Pushing the boundaries of automation allows Endoline to develop smarter, faster, and more adaptable packaging technology
Family-owned robotics manufacturer, Endoline Automation, has successfully manufactured and installed over 11,000 machines worldwide. Founded over 40 years ago, the company continues its long legacy of innovation by transforming end-of-the-line manufacturing processes for clients across the UK. As Managing Director, Andrew Yates, begins: “It all started in 1980, when my grandfather, who was a chartered electrical and mechanical engineer, started a collective with some of his friends from college.
“They were all engineers who had a passion for problem solving and invention. They got together and worked on a variety of concepts. Amongst these was a case
taper packaging machine, which made it easier to securely tape boxes from top to bottom. My grandfather realized it was a useful bit of kit and decided to turn it into a business proposition.
“The following year, he went into partnership with one of the guys from his original group, and together they rented out a building in Letchworth. They took on some employees and expanded the business to include case construction. It was in the mid-90’s that my father bought into the business and took over the sales side of the operation.
“This allowed my grandfather to continue focusing on his technical work, and everything really started to pick up steam. We’ve evolved from producing simple, small case sealers to more advanced models. We’re always looking for innovative ways to develop the technology, making it faster and more effective for a range of applications.
“My brother joined the business about 20 years ago, and I followed suit not long after. My dad’s now semi-retired, and I’ve taken over as Managing Director. We’re proud to have remained a family business throughout our entire history, and we are now a fourth-generation family business. Continuing our family legacy has been a huge motivator for me as we’ve taken the business into its next chapter.
“In 2019, in response to the market, we decided to launch a robotics division, with a focus on palletizing and case packing technology. Our machinery works as part of an automated construction line. Once a product is completed, it’s moved from production to packaging, where it is boxed, palletized, wrapped, and made ready for delivery, using our machinery and robotics. While still a burgeoning business, our Endoline Robotics division has seen significant success including delivering our biggest ever order of £2.5 million.
“Our success is driven by our unwavering commitment to maintaining a clear focus on end-of-line solutions and this all comes back to my grandfather’s original vision. Endoline means ‘end of the line’. Our work is the final stop in the product journey, before it reaches the consumer. The research and development we do, and the solutions we produce, are still focused on this crucial step in the manufacturing process.”
Dedicated to innovation
The company’s current product portfolio is packed with the latest in automation technology, as Andrew details: “The typical products we provide are modular systems. We have a machine that forms cardboard boxes ready for any product, all it needs are the dimensions, and everything is done automatically. These machines also seal the boxes up, ready for the next step in the packaging process. They can do up to 30 cases a minute, which is a lot more efficient than if a person were doing the same job.
“We also have a separate machine that tapes up and secures the top of the box. We’ve developed these machines to have gluing functionalities as well as tape, so they’re suitable for a wider range of applications. Another one of our products is the case packer. Once the product arrives at the packing area, the case packer can pick it up and automatically place it neatly into the case. We can provide a separate robotic system for palletizing boxes and cases, ready for transportation.
“Using our tools, the whole process requires very little manual labor or intervention. It’s a fully automated operation that works efficiently and seamlessly to package and prepare products across a variety of industries and applications.”
Staying one step ahead of industry and anticipating their future needs underpins Endoline’s success. In fact, this commitment to being innovative and adaptable paved the way for international growth in the early 2000’s and today, Endoline has a presence in over 30 countries.
For Endoline, innovation will always begin at home. The company is dedicated to advancing automation technology to enhance efficiency and boost productivity. As Andrew discusses: “Internally, we’re always looking to make our machinery more advanced. Ongoing improvement is vital if you want to succeed in such a technology driven industry. We invest heavily in our equipment, making it faster, smarter, and more innovative with every passing day. We have a dedicated innovation team, whose sole purpose is to help advance our capabilities and capacity with new technology.
“A lot of our work is non-standard, and that’s something that really makes us stand out. We have won many awards which stand as a testament to this. Everybody has a different application, and every product behaves differently. All our clients operate and oversee incredibly intricate production processes, each working at different speeds and with different demands. Our machinery works because it is designed to meet the individual needs of each customer.
“This is not off-the-shelf stuff. We adapt our technology to our client’s exact requirements, to make it as compatible as possible with their existing processes. Our in-house teams work diligently to design and modify machinery that offers quicker, more advanced solutions.
“Some of our more recent advancements include sustainable solutions for customers looking to move away from plastic. I’m a director of Automate UK, the leading trade association for automation suppliers, which helps me keep my finger on the pulse when it comes to changing industry demands. Environmentally conscious practice has been a huge concern for some time, and we’ve responded to that with our latest technological advances.
“Our new wet paper tape machine reduces our client’s reliance on plastic by replacing plastic tape with a sustainable alternative. The machine wets the paper tape before applying it, giving it the same strength and functionality as plastic tape without the environmental cost. We launched the product in September, and we’ve seen a strong positive response from people across the industry.”
Future growth
As Endoline continues its work at the cutting edge of automation technology, Andrew considers what’s next for the business: “It’s hard to know what the future holds. That being said, I’m optimistic about where we’re headed. The company has made so many significant strides in recent years, there’s no reason why we couldn’t double in size over the next five to ten years. The market is out there, and there’s certainly an appetite for the work we do. Our main goal now is to continue growing sustainably, and push the limits wherever possible,” he concludes.