ARI Delivers 20‑30% Cheaper In‑Mold Labeling Systems That Match Industry Leaders

When we launched Absolute Robot Inc. in 2013, our mission was clear: help North American molders stay competitive by delivering high‑quality, cost‑effective automation that keeps production onshore. If a product can be made here at a price North Americans can afford, why not?

That philosophy guided ARI’s growth, and this year’s National Plastics Exposition (NPE) showcases our partnership with Well‑Lih’s servo‑driven Cartesian robots—specifically the five‑axis BW10‑1500A+C—priced 10–20% below competitors.

But ARI is taking a bold step forward. Our booth (W4182) highlights a Well‑Lih in‑mold labeling (IML) system that rivals top industry players while cutting costs by 20–30%. "American molders have asked about IML for the past five years," says business manager Tim Lavigne. "We’ve built enough experience to bring this solution to market now."

We offer both side‑entry and top‑entry IML systems capable of cycle times as low as 3 seconds—on par with today’s benchmarks. "We handle high‑speed IML for food packaging," Lavigne explains. "We’ve quoted systems for 1.8‑second mold‑open times and can accommodate larger products such as 5‑gal buckets, kitty‑litter pails, and candy bowls. Our sweet spot is IML for 100‑to‑300‑ton presses, typically using side‑entry automation; larger 400‑to‑500‑ton machines require top‑entry solutions."

To demonstrate our full‑suite capability, ARI will run a Zhafir Venus II all‑electric injection machine (259 tons) sold by sister company Absolute Haitian. The machine will feature a side‑entry IML system and a four‑cavity PP yogurt‑cup mold, showcasing a complete turnkey solution—including robot, end‑of‑arm tooling, label magazine, height‑adjustable frame, and optional vision and stacking features (bottom‑up or bottom‑down)."