We have big news! Over the last few months, our team and partners have been building a new piece of automation inside J&J UK – our Automated Packing Machine.
It’s coming just in time for Peak 2026, so it’s right around the corner. As we approach launch, we wanted to give you a first look and share what this investment means for our clients and the future of J&J.
What is the Automated Packing Machine?
Our new machine performs several functions:
- Cuts boxes and large letters to perfectly match the size of the order
- Checks parcels against an expected weight tolerance to ensure any errors are caught
- Photographs the contents of the order before sealing
- Prints carrier labels directly onto the box
- Prints branding onto the lid before feeding into the dispatch line
To make space for the machine, we’ve removed a couple of rows of traditional packing benches while retaining a designated manual packing area for items that aren’t suitable for automated packing.
What inspired this investment?
After our merger with QLS, we’ve had the chance to bring in the same robotic packing technology already proven across QLS’s sites.
As more eCommerce brands come on board, we need to keep scaling without losing the consistency and service clients expect. Automation is where the industry is heading, and this is us making sure we’re ahead of it rather than catching up.
Automation is a huge part of our growth plan, not just here in the UK but over in the US, too. While our manual operation has seen great success, it’s important that we’re able to meet our clients’ needs well into the future.
What benefits will our clients see?
While automation will enable us to move resources away from packing and into other departments of the fulfilment centre, this investment isn’t just about us.
We’re excited for our clients, too, because this technology delivers real benefits. It improves our service and lets us offer things we simply couldn’t before.
When your orders are packed via our Automated Packing Machine, you’ll enjoy:
- Photographs of every parcel, giving clarity on what left the building and in what condition
- Consistent weight checks on every order, keeping shipping costs predictable
- Branded, editable packaging that can be adjusted on the fly to mirror campaigns and seasons
- Smaller, better-fitted boxes with less void, which also means better trailer fill
- 100% recyclable packaging across the line
We’ll be sharing more soon
In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing much more about the Automated Packing Machine, including an interview with our Head of UK Operations and, of course, some video of the machine in action once it’s operational.
For now, if you’d like to learn more about how you can start using automated packing to fulfil your orders in time for Peak, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
