Applied Manufacturing Technologies (AMT), a North American automation engineering firm known for advanced material handling and end-of-line solutions, has deployed four new robotic roll handling systems tailored for converting industry environments. The systems are now operating at a major packaging converter in the Midwest and highlight AMT’s ongoing effort to address challenging material handling processes with adaptable, safety-focused automation. While AMT has long been recognized for its capabilities in palletizing, autonomous mobile robots, and robotic material handling, the company is extending that expertise into roll and coil automation—areas where manual handling continues to limit productivity and increase risk.
“Handling large rolls places significant physical strain on workers and introduces safety concerns,” said Craig Salvalaggio, President of AMT. “Our goal was to design automation that minimizes those risks, boosts production efficiency, and allows manufacturers to reassign labor to higher-value tasks.”
According to Tom Marx, Sales Account Manager at AMT, the systems were engineered with day-to-day production realities in mind. “Converters often deal with varying roll sizes, pallet patterns, and existing equipment,” Marx said. “We focused on making these systems flexible and intuitive so operators can manage changeovers quickly without relying on additional engineering resources.”
Each roll handling solution is designed to accommodate a broad range of roll dimensions and pallet configurations. Features include programmable operation via HMI or pendant controls, automatic end-of-arm tool changing, and compatibility with barcode scanning, vision systems, and upstream and downstream equipment. The systems can also interface with conveyors, forklifts, or autonomous mobile robots, allowing customers to tailor automation to their facility layout.
These deployments draw on AMT’s wider experience delivering integrated material handling solutions that combine robotics, sensors, motion control, and coordinated system logic. Similar engineering approaches have been applied across projects such as machine tending, thermoformed product handling, and line-side transfer, where complex payloads and constrained environments require robust automation strategies. Additional details and demonstrations are available on AMT’s robotic roll handling solutions page.
Established in 1989, Applied Manufacturing Technologies is a global provider of automated material handling systems, end-of-line solutions, engineering services, and autonomous mobile robots for manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics. A FANUC Level V Authorized System Integrator, AMT employs more than 120 controls and automation engineers with over 1,250 combined years of experience. Headquartered in Orion, Michigan, the company has delivered more than 25,000 automation systems for over 600 customers worldwide.
