JLS Magazine #2

ISSUE TWO + 2021

TA L O N

Accurate, Agile & Safe Food Handling

2021 + ISSUE TWO

CONTENTS CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT................ 3 TALON FOCUS............................... 9 JLS EXPERT Q&A .. ...................... 13 PARTNER Q&A ........................... 15 CULTURE .................................... 17 SUPPORT..................................... 18

1 VISION

Nature’s unrivaled hunting tool inspires Talon® pick-and-place system

A

talon, also known as a claw,

the talons of the bird lock around their

ferent environments and even integrates

is a narrow, hardened struc-

prey like a ratchet and grasp it securely in

with other machines, allowing products

ture that curves downward

order to carry it onto the next stage of its

to move from one packaging stage to the

from the base of a bird’s

life cycle. No matter how far the journey

next. Highly adaptable, Talon’s end-of-

digit. Talons, the JLS Talon robotic

or what the conditions, talons are able to

arm tools are versatile and easy to swap in

pick-and-place system’s namesake, are

safely transport game without compro-

and out based on application.

an essential trait of birds of prey, setting

mising the integrity of its quality.

®

®

them apart as expert hunters born with

With Talon, there’s no longer a need to

built-in hunting tools. Renowned for their

The Talon pick-and-place system is a

hunt for a more hygienic picking solution.

precision, talons are highly adaptable and

robotic system pioneered by JLS that

Designed with sanitation and reliabili-

suited for retrieving food faultlessly, mak-

swiftly picks up food and other products

ty in mind, Talons are made to get wet

ing them the envy of the sportsman.

while maintaining vigilance to hygiene and

and never get tired, making operation

the integrity of products it interacts with.

efficient from start-up to clean-up. Like a

Birds of prey have talons that are long

Though Talon is powerful, it is also nim-

bird of prey harnessing the power of their

and curved, allowing them to grasp their

ble. With precision, speed and accuracy,

talons to catch their next meal, our Talon

catch from the ground and water below,

Talon gently picks up and carries products

puts a reliable pick-and-place system at

swooping down with speed and stunning

to be placed in their primary packages

your fingertips.

accuracy that is unmatched elsewhere

via its end-of-arm tool. Like its namesake,

in the animal kingdom. With dexterity,

Talon is able to operate seamlessly in dif-

©2021 JLS Automation, All rights reserved.

Source: Encyclopedia Britannica

A vision for tomorrow giants, small upstart companies and even

that is known for greatness and contin-

called our 65+1 Founder’s Day

some players from outside industries test-

ually performs at a high level over time.

ing the water in the food handling space.

It’s a big vision. It’s a big challenge. But

event. This celebration was in person, unlike our virtual 65th celebration last year.

I believe with high confidence that our

For JLS , this was the 65+1. The event

Our team has developed some great

amazing team is up to those challenges,

included friends, families, partners and

technologies, many of which are patented.

as well as others we don’t even know

customers. It was great to have everyone

JLS is often referred to as the leader in

about yet. We’re ready to take on the next

back together, in person. We even had

our space, a statement that we don’t take

65 years.

several people taking family pictures next

lightly. We can take some pride in what we

to our machines—a great thing to see.

have done when we hear that, but we can-

You will read in this issue about some

®

not begin to rest. That word is not in our

ways that our team is working to make the

Our company started with humble

vocabulary. Our competitors will continue

world a better place. In this case, through

roots. My father established JL Souser &

to challenge us with new technologies and

scholarships. We are trying to address the

Associates out of his home office in Au-

clever solutions. Our team, which cannot

ongoing skills gap as well as help close the

gust of 1955, and it has been quite a jour-

grow fast enough, is poised to take on the

opportunity gap that exists for so many

ney. I grew up using an adding machine,

challenges of tomorrow in discussion with

groups in today’s society. We want to help

a typewriter and a rotary dial phone to do

our customers.

make education at various levels available

business. These items are museum pieces for our current generation.

to anyone who hears that call.

