What AFA Systems does

AFA Systems is a privately held Canadian secondary packaging machinery manufacturer founded in 2001 and headquartered in Brampton, Ontario, with a recently established U.S. location in Cleveland, Ohio. The company designs, manufactures, and services engineered packaging automation solutions for enterprise manufacturers in food and beverage, pharmaceutical and healthcare, consumer packaged goods, and industrial sectors across North America, with installed customers extending to China, Mexico, Ecuador, and Indonesia. Named customers include General Mills, J.M. Smucker, Maple Leaf Foods, Catalent, Pepsi Canada, Kellogg's, McCain Foods, Johnson & Johnson China, Danone Indonesia, Cadbury, Weston Bakeries, and Kimberly Clark.

AFA's product portfolio spans secondary packaging machinery: MK and HD series cartoners (up to 320 cartons per minute, with continuous-motion variants reaching 600 CPM), case packers (top-load, end-load, wrap-around), tray and carton formers, gantry robotic palletizers, case erectors and sealers, feeders and denestors, and product accumulators. Core technology differentiators include proprietary in-house gantry and Delta 3 robots designed specifically for packaging applications, all-servo changeover systems enabling SKU changeovers in under 5 minutes, and a patent-pending Sure-Load Carton Closing System. The control architecture is standardized on Allen Bradley/Rockwell Automation platforms (ControlLogix PLC, PanelView HMI, Kinetix servo systems), with integrations to FANUC and Codian robotics, Nordson adhesive systems, Cognex machine vision, Festo pneumatics, Piab vacuum technology, and Rexroth and Schneider Electric motion and electrical components.

Commercially, AFA operates a direct enterprise field-sales model with quote-based pricing and no public price list, converting prospects through a "Request a Quote" process. Revenue is generated from hardware sales (new and used machinery, spare parts), professional services (machinery integration, machine rebuilds, retrofits, engineering evaluations, safety and guarding packages, PMMI-certified training), and turnkey end-of-line system integration. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, parent company, or institutional investors, operates with 51-100 employees, and holds ISO 9001-2000 principles certification and authorization from the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario to offer professional engineering services.

Name

AFA Systems

Legal name

AFA Systems Inc.

Website

https://afasystemsinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

AFA Systems is a privately held Canadian manufacturer of engineered secondary packaging automation equipment, including proprietary robotic cartoners, case packers, tray formers, and palletizers, serving enterprise food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods manufacturers across North America and select international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Packaging Machinery

NAICS

Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (333310)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

End-of-Line Integration & Packaging Line Systems (IMAHAOAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conveying, Feeding & Accumulation Systems (Packaging Lines) (IMAHAOAK), Conveying, Feeding & Material Handling for Packaging Lines (IMALAOAG)

Keywords

• Packaging machinery manufacturing
• Secondary packaging automation
• Cartoning equipment
• End-of-line packaging solutions
• Robotic palletizing systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Brampton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Packaging Machinery Manufacturing: Design, manufacture, and sale of secondary packaging machinery including cartoners, case packers, case erectors, tray formers, palletizers, and feeders/denestors. Equipment ranges from compact low-speed systems to high-speed multi-lane operations reaching up to 320 cartons per minute.
2. Used Machinery Sales: Sale of refurbished and used packaging equipment including manual load cartoners, case erectors, case packers, and autoload modules.
3. Service Parts and Spare Parts: Supply of spare parts for packaging machinery, both for AFA equipment and other manufacturers' equipment. Next-day delivery available for critical spare parts.
4. PMMI Certified Training Services: Customized training programs for machine operators, mechanical technicians, and electrical technicians. Training tailored to specific customer needs.
5. Machinery Integration and Turnkey Solutions: End-of-line system integration services including complete turnkey systems, combining multiple packaging processes into cohesive automation solutions.
6. Machine Rebuilds: Refurbishment and upgrade services to enhance existing packaging machinery performance, speed, and efficiency.
7. Retrofits: Modification and upgrade services for existing packaging equipment including closure system changes, speed upgrades, and capacity additions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

AFA Systems designs, manufactures, and sells secondary packaging machinery and automation equipment, including cartoners, case packers, case erectors, tray and carton formers, tray packers, robotic palletizers, feeders/denestors, and product accumators. The company also provides end-of-line machinery integration, engineering evaluations, machine rebuilds, retrofits, safety packages, spare parts, PMMI-certified training, and used equipment resale. It serves manufacturers across food and beverage, pharmaceutical, consumer packaged goods, and industrial sectors, primarily in North America with selected international customers.

