What Kraken Automation does

Kraken Automation is a privately held Canadian packaging line integration company founded in 1994 and headquartered in Burlington, Ontario, with a regional office in Red Wing, Minnesota. The company designs, engineers, and commissions custom secondary packaging automation systems for process manufacturers in food, beverage, household products, and industrial goods across North America, with publicly cited expertise spanning 20+ years in high-speed cereal packaging. Its product portfolio is organized around three capability areas — Orientation & Staging Systems (upending, turning, settling, singulation, stabilization, controlled transfers), Flow Management & Routing Systems (merge, divert, smart infeed, lane balancing, accumulation, conveyance), and End-of-Line Packaging & Inspection Systems (metal detection, checkweighing, reject, case packing, labeling, palletizing) — supported by a family of belt, chain, roller, and retractable conveyors, product accumulators, indexing infeeds, and high-speed drop-load and top-load case packers.

Kraken's underlying technology is rooted in mechanical and controls engineering rather than software or AI: its systems use PLC-based HMIs with recipe selection, independent drives and sensors synchronized through deterministic control algorithms, and SOLIDWORKS-certified 3D CAD design. The company integrates third-party automation equipment from Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Festo, and Bosch, and its proprietary merge and divert systems are rated for throughputs of 220–320 products per minute. The business operates a quote-based, project-driven revenue model with multi-year contracts, selling consultatively through direct enterprise field sales supported by content marketing, LinkedIn, a YouTube channel of 50+ demonstration videos, and annual Pack Expo trade show participation.

Since September 2024 Kraken has been a subsidiary of Excelis Packaging Automation, a US-domiciled strategic operating company that aggregates complementary packaging brands — Volumetric Technologies (filling), SureKap (capping), AB Technology (labeling), and Technical Beverage (OEM parts) — into a single integrated line-solution offering. The company employs 11–50 people, operates under General Manager Brent Harman (promoted in 2025 after 16 years with the firm), and was founded by Bill Grant.

Name

Kraken Automation

Legal name

Excelis Packaging Automation

Website

https://krakenautomation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kraken Automation designs, engineers, and commissions custom secondary packaging line integration systems — conveyors, merge/divert, case packers, and end-of-line inspection — for North American process manufacturers in food, beverage, household, and industrial markets, now operating as a subsidiary of Excelis Packaging Automation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Packaging Automation Equipment

NAICS

Packaging Machinery Manufacturing (333993), Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (3332)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Packaging Line Automation, Robotics & Integration (Controls, Turnkey Lines) (IMALAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

End-of-Line Integration & Packaging Line Systems (IMAHAOAN), Conveying, Feeding & Accumulation Systems (Packaging Lines) (IMAHAOAK)

Keywords

• Packaging line integration
• Material handling automation
• Secondary packaging equipment
• Conveyor and merge systems
• Case packing machinery

Headquarters

HQ city

Burlington

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Packaging Automation Systems: Design, engineering, and integration of custom material handling, product flow, and secondary packaging automation systems. Revenue is generated through project-based engagements that include system design, equipment manufacturing, installation, and commissioning. Solutions are configured specifically for product type, line speed, variability, and operating environment.
2. Automation Consulting Services: Packaging automation consulting services including new technology evaluation, line layout planning and design, and troubleshooting and problem resolution. Includes return on investment analysis and performance improvement recommendations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kraken Automation designs, engineers, and integrates custom secondary packaging line automation systems for process manufacturers in North America. Its core offerings include conveyor systems, high-speed merge/divert equipment, case packers, cartoners, accumulation and smart infeed systems, and end-of-line packaging and inspection solutions, sold as engineered-to-order projects with installation and commissioning. The company also provides packaging automation consulting services covering technology evaluation, line layout design, troubleshooting, and ROI analysis.

