Tekpak Installed Robotic System for Transdermal Patching
A new automated packaging line increased production throughput by 30% while reducing labor needs by 12 operators.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Robotics
Live Poll
Do you believe the efficiency gains from industrial automation justify the reduction of human labor jobs?
Tekpak Automation deployed a robotic QC-Sleever system for a pharmaceutical manufacturer to streamline transdermal patch inspection and packaging. This installed system processes 1,600 patches per minute and uses four Schneider Delta robots to handle high-speed production.
Why it matters
The implementation allows manufacturers to meet higher demand for transdermal patches through automation that replaces manual inspection lines. By consolidating multiple machines into a smaller footprint, the system addresses space constraints while maintaining strict quality control.
The system processes 1,600 patches per minute using four Schneider Delta robots, each handling 400 patches per minute. This setup requires 30% less floor space than the traditional multi-machine systems it replaces.
The players
Tekpak Automation
An automation engineering firm based in Wexford, Ireland, that specializes in robotic packaging and inspection systems for the medical and pharmaceutical industries.
Schneider
A global industrial technology manufacturer providing the Delta robots used within the QC-Sleever high-speed packaging architecture.
The details
The QC-Sleever utilizes four vision inspection stations to identify defects, directing the robotic arms to eject faulty items from the line. During the process, each patch undergoes ten separate vision inspection stages, including a UV-backlit camera scan to ensure batch data and alpha-numeric information are accurate. The robots finalize the inspection by presenting the underside of each patch to the camera before collation into groups of 30 for case packing.
Timeline
September 22-24, 2026: Tekpak exhibits at the PPMA Show in Birmingham.
September 23-24, 2026: Tekpak exhibits at Medical Technology Ireland in Galway.
The Tech Race
The QC-Sleever marks a shift toward replacing legacy multi-machine assembly lines with consolidated, high-speed robotic cells. This development mirrors the broader industry trend of integrating vision-guided robotics to achieve faster inspection cycles in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Manufacturers deploying this technology see immediate gains in output, reaching 1,600 patches per minute with a reject rate below 1%. While this system directly benefits production efficiency in pharmaceutical factories, it requires an initial capital investment in high-speed vision-guided hardware.
The takeaway
The successful deployment of the QC-Sleever demonstrates that compact, vision-guided robotic cells can now handle complex inspection tasks at massive scale. Industry professionals should monitor Tekpak's upcoming demonstrations at the 2026 PPMA Show for potential updates on throughput metrics.
Further reading
For more on how specialized mechanical arms are transforming assembly, visit Robotics.
Live Poll
Do you believe the efficiency gains from industrial automation justify the reduction of human labor jobs?