Product overview

AFA Systems is a secondary packaging machinery manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of end-of-line automation solutions. The core product lines include MK and HD Series Cartoners (manual and automatic load variants for bottles, pouches, bars, and wrapped products at speeds up to 320 CPM), Case Packers (top-load, end-load, and wrap-around configurations with CP, TL, TR, and TP series), Tray & Carton Formers (high-speed formers up to 120 pieces per minute with all-servo changeover), and Gantry Robotic Palletizers. The company differentiates through proprietary robotics technology, including proprietary Delta 3 robots (AF-DLT) and gantry robots designed in-house for packaging applications. Supporting the core machinery are Case Erectors & Sealers (MK, CE, CP, TR series), Feeders & Denestors (reciprocating, rotary, robotic), and Product Accumulators (FIFO/FILO vertical and horizontal). The portfolio is unified by Allen Bradley/Rockwell Automation controls across all equipment. Services include engineering evaluations, machinery integration for turnkey solutions, machine rebuilds, retrofits, safety packages, spare parts, and PMMI-certified training. Used machinery resale and conveying systems round out the offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MK Series Cartoners Heavy-duty manual and automatic load cartoning solutions supporting packaging speeds up to 320 CPM for bottles, vials, canisters, pouches, bags, bars, and wrapped products.
• HD Series Cartoners Heavy-duty continuous and intermittent motion autoload cartoners using linear servopac technology for high-speed multi-pack applications at 200+ products per minute.
• Case Packers Versatile top-load, end-load, and wrap-around case packers (CP, TL, TR, TP series) with gantry robot case erecting, servo-driven conveyors, and glue or tape closure options.
• Tray & Carton Formers High-speed tray and carton formers reaching up to 120 pieces per minute with single, dual, or three-head configurations and all-servo changeover under one minute.
• Top Load Cartoners Vertical/top load cartoning systems for multi-pack cartons using Delta 3 or Gantry robots for product collation and loading, with separate carton forming, loading, and top closing stations.
• End Load Cartoners Horizontal end-load cartoning systems using rotary or reciprocating feeders with product collation via servopac systems and pushers for loading into cartons.
• Gantry Robotic Palletizers AF-PLT gantry robotic palletizing systems with modular designs, cantilever or overhead configurations, wet environment construction, and up to 12 picks/placements per minute.
• Tray Packers High-speed tray packers handling cartons, bottles, pouches, cans, trays, and rigid products with robust construction and advanced infeed systems.
• Case Erectors & Sealers MK, CE, CP, and TR series case erectors with gantry robot case erecting, servo-driven rotary feeders, and tape, glue, or tuck closure options at speeds over 200 CPM.
• Transrector Case Erector CE-TRS all-servo changeover case erector featuring Transrector brand technology for rapid product changeovers.
• Feeders & Denestors Reciprocating, rotary, and robotic pick-and-place denesting systems for clamshells, coupons, and leaflets with speeds up to 720 products per minute for rotary feeding.
• Product Accumulators Vertical FIFO and FILO accumulators plus horizontal accumulators for cartons, rolls, books, and cases to maintain production during downstream faults.
• Conveying Systems Custom conveyor systems for product handling and accumulation within packaging lines.
• Engineering Evaluations Assessments covering safety processes, line efficiency, changeover time, centerlining, supply chain, and electrical systems with detailed recommendations.
• Machinery Integration End-of-line turnkey solutions integrating cartoning, case packing, checkweighing, vision inspection, and palletizing into cohesive production lines.
• Machine Rebuilds Refurbishment and upgrade services to enhance existing packaging systems with auto-load modules, speed increases, and new infeed systems.
• Retrofits Machine modifications including glue-to-tuck closure changes, code dater additions, feeder upgrades, and new size capabilities.
• Safety & Guarding Packages Safety upgrades for existing end-of-line packaging machinery to lower insurance premiums, meet compliance standards, and improve worker safety.
• Service Parts Fast and reliable spare parts support for AFA and other manufacturers' equipment, with next-day delivery available on critical parts.
• PMMI Certified Training PMMI-certified training programs tailored for machine operators, mechanical technicians, and electrical technicians to reduce faults and improve ROI.
• Used Machinery Pre-owned packaging equipment including manual load cartoners, case erectors, case packers, autoload modules, and lane diverters, supported by AFA.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduce packaging costs by 40% with inline carton forming
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rockwell AutomationcoreTechnology or IntegrationRockwell Automation is AFA's primary controls technology partner, providing Allen-Bradley PLCs, PanelView HMIs, Kinetix servo systems, and ControlLogix platforms that form the core control architecture across all AFA packaging equipment. Rockwell is recognized as the world's largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information.
• FANUC Robotics America, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationFANUC Robotics is an authorized integrator partner for AFA Systems. FANUC is the leading supplier of robotic automation in the Americas with over 200,000 robots installed worldwide. AFA integrates FANUC robots including Delta 3 robots for high-speed packaging applications.
• Codian RoboticscoreTechnology or IntegrationCodian Robotics offers the widest range of Delta robots in the world, providing standardized customization for packaging automation. Their distinctive approach and consistent high quality translate into low Total Cost of Ownership for end users.
• Nordson CorporationcoreTechnology or IntegrationNordson Corporation is a leading producer of precision dispensing equipment that applies adhesives, sealants, and coatings during manufacturing. Nordson ProBlue adhesive systems are integrated into AFA cartoners, case erectors, and tray formers for glue-style closures.
• SUBO Automation Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSUBO Automation specializes in the design and fabrication of machinery for industrial and manufacturing processes, including high-speed packaging tasks and stand-alone work cells for the automotive industry.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Marchesini Group: Marchesini Group is an Italian manufacturer of packaging machinery, particularly strong in pharmaceutical and cosmetics cartoning and end-of-line equipment. It overlaps with AFA in pharmaceutical and CPG secondary packaging but is primarily Europe-based with limited North American direct presence.