I am asked frequently what my vision is for JLS. My vision is simple. Let’s keep

Today, JLS is focused on delivering value

doing what we do–being a market leader,

where we do it best–hygienic vision-guid-

making an impact in the community and

ed robotic packaging systems for the food

being successful so that we can sustain

industry. Our growth continues to set

our model. It’s not just about winning the

records as we’ve competed with global

championship, it’s becoming the dynasty

Craig A. Souser, President and CEO

2 VISION

W

e recently celebrated what we

2021 + ISSUE TWO

CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT CTI FoodsSM

CTI FOODS AUTOMATES

ITS HOT TO HANDLE 3 VISION

TACO PACKAGING LINE Tacobots efficiently upgrade and automate production with a unique two-pick mechanical tool. The recent line integration project wins a 2021 Manufacturing Innovation Award from ProFood World.

4 VISION

Originally published by ProFood World Magazine, August 2021 Written by Joyce Fassl, Senior Executive Editor ISSUE TWO + 2021

2021 + ISSUE TWO

T 5

HERE ARE MANY different inter-

“The tacos have always

pretations as to exactly how the

had a very unique pack-

popular phrase “Taco Tuesday”

aging orientation, where

originated. But at CTI Foods

there’s 50 to a tray,” ex-

VISION

based in Saginaw, Texas, every day is taco

plains Davenport. “We’re

day. The culinary-driven company was

packing them hot and

founded in the early 2000s by a group of

then, they go through a

industry veterans and today, it is owned by

spiral freezer.” To keep the tacos from

UNIQUE APPROACH TO ROBOTIC

a private equity firm and has seven plants

misshaping through the freezing process

END-OF-ARM TOOL

throughout the U.S. The 187,000-sq-ft Sag-

and transit, they were interwoven within

CTI Foods had been looking for ways to

inaw facility was built in 2010 and started

the trays by hand. “We were constantly

efficiently upgrade and automate the

taco production in 2011.

having to shift people from spot to spot

taco line and started discussions in 2019

to not have a repetitive motion injury,”

with JLS Automation. “We’ve been famil-

“We’re mainly focused on high-quality, ca-

he adds. At the Saginaw facility, white

iar with JLS® for a long time through dif-

sual, fast casual and quick serve food prod-

corn is cooked, washed, hulled, stone

ferent industry connections,” Davenport

ucts,” states Will Davenport, CTI Foods’

ground and formed into tortillas. “That’s

says. “As we started talking about it [the

senior director of engineering. “Our plants

roughly a 12-hr process from the time we

project] more and they gained an interest

make a wide variety of products, almost all

start cooking the corn to the time we’re

in it, it just seemed like a good fit. They

protein products and cooked meats. We

making tortillas,” states Davenport. Next,

brought what I felt was a different ap-

make a dehydrated refried bean right here

meat made at an adjacent CTI Foods

proach to the project.”

in Saginaw at the facility next door. We also

processing area is ground, mixed with

produce a variety of soups and sauces on-

seasoning and cooked before it is depos-

The new robotic packaging taco line

site.” Producing fresh tacos for major fast

ited into the tortillas.

started production in November 2020.

food chains and packaging them while still

The project had a phased approach,

warm was a labor-intensive and repetitive

“The tortillas go through an oven with

where JLS developed an end-of-arm tool

task. In fact, the company employed 16

about a 40-second retention time and

(EOAT) first and brought it to Saginaw

workers on each shift to manually load

then, as they exit the oven, they pass

to test it on warm tacos. “It was a very

filled, soft tortilla tacos into chipboard

by fillers that deposit the meat,” says

manual operation, just an end-of-arm

trays that were also manually formed. The

Davenport. “When they’re packed,

tooling with some push buttons on it,”

workers would orientate the tacos and load

they’re a little over 100 °F,” he states. “It

says Davenport. “We were doing it by

two stacks of 25 into each tray.

was not a fun job packing them by hand.”

hand, but we were able to actually pick

up the product. We were able to see that if you didn’t fire that motion just right, it wanted to unfold the taco or it would make the fold uneven. It was very beneficial to do that test ahead of time.”

