling from filling to end‑of‑line,” he adds. “This is where Clevertech’s experience makes a real difference — ensuring stable transport, accurate positioning and full compatibility with new sustainable packaging formats.”
Advanced Gripping & Drying Technologies: Performance Boosted by KUKA Robotics
At Interpack 2026, booth 14D39, Clevertech will present its innovative gripping and drying system for pouches, featuring a patented stainless‑steel Air Knife design combined with Piab–Kenos® vacuum gripping technology.
“Our solution maximizes grip efficiency and achieves exceptionally uniform drying — down to just 0.1 grams of residual water per pouch,” says Gael Seguin. The Air Knife’s compact layout, low noise level and fully accessible design enable easy inspection and maintenance, while the multi‑nozzle configuration delivers high‑performance air flow at speeds up to 0.3 m/s. KUKA robotics plays a key role in elevating system performance. “Precision and repeatability are essential in pouch handling — and KUKA provides exactly that,” Gael Seguin highlights.
The motion accuracy of KUKA robots ensures gentle, stable and predictable manipulation, even at high throughput, while enabling the drying and gripping system to operate at its maximum efficiency.
Together, Clevertech’s patented innovations and KUKA’s robotic precision deliver a robust, hygiene‑ready and highly scalable solution for one of the fastest‑growing segments in the FMCG world.
Packaging: E‑commerce Growth & New End‑of‑Line Challenges
“The packaging market is evolving faster than ever, driven primarily by e‑commerce and the explosion of mixed and small‑format products,” explains Umberto Reggiani, Chief Sales Officer at Clevertech.
With the rise of on‑the‑go portions, compact SKU formats and lightweight secondary packaging, manufacturers are redesigning packaging lines to handle higher variability and faster changeovers.
At the same time, regulatory pressure — including the upcoming EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) — is accelerating the shift toward recyclable materials, reduced plastic content and more sustainable packaging design.
"We can see a significant growth in private-label co-packers in the HC and PC sectors, similar to Beverage and Spirits" . Umberto Reggiani adds.
One of Clevertech core business is the Home and Personal Care, which it's experiencing an annual growth of 6%. "Products are mainly distributed through discount stores and there is a demand for low-cost, shelf-ready packaging.
This leads to simpler and less expensive secondary packaging, often not sealed with glue or tape and sometimes open at the top. As a result, palletizing phases require careful handling to maintain load stability and product integrity."
Clevertech’s Fork Palletizing System & KUKA Robotics: High‑Speed Precision for Modern Packaging
Clevertech will showcase the double fork robotic layer‑gripping system, designed to manage closed cartons, tray‑only formats and single‑display trays — a combination increasingly common in e‑commerce logistics.
The system features dual retractable forks and an integrated layer‑squaring device, ensuring stable, precise palletizing even with lightweight or unstable packaging.
Alongside, Clevertech will present several patented technologies, including the Hybrid Sweep‑Off, the Adaptive Depalletizer, and the Air Knife drying system, together demonstrating the company’s mechanical innovation and advanced software for energy monitoring, HMI usability and data‑driven operations.
Robotics is a crucial part of this efficiency leap. “KUKA’s robotic performance allows us to reach extremely high handling speeds — up to 249 pouches per minute or 1,200 cans per minute — while maintaining precision and reliability,” Umberto Reggiani highlights.
The combination of Clevertech’s engineering expertise, its Dynamic Lifecycle Services, and KUKA’s robotic ecosystem positions the company as a full‑scope handling provider, capable of supporting customers worldwide from initial design to long‑term lifecycle management.
Il 17 marzo 2026 il KUKA Robotic Hub di Grugliasco ha ospitato una mattinata di confronto, demo tecniche e approfondimenti dedicati a un tema che sta cambiando il modo di fare automazione.
