Automation improves both productivity and working conditions at Plus Pack
For several generations, Plus Pack has been a leading manufacturer of food packaging, supplying a wide range of solutions to customers with different requirements. Alongside product innovation, the company places strong emphasis on sustainability and has received multiple international awards for its efforts.
But innovation at Plus Pack is not limited to products. The company also prioritizes the working environment for its more than 200 employees, and that focus has played a key role in its approach to automation.
Removing repetitive strain from daily operations
Automation at Plus Pack is applied where it has the most immediate impact. Repetitive and physically demanding tasks are transferred to collaborative robots, allowing employees to focus on less strenuous and more engaging work.
“The workstation where we use the gripping solution from OnRobot replaces a packaging process where the operator manually stacked products and pressed out the air between them. The process involved repeated heavy lifting and significant strain on the shoulders. We have removed that physical burden from the employees.”
Bastian Fietje, Strategic Project Manager, Plus Pack
By automating this part of the process, Plus Pack has improved both ergonomics and consistency, reducing the risk of injury while maintaining stable output.
Fast deployment without complex setup
The transition to automation was straightforward. Instead of long implementation cycles or custom-built tooling, the solution was tested, configured, and deployed in a short timeframe.
“In our opinion, the OnRobot gripper is easy to work with. By adjusting four screws, we can change the fingertips, making it suited for each individual product. If we had built separate tools for each product, the cost would have been significantly higher.”
Simon Laigaard, Project Manager, Plus Pack
The team conducted initial tests in a lab environment, completed programming within a few days, and brought the solution into full production in just 30 minutes.
That kind of deployment speed is not just convenient, it lowers the barrier to automation. Instead of large upfront effort, the system can be introduced quickly and refined over time.
Flexibility across products without added complexity
Plus Pack produces a wide variety of packaging solutions for different customers, each with specific requirements. This makes flexibility a critical factor in any automation setup.
The gripper solution supports this by allowing quick adjustments and easy reconfiguration. Instead of building dedicated tooling for every product, the same system can handle multiple variations with minimal changes.
“We manufacture many different products for a wide range of customers. We are constantly optimizing both products and processes, and the gripping solution helps us adapt to those needs.”
Bastian Fietje, Strategic Project Manager, Plus Pack
This aligns with a simple idea that actually matters in production: one system that can handle multiple tasks without adding complexity or cost.
A practical approach to scaling automation
“If you are planning to automate your production, I would definitely recommend this type of gripping solution. It offers the flexibility to create customized setups for specific needs, which is something we have not seen from other suppliers.”
Bastian Fietje, Strategic Project Manager, Plus Pack
For Plus Pack, the value is not just in automation itself, but in how easily it can be adapted, scaled, and integrated into existing processes.
Where this makes a difference
This kind of setup is particularly relevant if you’re dealing with:
Repetitive manual handling tasks
High product variation
Frequent changeovers
Pressure to improve working conditions without sacrificing output
It’s not about replacing people. It’s about removing the parts of the job that no one actually wants to keep doing.