According to Steele Burchell, program manager at JLS Automation, the EOAT is a mechanical gripping solution, as opposed to a vacuum-based solution. “It’s what we call a spatula tool,” he says.“ The thing that’s really unique about this is it’s actually a two-pick mechanical tool. We’ve got individual actuation of the two different sides. And to my knowledge, I don’t think anyone else in the industry has done tortilla with a warm portion of meat is not a stable item to pick

VISION

or is doing that.” A warm, soft

6

up. CTI Foods tried to develop a way to re-thermalize tacos from a frozen or chilled state to better simulate it at the JLS facility.

“We never really could get it back to that same texture during the testing at JLS, but we were able to get it fairly close. It was a very hard thing to simulate,” explains Davenport. “We were trying to run up to 960 a min, so you need a lot of tacos to prove a concept.”

After using the robotic taco line more than a half a year, CTI has seen significant improvements in efficiency and output. In addition, staffing challenges have been reduced by eliminating the manual packing operation.

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2021 + ISSUE TWO

“Our pounds per man hour is up signifi-

product to fill it. If lines are running in

contaminated and become harborage

cantly,” says Davenport. “It’s roughly

the same direction, you’re picking things

areas,” he states. Davenport says an

double, maybe a little more.” JLS de-

at the first robot. Where you want the

open-frame design is easier to clean, be-

signed four Talon® robotic pick-and-place

supply to be the heaviest is down at the

cause there are no hidden places. It may

systems, including three IP69K-rated

third robot.”

cost more in some cases, but CTI Foods

delta robots per unit. The new taco line includes the following equipment: • NCC Automated Systems—custom high-speed infeed conveyors • IESM—taco folding

7

decided to make the investment.

OPEN-FRAME HYGIENIC DESIGN IS WORTH THE INVESTMENT

The JLS integration project included an

Most equipment manufacturers, in-

openframe design. “Originally, we were

cluding JLS Automation, are up to date

not going to do the open-frame design,”

VISION

on hygienic standards. But CTI Foods

says Davenport. “But after really under-

and turning conveyors

developed some of its own standards

standing the differences, we elected to

• Syntegon—tray erectors

and wanted to review equipment specs

go that route.” The taco processor also

• Nordson—glue system for trays

in advance to ensure all equipment was

tries to avoid Lexan or plexiglass and go

• B&R Automation—robotic

cutting edge in terms of sanitation and

with a more hygienic cut stainless-steel-

all cleaning surfaces could be accessed

type guard, which also provides a sight

• Cognex—vision system

easily. Before installing the new robotic

line into the system.

• Sealed Air/Shanklin—tray wrapper

line, CTI removed all equipment from

• Wipotec-OCS—checkweigher

the taco packaging room, deep cleaned

AUTOMATION SOLVES PANDEMIC

the room and equipment, replaced lights

WOES, PROVIDES ESSENTIAL DATA

and made cosmetic repairs while it had

Many food manufacturers faced increased

the opportunity.

staffing issues during the recent pan-

system controls

and X-ray inspection • Vemag/Reiser—shuttle conveyor with retracting belt

demic. Davenport says he can’t imagine JLS also developed new algorithms for

“Anytime we can remove manual op-

the kind of problems CTI would have

handling three-headed robots, with

erations from a process, there’s food

suffered if it didn’t have the robotic taco

products going in the same direction as

safety to manage,” Davenport explains.

line in place. Instead of trying to fill scores

the cartons. “We call it co-flow or parallel

“Redesigning the [taco packaging] room

of jobs during the height of the virus

flow,” says Burchell. “With more than two

offered us an opportunity to review all

outbreak, the company now has to fill

heads, it was a very challenging algorithm

aspects of the hygienic design of the

fewer positions.

to develop.”

new equipment. JLS was very open and

Processors never want to send cartons

accommodating to all our input and

Social distancing was one of CTI’s first

requests to improve the hygienic design.”

lines of defense on the taco line. “When

or cases out of a system unless they

COVID first hit, we were still packing by

are completely full. “The ideal thing is

Davenport also discussed whether tubu-

hand and had people shoulder to shoul-

to have as much supply of products as

lar design is easier to maintain and clean.

der,” explains Davenport. Each CTI facility

what you want to pick and place into that

“Hygienically welded tubular framework

was closed for a short period of time. “We

carton,” explains Burchell. “With the one

was the industry standard for many years.

were able to get employee separation

[carton] that’s just about to leave your

However, over time, the welds can fail or

partitions up before we reopened and put

system, you always know you’ve got a

holes created in the framework can be

other COVID protocols in place.”

