PACK EXPO International 2026 · Chicago

Randomized pork chops in.
Thermoformer trays out.
No fixturing.

We're running a live cell inside the KUKA Robotics booth, built around Lyro's machine intelligence vision system. It picks raw protein arriving in random orientation and loads it into a thermoformer — the station most plants still staff by hand.

Book time at the booth See what we're running
Booth
KUKA Robotics
N-5530
Dates
October 18–21
2026
Venue
McCormick Place
Chicago, Illinois
Your registration
Free with code
99X22

What you'll see

The hardest pick in the plant, running unattended.

Thermoforming and tray loading have been nearly impossible feats until now. Most systems require a single layer of separated products, which is unattainable in real-life conditions without adding extra labor and eroding your automation ROI.

Now, with Lyro, the impossible is made possible.

The cell in operation Randomly oriented chops picked from the infeed belt and placed to a four-cavity tray — no fixturing, no upstream orientation step.
1

It sees the actual product

Lyro's vision system reads each piece as it arrives — size, shape, orientation, position — with no fixturing, no pocket, and no upstream orientation step to hold the line back.

2

It decides in real time

Machine intelligence picks the grasp and the placement for that specific piece, then hands the KUKA robot a motion plan. Variability stops being an exception to handle and becomes the normal operating condition.

3

It places to spec

Product is loaded into the thermoformer cavity in the correct position and presentation, cycle after cycle, at a rate that doesn't sag in the back half of a shift.

Built to drop in

One universal cell, not a custom project every time.

In Chicago, you will see a first-of-its-kind, fully automated universal solution for packaging loading. All done without any vision programming required.

Because the intelligence sits in the vision layer rather than in fixturing, the same cell retargets to a different product or a different downstream machine without a mechanical rebuild. That applies across effectively every thermoformer and tray-loading application.

Designed to integrate downstream of equipment from OEMs including

Multivac Harpak‑ULMA Paxiom Reiser and others

Named for compatibility reference only. Next Tech Automation is independent and is not an authorised representative of these manufacturers.

Two thermoformer packaging machines above a range of finished retail packs: tray-packed chicken breasts, smoked pork chops, a vacuum-sealed pork loin and bone-in chops
The same cell feeds any of these. Machine and format change; the vision layer does not.

Who's behind it

Four companies, one cell.

This demo exists because each partner brought the piece they're genuinely best at. Follow any of them for the full picture.

Automation general contracting

Next Tech Automation

We act as the equipment general contractor — scoping the application, coordinating the vendors, and owning the system end-to-end from feasibility through commissioning, so one party is accountable for whether it actually runs.

Our services

Machine intelligence

Lyro Robotics

Lyro MI is a ground-breaking vision intelligence solution with applications throughout food manufacturing. This system provides previously unattainable robotic guidance and vision inspection data with no programming required.

lyro.com

End-of-line automation

Axinova

Axinova is a leading washdown and food-safe automation and robotics integrator. They are the on-the-ground integration lead for this demo and capable of servicing customers throughout North America.

axinova.us

Robotics & booth host

KUKA Robotics

The cell is built on a KUKA arm and runs inside KUKA's booth for the full four days of the show. Stop by N-5530 to see it alongside the rest of their food and packaging lineup.

kuka.com

Book time at the booth

Fifteen minutes, on your line's numbers.

The show floor is loud and the booth gets busy. Tell us what you're running and we'll hold a slot to talk through your specific application — product, rate, and what's downstream — instead of giving you the generic walkthrough.

Where
KUKA Robotics, Booth N-5530 · McCormick Place, Chicago
Show hours
Sun–Tue, Oct 18–20: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wed, Oct 21: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Request received.

We'll confirm your slot by email before the show. See you at N-5530.

We'll only use this to arrange your booth meeting.

Not registered yet?

Use our code and your registration is free.

PACK EXPO International runs only every two years. Enter this comp code at registration to waive the attendee fee.

Code 99X22
Register at packexpointernational.com