Product overview

Kraken Automation is a packaging line integration company offering engineered material handling, product flow, and secondary packaging automation systems. The company provides a comprehensive portfolio of products organized around three core capability areas: Orientation & Staging Systems (including upending, turning, settling, singulation, and controlled transfers), Flow Management & Routing Systems (including merge, divert, smart infeed, lane balancing, accumulation, and conveyance), and End-of-Line Packaging & Inspection Systems (including metal detection, checkweighing, reject, case packing, labeling, and validation). Supporting these core systems are conveyor solutions (belt, chain, roller, and retractable conveyors), product accumulators, high-speed divert and merge systems, case packing equipment (top-load and drop-load), cartoner systems, and specialized reject systems. The company also offers packaging automation consulting services for technology evaluation, line layout planning, and problem resolution. In 2024, Kraken joined the Excelis Packaging Automation organization, which includes sister companies Volumetric Technologies (filling), SureKap (capping), AB Technology (labeling), and Technical Beverage (OEM parts).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Orientation & Staging Systems Product orientation and staging solutions that position products correctly for downstream handling, including upending, turning, settling, singulation, stabilization, and controlled transfers for process manufacturers.
• Flow Management & Routing Systems Systems for managing product flow and routing on packaging lines, including merge, divert, smart infeed, lane balancing, accumulation, stacking, metering, buffering, and conveyance solutions for high-speed production environments.
• End-of-Line Packaging & Inspection Systems Complete end-of-line packaging and inspection solutions for packaged goods manufacturers, including metal detection, checkweighing, reject systems, case packing, labeling and coding, case routing and palletizing, and validation.
• Belt Conveyor Systems (KCB Belt Conveyor) Belt-based conveyor systems for transporting products across packaging lines within process manufacturing facilities.
• Chain Conveyor Systems (Kraken KCC) Chain-based conveyor systems for product handling applications on packaging lines.
• Powered Roller Conveyor Systems (KCR) Electrically powered roller conveyor systems used to transport products across packaging lines.
• Pull-Nose Retractable Conveyor Conveyor section that creates safe walkthrough access points on a packaging line, allowing operators to pass through with minimal disruption by automatically stopping and restarting the line.
• Product Accumulator System that temporarily stores and regulates product flow between machines, buffering items during speed changes or downtime to prevent jams and keep downstream equipment running.
• High-Speed Divert System System that separates a single high-speed pouch stream into two controlled lanes for case loading, processing up to 320 products per minute while maintaining precise product orientation.
• 1 to 2 Lane Divert and Reject System (Merge/Divert System 240) High-speed automatic adjustable guide rail system that diverts products from a single lane to multiple lanes, functioning as a reject system, lane balancer, diverter, and merge system with standalone plug-and-play design and intuitive HMI recipe selection.
• 2 to 1 Merge System (Lane Indexing Infeed and Merge System) Captures randomly spaced products, stages them through indexing modules, and precisely releases them into a single merged lane using synchronized sensors and motion control algorithms to prevent collisions.
• Multi-Lane Diverter and Merger System System for diverting and merging products across multiple lanes to support complex packaging line configurations and maintain 220+ ppm throughput under changing operating conditions.
• Indexing Infeed (Smart Infeed Transfer System) Smart infeed system that temporarily buffers and stages product feeding a cartoner in a compact footprint, synchronizing random product feeds and ramping up to 120 products per minute.
• High-Speed Top-Load Case Packer Robotic system that picks items from one or more infeed lanes and places them into cases, combining high throughput with a compact footprint for bag-in-box and clamshell-in-box applications.
• High-Speed Drop-Load Case Packer Drop-load case packing machine designed for high-speed packaging operations.
• Servo Smart-Belt Infeed Transfer System Smart belt system that gaps product on each module before entering transfer, with stages varying in speed to create spacing and synchronized timing with the bucket conveyor.
• Carton/Case Turner System that rotates cartons or cases to achieve correct orientation for downstream processing.
• Carton Up-Ender / Case Flipper System that rotates cartons or cases to vertical orientation for case packing or other downstream operations.
• Multi-Stage Guided Reject System High-speed reject system that maintains product integrity and orientation during rejection, suitable for sensitive products that cannot spill or tip.
• Horizontal Cartoner / Horizontal Sleever (KCS-120) Carton wrapping machine operating at 120 units per minute for high-speed cartoning operations.
• Packaging Automation Consulting Services Expert consulting services including new technology evaluation, line layout planning and design, troubleshooting and problem resolution, return on investment analysis, and performance improvement recommendations for packaging automation systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Maintain 220 products per minute production rate even when individual lanes go offline
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Volumetric TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Excelis Automation family, Volumetric Technologies provides precision filling and depositing systems. Companies work together under Excelis to provide integrated packaging line solutions from start to finish.
• SureKapcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Excelis Automation family, SureKap provides capping solutions for a wide range of closures. Companies collaborate within the Excelis family to offer comprehensive packaging automation solutions.
• AB TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Excelis Automation family, AB Technology provides automated labeling systems for food, beverage, and consumer products. Works in coordination with other Excelis brands for integrated packaging solutions.
• Technical BeverageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Excelis Automation family, Technical Beverage provides high quality OEM replacement filling machine parts. Supports the broader Excelis ecosystem with replacement parts and service support.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Ryson International: Ryson manufactures spiral, mass-flow and bucket conveyors plus merge/divert systems for packaging lines. It has meaningful overlap with Kraken's conveying and flow management portfolio but with a narrower product focus.
• Aagard Group: Aagard designs and integrates custom packaging automation equipment including case packers, cartoning and material handling systems for CPG manufacturers, comparable in size and scope to Kraken as a specialist integrator.

Broad incumbents

• Marel: Marel is a global food processing equipment supplier with growing packaging line integration capabilities. It serves similar food/beverage customers and represents a broader, better-capitalized competitor for end-of-line integration work.
• Bosch Packaging Technology (Syntegon): Syntegon (formerly Bosch Packaging Technology) is a global packaging machinery OEM offering complete lines including cartoning, case packing and inspection. It is a broad incumbent referenced as a technology partner by Kraken and competes for large turnkey packaging line projects.
• FlexLink (ABB): FlexLink, part of ABB, is a global supplier of conveyors, flow control and assembly line automation. While not a case packer specialist, it competes with Kraken on conveying, accumulation, and material handling subsystems in food/beverage lines.

Direct peers

• BluePrint Automation (BPA): BPA designs and manufactures automated packaging systems including robotic top-load case packers, conveying, and product handling for food and consumer products, overlapping directly with Kraken's case packing and material handling portfolio.
• Delkor Systems: Delkor manufactures case packers, cartoners, tray formers and shrink-wrapping systems with a strong footprint in food/beverage and protein markets, directly competing for similar secondary packaging integration projects.
• ProMach: ProMach is one of the largest North American packaging machinery integrators with broad product lines across filling, labeling, cartoning, case packing, conveying and end-of-line systems, directly competing with Kraken for secondary packaging and integration projects in food/beverage and industrial markets.
• Douglas Machine: Douglas Machine specializes in secondary packaging systems including case packing, cartoning, conveying and shrink-wrapping for food and consumer goods manufacturers, closely matching Kraken's core integration scope.
• Barry-Wehmiller Packaging (BW Packaging): BW Packaging integrates multiple packaging machinery brands covering cartoning, case packing, conveying and palletizing. It serves the same food/beverage and consumer goods customers as Kraken and competes head-to-head on end-of-line integration projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kraken_machines
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCsf5rW8Uuy1GCIDaFacp3qw
• Facebookfacebook.com/Kraken-Automation-726365891084285
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kraken-automation-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Kraken Automation