Because CTI already had automation

do it through a web conference and get

The NCC conveyor cabinet serves as

plans prior to COVID-19, it was not

those people involved. It worked out

JLS’s central point of communication,

affected by the long lead times faced

really well.”

because there’s a conveyor between

by other manufacturers that struggled

every piece of equipment. “We’re

to install automation at the height

CTI also brought a tech operator to the

using that to allow the feeding of some

of the pandemic.

FAT and sent another one a week in

data back to their SCADA systems,”

advance to help assemble and test the

states Burchell.

Despite pandemic challenges, JLS was

equipment to get ready for the FATs.

able to meet CTI’s project deadline.

This provided plant floor workers to

UNDERSTAND MANUAL OPERATIONS

Burchell says components like cylin-

obtain early training on the equipment

Working within the small footprint of

ders, which are traditionally available

CTI is able to pull data from the four

the existing taco packaging room was

in a week or less, were taking eight to 12 weeks

JLS Talons or tacobots,

definitely a challenge for this project.

“WE KNOW WHAT WE’RE

as the CTI team has

“The way JLS approached the project

affectionately named

and didn’t look at it as one line, but

the JLS Talons. The data

split it into four separate lines with four

“To this day, we’re still

THE LINE, BECAUSE ONLY 10

tells plant management

separate tacobots, made a lot of sense,”

doing a lot of virtual

OF THE 16 HAND PACKERS

the number of successful

says Davenport.

FATs [factory acceptance

SHOWED UP. WE GET BET-

picks, if a pick was not

tests], but on this project,

TER EVERY DAY WITH THE

successful and why the

Looking back, Davenport would advise

on this scale, everyone

START-UPS AND EQUIPMENT

machine did not pick

others undertaking a similar project to

felt that it was important

OPERATION. WE HAVE NO

it—whether it’s a bad

really understand all aspects of a manual

to do it in person and

DOUBT WE’LL MEET OUR

fold, incorrect meat

operation. “We’ve always known that

that we could find ways

PROJECT OBJECTIVES.

placement or orienta-

employees are our last line of defense,

to do it safely in person,”

-Will Davenport, CTI Foods

tion issue. It allows the

our last quality check doing a visual ob-

taco processor to review

servation. A person can do more quality

he adds.

In fact, CTI Foods conducted early FATs,

data on an hourly or daily basis to solve

attribute checks than you can do with

production issues.

an X-ray or a metal detector,” he says.

particularly for its ancillary equipment.

8 VISION

GETTING. WE KNOW WE DON’T HAVE TO ADJUST

for delivery.

When CTI switched to the automated

“The engineering manager went to

CTI Foods uses Redzone for its overall

line, it found it wasn’t easy to pick up

the FATs and did a video conference

equipment effectiveness programs, as

every action employees were making.

call with our team back here,” states

well as Redzone philosophies, such as

Their actions were not obvious. “They

Davenport. “We did that with the tray

huddle meetings. Davenport says the

were fixing some of the folds or making

former and the conveyor systems that

focus here is on ensuring CTI is measur-

minor meat placement adjsutments. It

we bought as part of the package. When

ing the correct machine actions. In other

made product presentation even more

it came time to do the main FAT with the

words, focusing on the right areas, the

important when installing the JLS equip-

JLS equipment, a small team of us did

proper actions to take and which code

ment,” he states.

go to York, Pa., to witness that.”

faults to reset to make the data easier to understand.

Under normal circumstances, Davenport

Davenport says the new line’s advantage is a predictable output. “We know what

says the FAT would have likely includ-

JLS also set up remote equipment

we’re getting. We know we don’t have

ed a slightly larger group. “We had

monitoring for performance evaluation,

to adjust the line, because only 10 of

representatives from QA, operations,

program updates and other services.

the 16 hand packers showed up. We get

maintenance and engineering there. We

Burchell says the system has a central

better every day with the start-ups and

probably would’ve had a safety person

point that is for remote access, but

equipment operation. We have no doubt

and maybe another operations person

also serves as the nerve center for

we’ll meet our project objectives. We’re

if we could have, but we were able to

collecting data.

very close to them now,” he says.