Broad incumbents

• Krones AG: Krones is a German-headquartered global leader in packaging and bottling machinery for the beverage, food, and CPG industries. It is a broad incumbent offering complete line solutions that overlap with AFA's secondary packaging portfolio, though at much greater scale and with a global service network.
• Barry-Wehmiller (BW Packaging): Barry-Wehmiller's BW Packaging group encompasses multiple legacy packaging machinery brands (including R.A. Jones, Clybourn, Accraply, Pneumatic Scale Angelus, etc.) offering cartoning, case packing, and end-of-line equipment. It is a broad incumbent with significantly greater scale and global service reach than AFA.

Direct peers

• Edson Packaging Machinery: Edson designs and manufactures case packers, tray packers, and palletizers primarily for the food, beverage, and CPG industries. It is a comparable direct competitor in the case packing and tray packing categories where AFA is active.
• Premier Tech: Premier Tech is a Canadian-based packaging automation provider offering case packers, palletizers, and end-of-line solutions. As a fellow Canadian competitor, it competes directly with AFA in the domestic market and shares a similar customer vertical mix.
• ProMach: ProMach is a major US-based packaging machinery manufacturer offering case packers, cartoners, palletizers, and end-of-line systems across multiple verticals. It is one of the largest and most direct competitors to AFA in the North American secondary packaging market, with a much broader product portfolio and global footprint.
• Brenton Engineering: Brenton is a US-based manufacturer of end-of-line packaging equipment including case packers, palletizers, and robotic integration solutions. It is a direct competitor in the same mid-market end-of-line packaging segment as AFA.
• Delkor Systems: Delkor Systems specializes in case packing and shrink-wrapping equipment, particularly for retail-ready packaging in food, beverage, and CPG. It is a direct competitor in case erecting, loading, and sealing—core AFA product categories.
• Douglas Machine Inc. Douglas Machine manufactures secondary packaging machinery including cartoners, case packers, tray formers, and shrink wrap systems for food, beverage, and consumer goods markets. It is one of the closest direct competitors to AFA in North American cartoning and case packing.
• R.A. Jones (a BW Packaging company): R.A. Jones manufactures cartoning, case packing, and filling equipment for food, beverage, personal care, and pharmaceutical markets. It is a direct competitor in cartoning and end-of-line packaging equipment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AFASystems
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/afasystems
• Facebookfacebook.com/AFAPackaging
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afa-systems-inc-

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AFA Systems