Campetella Robotic Center Debuts at NPE, Showcasing Cutting-Edge Automation for U.S. Molders

U.S. molders have a unique opportunity at NPE to explore Campetella Robotic Center, a leading Italian robotics manufacturer with over 120 years of automation expertise, originally rooted in agricultural applications.

Campetella, a family‑owned enterprise, was founded in the late 19th century and has evolved into a global partner for high‑performance automation solutions. Its North American presence is represented by Hunter Automation & Robotics, established in 2014 to support U.S. customers.

The company offers a complete lineup of top‑entry and side‑entry, all‑servo linear robots—available in three‑ or five‑axis configurations—alongside servo sprue pickers capable of handling machines ranging from 30 to 5 000 tons. These robots are celebrated for their quiet operation, grease‑free design, and low vibration, delivering a reliable, maintenance‑friendly solution.

Campetella’s modular architecture allows rapid reconfiguration. Within two hours, a robot can be switched from an operator‑side to a non‑operator side, or re‑mounted on a T‑beam—an advantage that sets it apart from most competitors. The robots are also highly portable, enabling seamless transfer between machines.

Space efficiency is another key benefit. A side‑entry model occupies the same footprint as a top‑entry robot from other suppliers, making it an attractive choice for constrained production lines.

Pricing remains competitive, while each model comes fully loaded with features that are often sold as optional by other brands. Campetella’s servo systems recover approximately 10 % of kinetic energy during braking, translating into significant energy savings.

Specializing in injection‑molding line (IML) automation, Campetella has partnered with European machine suppliers such as Arburg, Engel, KraussMaffei, Netstal, and Toyo. In Italy, it delivered a lights‑out IML system that produces 5 700 food trays per hour on a 550‑ton press, with secondary automation for label checking, barcode verification, and protective PE film stacking.

At NPE, Campetella demonstrated its Maxi Modula side‑entry robot in an IML showcase that captured the attention of bucket and pail molders. At the KraussMaffei booth, a 900 m.t. GX press used a two‑platen configuration to mold 5‑gal paint pails in under 14 seconds—an impressive feat for a product traditionally printed.

The company’s own booth featured an Engel machine that molded four airline cups in under 3 seconds. An SM2 side‑entry robot, equipped with a servo wrist and vision system, demolded the parts. The new Spin X‑Series, a four‑axis SCARA robot, was also on display, offering a payload of up to 50 kg (110 lb) and a vertical reach of 3 300 mm.

Additional Campetella robots were showcased at other booths: JSW displayed a new X‑Series Gunshot ultra‑high‑speed top‑entry robot that demolded two food containers with lids in under 3 seconds, while Maruka highlighted a Toyo press that molded decorative flowerpots in four cavities (two pots and two bases) using an X‑Series MC‑2 HS high‑speed top‑entry robot.