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2021 + ISSUE TWO

9 VISION

DOING MORE WITH LESS

The Talon® Series Packing System optimizes hygienic primary product handling.

10 VISION

T

he flagship packaging system for JLS® was first introduced in 2002 and was based on the company’s more than 50

combined years of robotic and advanced motion control experience. Today, the Talon still leads the kettle (aka: a group of birds of prey) of JLS’ portfolio with its accurate placement, swift, efficient operation and sanitary focus, making it the preferred food-safe choice for thermoformer loading and more.

ISSUE TWO + 2021

F

ood safety is the top priority for manufacturers and suppliers, regardless of their position in the supply chain. JLS® is helping food manufacturers ensure food safety from the start with a hygienic

primary packing solution, its Talon® Series Packing System. The Talon helps solve packaging and production challenges of doing more with less by ensuring hygienic loading of primary products.

Inherently Hygienic

The Talon’s hygienic design features several elements to keep products and the production line safe. Sloped surfaces and open-channel frames shed water and eliminate pooling, conveyor standoffs and belt lifters ensure easy cleaning and IP69K-rated delta robots pick and place products with speed and accuracy.

Sanitation is also as simple as an end-ofarm tool changeover with JLS’ sanitary Vacuum On Board technology. Cleaning can take place offline due to the quickchange nature of the tooling.

Thermoformer Loading and More

such as sausages or burger patties; fresh Like its namesake, the Talon® is designed and frozen bakery items, such as tortillas, to adapt easily to accommodate a variety muffins and tacos; steak fillets and cheese of products and packages. The Talon can blocks and sticks, the Talon easily tackles work with multiple end-of-arm tooling a variety of product shapes and sizes in options, including vacuum technology, one pass versus pergrippers and paddle lifts, to accommodate LIKE ITS NAMESAKE, THE TALON forming multiple picks an array of primary IS DESIGNED TO ADAPT EASILY like other thermoformer packaging applications, TO ACCOMMODATE A VARIETY loading machines. such as thermoformer OF PRODUCTS AND PACKAGES. loading, tray loading, Besides thermoformer flow wrapper loading loading, the Talon also tackles many other and even sandwich assembly.

accurately loads them with single layer

primary packaging applications. The Talon

The Talon automatically builds various

Thermoformer loading is safe, simple and

easily adapts to tray loading and efficient-

sandwiches, accurately stacking each

efficient with the Talon. Instead of loading

ly shingles frozen beef or chicken patties,

component from the bun or bread to meat,

thermoform packages during machine

loads raw chicken drumsticks and crab

cheese and other ingredients. Complete

dwells and advances, the Talon tracks the

cakes or even gently places fresh produce

assembly lines can include slicers, pick-

index or track of the web as it’s moving

onto MAP, HMR and chipboard trays. Flow

and-place robotics, flow wrappers or ther-

through the machine. This, combined with

wrappers are no match either, as the Talon

moformers and case packers, all of which

or stacked product configurations with speed either onto cardboard inserts or into plastic or chipboard trays. The Talon also gently loads marshmallow treats, cookies, frosted desserts and snack cakes while easily and efficiently handling frozen foods such as burritos, egg rolls and other

The Talon isn’t just ideal for product

VISION

finger foods.

12

loading, it easily assembles products too.

vision-guided robotics and

the Talon easily integrates with to create a

application-specific

truly versatile and flexible production line.

end-of-arm-tooling that loads raw or na-

Easy integration combined with its ver-

ked product according

satility with several package types and

to preferred orien-

the vision-guided flexibility and hygienic

tation, ensures fast,

design that JLS® is known for make Talon

sanitary loading. Able

a leading choice for primary loading 20

to pick-and-place fresh

years later.

and frozen meats, To learn more, visit www.jlsautomation.com/talon.

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E X P E R T

Q&A

Ken Harding

Solving the challenges of thermoformer loading Talon® pick-and-place systems address hygiene and product orientation issues.

