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JLS Automation will unveil JLS VISION AI at PACK EXPO International 2026, October 18–21 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Visitors can see the technology guide a JLS robotic system through live pile picking, product organization and automated refeed demonstrations at Booth S-2776.
JLS VISION AI is an AI-driven machine vision system developed for integration with select JLS robotic packaging systems. It is not a standalone machine or a retrofit offered for third-party equipment. The technology sees and interprets irregular product flow, then provides the information a JLS robotic system needs to decide what to pick and how to handle it.
Traditional rules-based vision often depends on products arriving in a clean, separated monolayer. Creating that presentation can require additional upstream equipment or people to sort and orient product before the next machine can do its job. JLS VISION AI changes the approach by helping a JLS robotic system turn chaotic incoming product—even when items are touching, overlapping or stacked—into a controlled, organized flow for the next step.
“Product rarely arrives perfectly spaced,” said Mike Newcome, vice president of sales & marketing at JLS Automation. “Until now, limits on vision technology meant touching or overlapping product was treated as a non-pickable target. That's missed output meaning fewer cases in the warehouse or on the truck at the end of the production day. Historically you handle that with more upstream sorting equipment or by adding headcount, and both are expensive investments. JLS VISION AI widens that tolerance. Presentation doesn't have to be perfect for the pick to be successful.”
Using proprietary AI models and advanced training methods, JLS VISION AI detects and classifies products, determines which item is on top and therefore pickable, and continuously reacquires targets as products shift during picking. The JLS robotic system acts on that guidance to pick, orient and organize the product for the downstream operation. JLS VISION AI processes images at up to 15 frames per second, helping keep vision processing from becoming the application bottleneck.
The platform supports 2D and 3D vision when height data is required, along with orientation detection, classification and inspection of product-specific features. Its AI-based approach is designed for products with natural variability in shape, size and presentation, including raw proteins, frozen foods, baked goods, flow-wrapped packages and brick-style packaged products, including transparent formats.
At PACK EXPO, JLS VISION AI will guide a JLS robotic system handling condiment packets presented in irregular, overlapping flow. The demonstration will show the system classifying packets by type, identifying the next pick, supporting orientation correction and organized placement, and reacquiring targets as surrounding packets move. A recirculating refeed keeps bypassed product in motion for another picking opportunity.
JLS VISION AI will run throughout show hours. Visitors can also book a private 30-minute conversation with a JLS automation expert to discuss their product, package format, line rate and handling challenges.
