Advanced Automation for ecommerce Packaging
The structural growth of ecommerce is transforming the organization of logistics centers. With the increase in shipping volumes, the progressive fragmentation of orders, and the demand for more sustainable packaging, new standards of flexibility and control are being imposed on warehouses. Companies like Coesia, one of the 1600+ exhibitors at LogiMAT, are responding to these needs with an integrated portfolio that covers packaging, handling, and palletizing. Their goal is to position themselves as a technology partner capable of operating consistently across the entire order fulfillment flow.
Transforming Warehouse Operations
“Ecommerce has transformed the warehouse into an environment where every order is a case of its own,” says Alessandro Parimbelli, CEO of Coesia. “Different products, different formats, different timing, and the constant need to optimize every phase.” The solutions presented at LogiMAT are designed to adapt to the real flow of operations rather than forcing operations to adapt to the technology.
Every shipment with empty space incurs a cost that ultimately affects manufacturers, distributors, and the planet. Coesia aims to eliminate such costs through packaging that adapts to the product, delivering measurable results from day one. Their approach combines mechanical automation, digital integration, and modular architecture, allowing customers to configure lines that closely match their processes, improving operational efficiency and optimizing the use of packaging materials.
Market Growth and Trends
According to recent market analyses, the global market for automated ecommerce packaging solutions is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of over 16% in the next five years. This growth is driven by the need to reduce operating costs, increase fulfillment speed, and optimize shipping volumes. Warehouses must handle heterogeneous products in terms of size and characteristics while maintaining high standards for traceability, accuracy, and speed in order preparation. Automation is therefore a decisive factor in ensuring operational continuity, cost control, and service quality.
Innovative Solutions on Display
SELECTA System
SELECTA is System Digital’s solution for the automated handling of pre-formed paper bags in ecommerce fulfillment. This system addresses one of the most common bottlenecks in packaging operations: the manual selection of the most suitable format for the product. Once it receives the dimensional data of the product from the customer’s management system or through direct acquisition via incoming scanning, SELECTA automatically selects the correct bag from the available formats in stock.
The bag is then picked, opened, and presented to the operator in an ergonomic position for quick loading. After the product is inserted, the system performs the sealing, applies the shipping label, and transfers the package to the outgoing line, ready for logistics. This results in a faster, more precise, and more sustainable process, with packaging calibrated to the product, leading to less material used and reduced shipping volumes.
SELECTA manages five bag formats, ranging from Small (300×250 mm) to XXL (600×450 mm), with productivity of up to 530 pieces per hour in a fully automated configuration.
ELEVA System
ELEVA is System Digital’s modular platform for the automated handling of corrugated cardboard boxes in intralogistics. This system integrates functional modules for box erecting, dynamic height adjustment, closing, and labeling. The height-reduction module operates continuously, processing boxes with different bases in sequence without requiring mechanical changeovers between formats.
ELEVA reads the height of the inserted product and automatically adjusts the cardboard, eliminating empty space, improving load stability, and reducing transport costs. Throughput reaches up to 600 units per hour. The modular architecture is designed to evolve over time, with each module able to be operated independently or integrated into a complete line, allowing the system to be configured according to the available layout and the desired level of automation.
RC12 Collaborative Palletizer
Completing the logistics offering, Coesia presents RC12 by FlexLink, a collaborative palletizing system designed for flexible applications in warehouses and distribution centers. RC12 integrates a collaborative robot for pallet handling and re-organization, facilitating transfer operations and load reconfiguration according to operational needs. The configuration interface allows palletizing patterns to be defined quickly, facilitating adaptation to the variable flows typical of ecommerce and modern distribution.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main benefit of automation in ecommerce packaging is the increased efficiency and accuracy it brings to the packaging process. Automated systems can handle various product sizes and formats, reducing manual labor, minimizing errors, and optimizing the use of packaging materials, which in turn lowers costs and improves sustainability.
SELECTA improves the packaging process by automating the selection of the appropriate bag for each product based on its dimensions. This eliminates manual selection bottlenecks, speeds up the packing process, and ensures that the packaging used is optimized for the product, reducing waste and shipping costs.
The global market for automated ecommerce packaging solutions is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of over 16% in the next five years, driven by the increasing demand for efficiency, cost reduction, and sustainability in logistics operations.
Note: This article provides an overview of advanced automation technologies in ecommerce packaging and their impact on logistics efficiency and sustainability.