For easy-opening features on the package, you can have peel headers, where you have a complete unsealed edge to hold onto or smaller peel corners. Sometimes, there are other more unique thermoformed features depending on the packaging requirements. A thermoformer will provide a high level of versatility with a simple tooling change. You can make a wide variety of packages on one compact machine.

Q:

What are the challenges for loading products into thermoformed pouches?

Harding: There are several challenges with auto-loading

13 VISION

KEN HARDING, DIRECTOR OF APPLICATIONS ENGINEERING AND SPECIAL PROJECTS at JLS® Automation, discusses how JLS mitigates the challenges of thermoformer loading while saving costs, materials and floor space for its customers. Harding holds more than 25 years of experience in packaging and food processing with a strong foundation in hygienic design, food applications and is an expert in thermoforming.

thermoformers. One being that thermoformers are intermittent operating packaging machines. This means they do not run continuously like how a flow wrapper does. Loading a thermoformer, you generally load products into the thermoformer packages while the machine is in dwell, in between web advances or during both dwell and during the web advance while tracking the acceleration and deceleration of the web. This makes managing infeed product delivery, calculating cycle rates and capacities, as well as balancing throughput requirements a little

Q:

How many thermoforming applications have you seen in your 25 years?

tougher compared to most other packaging applications. Other challenges include providing adequate access to the thermoformer and providing hygienic design, because you’re typically packaging either a raw or a ready-to-eat (RTE) product such as

Harding: I’ve seen hundreds, if not thousands of thermoformers

a sandwich or deli meat. These applications require the most

in operation. I’m sure there is an application I haven’t seen, but

stringent hygienic design.

not many.

Q:

Q:

Are there specific product applications that are better for thermoformed pouches versus a flow wrapper or other format?

How is loading achieved while ensuring product integrity and accurate placement within the pocket?

Harding: It is typical for us, as well as in the general applicaHarding: For food applications, you’ve got the ability to produce

tion of loading a thermoformer, to track the index or track the

a modified atmosphere or vacuum package for extending shelf

web as it’s moving through the machine. Then, knowing what

life. A thermoformer also provides you with a multitude of film

the die array pattern is gives you fixed targets that you are

options from rigid trays to flexible pouches and skin packaging.

placing a product into. The key is to pick and load the product

with the appropriate end-of-arm-tool to match the application needs. For instance, whether it’s uncooked/raw chicken versus a draft of sliced cheese, the end-of-arm tool requirements are quite different.

How does the JLS® Talon® accurately load products in various orientations?

VISION

Q:

14

Harding: If you are loading chicken drumsticks, for example, you would pick and target those with the robotic vision system in a manner where the end-of-arm tool would rotate the product and place it into the package opposing one another. You would generally perform multiple picks to load all of the product in a layer that’s facing one direction and then come back with a subsequent placement of products facing in the opposing direction.

Q:

What Talon features ensure hygienic design?

Harding: The Talon begins with a hygienic design open-channel

Q:

frame construction, so there is no hollow tubing or harborage

Harding: There are a number of challenging applications that

areas. We are diligent in our design process to ensure that the

JLS is developing where the product is hard to predict and

entire robot frame assembly, the IP69K Codian robot and the

control when it enters the robot picking area. To address this,

robot tooling are hygienic, accessible for washdown and sanita-

we are working on innovative mechanical tooling and product

tion and accessible for inspection. All areas can be swabbed for

delivery conditioning systems so that we can pick up difficult

verification that there is no bacteria on board. Standard hygienic

products, consolidate them and put them into a thermoformer

design features like sloped surfaces for easy runoff, standoffs

pocket successfully.

What’s on the horizon for JLS with thermoformer loading?

for component attachments and open cable management are employed.

To learn more, visit www.jlsautomation.com/talon

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P A R T N E R

Q&A

Krystal Darling & Kory Graham

Q:

Sanitary conveyors feed JLS® Receiving product efficiently and safely is key to packaging performance.

When did your relationship start with JLS® and what does it mean to Tri-Mach?

DARLING: The first project that Tri-Mach and JLS collaborated on was in 2015 for a Canadian-based manufacturer, who required expertise that both companies brought to the table. Our partnership with JLS has been instrumental to Tri-Mach’s growth and innovation. Since 15

2015, JLS has come to us with challenging projects that drive us to innovate and further customize the design of

VISION

our sanitary material handling systems. The opportunities to work on these complex projects have been invaluable growth opportunities for Tri-Mach over the years.

