IMPACK’s Automation Platform: Built for People. Ready for the Future.
Over the years, packaging producers have faced evolving challenges as carton converters wrestle with labor shortages, rising operating costs, shorter production runs, and increasing complexity. As the industry has changed, so has the technology required to support it. With a proactive mindset, IMPACK approaches automation as a way to bridge the gap between people and what’s possible on the shop floor.
That philosophy is what led us to re-design our automation application from the ground up. This unified, future-ready platform now runs across the entire IMPACK automatic machine portfolio. It delivers a consistent, reliable experience that supports operators, maintenance teams, and production managers. It is straightforward to use, engineered for real-world conditions, and built to evolve.
One Platform - Unified IMPACK Experience
At the core of this evolution is a simple but powerful objective: one automation platform, one user experience.
Whether an operator is working on a VIRTUO automatic packer, a GENIECUT in-line window patcher, an EVERIO automatic stacker, an MFA batch inverter, or an INTRO batch counter, the experience feels familiar and intuitive.
The automation platform is an intuitive system with a rich tool set.
Standardizing automation at this level creates long-term value and delivers immediate benefits:
- Faster training and onboarding
- Reduced learning curves for operators moving between machines
- A shared operational language across the finishing line
Service Coordinator Jonathan Lemay demonstrates the Automation Platform to a client during a factory acceptance test.
Built with B&R for a Future-Proof Foundation
To bring this platform to life, IMPACK partnered with B&R Automation, building the application using Automation Studio and mapp Technology.
Frédéric Boyadjian, Head of Automation, tests automation platform functionality on the GenieCut HMI while Cédric Gaudreault, Automation Designer, monitors system response during in-house testing.
B&R’s modular approach, supported by mapp Technology libraries, enabled IMPACK to reduce development time and focus on innovation. The result is a single software framework deployed across our entire machine portfolio. This framework integrates all key aspects of machine control — including production sequences, alarm management, performance metrics, machine safety, and the user interface — within a consistent environment designed for clarity, scalability, and long-term maintainability.
“What B&R provides OEMs is a unified ecosystem — a single software environment and an integrated hardware portfolio working together. It removes unnecessary complexity and simplifies machine automation from basic control to high-performance applications.”
— Alexandre Morin, B&R Automation
Find out more about our collaboration with B&R in this video:
IMPACK & B&R Automation Success Story: Building a Unified, Future-Proof Packaging Automation Platform
Forward Momentum, Long Term Stability
Developing a new automation platform was a deliberate investment. The goal was not simply new functionality, but in a foundation designed to support long-term evolution.
“When we invest in automation, we’re not chasing trends. We’re building a foundation that will serve our clients for the long term. That means innovating where it creates value, while continuing to support the machines our customers rely on every day.”
— Mathieu Tremblay
This thinking guides how IMPACK balances forward momentum with long-term stability. Machines already in the field continue to be supported, while new capabilities are introduced thoughtfully and responsibly.
The foundation is already in place: modular, connected, and designed to expand. The app is an ecosystem that can evolve with client needs, product requirements, and industry expectations.
Designed for the People Who Use It Every Day
"We carefully analyzed the needs of various stakeholders interacting with the machine to enhance the user experience with our redesigned user interface” Frédéric Boyadjian, Head of Automation at IMPACK, explains. “Our new framework gives our clients flexibility within a standardized environment. The UI provides intuitive access to a rich tool set and comprehensive data that meet the needs of modern packaging producers.”
The standardized home screen of IMPACK’s automation platform user interface, shown here configured for a GenieCut, presents real-time production metrics, quick access to machine controls, and key production settings.
The Unit page of the GenieCut user interface provides a detailed, real-time overview of the machine’s operational state and its composing submodules, including current tasks and production line data—offering operators deeper insight into system performance and production flow, and serving as a starting point for monitoring and diagnostics.
For Operators
The user interface is intuitive, consistent, and task-focused.
Operators benefit from:
- Clear setup guidance
- Logical access to key parameters in one or two clicks
- Color-coded alerts with clear actions
- A familiar experience across all IMPACK automated machines
The goal is to reduce guesswork and cognitive load.
For Maintenance Teams
Advanced diagnostic tools are available directly through the interface:
- Active and historical alarm logs
- Clear causes and resolution guidance
- IO monitoring and manual control modes
- Throughput and line speed
- Boxes or cases per hour
- Performance by shift or day
With an internet connection, the IMPACK Service Team can also assist remotely, reducing downtime and accelerating issue resolution.
For Production Managers
The platform records meaningful production metrics, including:
Data can be accessed locally through the interface or via a web browser and can be synchronized with internal databases for further analysis.
Let’s Talk About Optimizing your Finishing Department
If you’d like to see how smart, human-centered automation can support your finishing department, let's talk.