Q:

Why are your conveyors a good match for JLS?

GRAHAM: Both Tri-Mach and JLS are committed to providing the very best in sanitary equipment for essential

KRYSTAL DARLING, CEO at TRI-MACH As CEO, Krystal manages mergers and acquisitions, conducts corporate strategic planning and vision building, streamlines internal processes and maintains relationships with key industry partners.

industries. Like JLS’ robotic systems, Tri-Mach’s conveyors are food-safe and expertly designed for food processors to perform complete washdowns.

Q:

From a sanitary design standpoint, what sets Tri-Mach conveyors apart from the rest?

Q:

What are some unique applications you have collaborated with JLS on?

GRAHAM: Anywhere from complex case handling and a product presentation system for a large-scale burger manufacturer in the U.S.,

GRAHAM: With over 35 years of experience in sanitary

a set of sanitary, ready-to-eat (RTE) conveyors for a multinational pro-

equipment manufacturing, Tri-Mach’s design, fabrication

tein processor, all the way to various accumulation systems, hygienic

and installation of material handling equipment follows

product delivery systems and more.

a sanitary design methodology coined by Tri-Mach as Ever-Kleen®. It ensures that each piece of equipment we produce is food-safe and easy to clean—preventing bacteria harborage through innovative design.

Q:

How would you describe your partnership with JLS® in two words?

DARLING: Trust and collaboration. For Tri-Mach, JLS

customers, we are collaborative teams that work together to achieve the same end goal. We come together for the best interest of the customer and produce quality systems that support their operation, interacting as a unified team when working on a project.

is a trusted partner whose team operates with high integrity and accountability. Their commitment to quality and going above and beyond for their customers aligns seamlessly with Tri-Mach’s values. We utilize the unique expertise of both our companies to innovate and provide complete solutions to the problems our customers face.

Our teams are experts in sanitary design and fabrication, which contributes immensely to the ease of collaboration between Tri-Mach and JLS. GRAHAM: Innovative and collaborative. JLS often presents Tri-Mach with challenging and exciting projects that require us to innovate. We draw on our years of industry experience to produce custom material handling systems that complement JLS’ robotics. The projects we work on with JLS help us to grow as a company, granting us opportunities to innovate in our design and fabrication.

Tri-Mach and JLS are so much more than just each other’s

KORY GRAHAM, SALES MANAGER at TRI-MACH

16 VISION

Kory is responsible for developing market strategies and leading the sales team. Kory began his career with Tri-Mach in 2013 as an Account Manager and has since diversified the company’s business portfolio, expanded its customer base and bolstered its brand recognition.

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JLS gives back ®

CULTURE

In an effort to Make the World a Better Place, JLS paves the way for future thinkers of the world by addressing social and racial inequity through access to education.

The Sky’s the Limit For over 18 years, Art Aubel has been a pillar of consistency at

Fueling a Diverse & Inclusive Future

York College of Pennsylvania is just seven miles away from JLS

JLS®. Setting a high standard for

Automation’s headquarters in York, PA. Recently, JLS® chose to

behavior and work ethic while

emphasize addressing social injustices with a desire to be impactful

being guided by a commitment to

in our local community

core values and personal authen-

in particular. Thanks to

ticity, Art exemplifies how JLS and

our partnership with York

its employees work to make the

College, we’ve been able

world a better place each and every day.

to begin to work towards these goals.

As a part of the JLS commitment to the community and in honor

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of Art’s retirement in 2021, JLS has established a scholarship fund

The college is a four-

designated as the Art Aubel Honorary Scholarship with Thaddeus

year degree-granting institution with three different engineering

Stevens College in Lancaster, PA.

programs available to its students—civil, mechanical and computer

VISION

electronics. “We’re working together with York College to put our While limited access to higher education has traditionally proven

money where our mouth is when it comes to addressing racial in-

to be a challenge for potential students from under-resourced and

equality and inequity,” said Craig Souser, President and CEO of JLS.

underserved backgrounds, JLS uses business as a force for good and through this scholarship, continues to find ways to break down

Part of this work includes a $5,000 annual scholarship for an engi-

barriers to success.

neering student at York College. This scholarship is specifically designated for a student of color, with a priority for a Logos Academy

Thaddeus Stevens College is a two-year associate’s degree-

student or as a minimum, a student from an underserved area of

granting institution that is located less than 30 miles from

York. In line with our commitment to our local community, Logos

JLS Automation’s headquarters in York, PA. The college offers pro-

Academy, another organization that we support, is a private K-12

grams in trade and technology disciplines, acting as a springboard

school in York whose mission is to serve a majority of students that

for many future workers in the packaging industry and beyond.

live below or near the federal poverty line.

“Our mission is to take students who may be from an under-resourced background and give them the opportunity and training

According to the National Science Foundation (NSF), less than 34%

to become successful citizens and workers—the sky’s the limit,”

of scientists and engineers working in the United States are people

said Sophie Hower of Thaddeus Stevens College.

of color, making the need for diversity and inclusion in STEM higher education a high priority.*

In fact, over 50% of students at Thaddeus Stevens are total grant students, meaning their tuition is fully covered by the grants they

Discussing the scholarship and their shared goals, Erin Tritter of

receive and making grant funding all the more crucial. In honor of

York College said that, “People of color are underrepresented in the

Art’s legacy, this scholarship was established as an endowed one,

engineering field and Craig’s commitment to this cause has given us

staying in perpetuity and making the world a better place one Art

a lot of hope and gratitude.”

Aubel Honorary Scholarship recipient at a time.

*Source: https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2017/nsf17310/digest/occupation/overall.cfm

For more information on Thaddeus Stevens College,

For more information on York College of Pennsylvania,

visit www.stevenscollege.edu

visit www.ycp.edu

SUPPORT

Service contracts Like birds of a feather, JLS® wants to grow together.

From the automation systems that we engineer and build to the service contracts that we offer, our team understands that customization is key for your growing business.

All-Inclusive Terms When you invest in a service contract with JLS®, no matter the length of term, labor and expenses are included and you pay one flat fee. From worker education and

18

remote assistance to preventative main-

VISION

tenance and a parts price discount, we make sure all of your bases are covered.

Though quarterly and semi-annual preventative maintenance visits are our most popular offering, our service contracts are tailored to suit you. After all, we

on-site training as needed. You’re able to

in-hand with our customers and to see

understand that one size doesn’t fit all in

have one of our Field Service Engineers

and hear exactly what they are seeing and

this industry.

visit your facility and train your staff to

hearing at the plant,” said Bill Stratford,

make sure that nothing is missed. To

Director of Aftermarket Sales and Ser-

Worker Safety & Education

ensure worker safety and proper machine

vices, JLS Automation. “JLS technicians

Our team understands that worker safety

function, we also review and provide our

can see the machine from the customer’s

and education are paramount in the pack-

customers with Preventative Maintenance

point of view in real-time.”

aging industry. That’s why our service

Checklists at our on-site visits.

contracts include an emphasis on prop-

Parts Price Discount

erly training your personnel and mainte-

Remote Service & Support

nance staff not only to prevent issues but

We use a virtual, mixed reality monitor-

duce total cost of ownership and increase

how to address them if they do arise.

ing technology called JLS View to offer

your ROI. With a view to achieving and

This is yet another way we help you re-

remote service and support. With JLS

maintaining your operational success, a

JLS worker safety and education include

View, you don’t have to wait for help to

special feature of our discount is that it

written programs as well as hands-on

come to you, it’s already at your fingertips

includes emergency parts, setting JLS

training. The hands-on training is not

with the help of Microsoft’s HoloLens 2

Service Contracts apart from others

only thorough but also helps mitigate the

technology, saving you time and money.

and providing you with the services

risks incurred by turnover by providing

“The purpose of JLS View is to be hand-

that really matter.

ISSUE TWO + 2021

2021 + ISSUE TWO

JLS Automation 20 Innovation Drive York, PA 17402

HYGIENICALLY DESIGNED TO GET WET. BUILT FOR AGILITY.