A new automation paradigm for cosmetic packaging
Established in 2017, BCodeAutomation is an automation specialist headquartered in Biassono, near Monza. With local branches in Cremona and Como and a subsidiary in the US, BCodeAutomation has expanded beyond its initial core business as a system integrator to design and manufacture complete machines for a range of industrial sectors.
The company entered the cosmetics industry three years ago, adopting a firmly innovation-driven approach focused on developing advanced, compact and integrated machines, capable of reshaping a field that remains, in some respects, traditional in its outlook.
Integration for a complete solution
Unveiled as a prototype at Cosmopack 2025, BCodeAutomation’s B-Track packaging machine has since evolved into a fully integrated solution thanks to the incorporation of Schneider Electric’s most advanced transport and robotics technologies. B-Track manages the entire packaging process within a single, compact-footprint machine, delivering a high degree of flexibility in format changeover.
Rather than relying on conventional stations linked by a conveyor belt that transfers the product from one point to another, the solution is built around a single system using Schneider Electric’s Lexium™ MC12 modular magnetic multi-carrier system. These move the product between stations for the various processing stages – including screen printing and printing of the batch number and identification code. The system is further integrated with Schneider Electric’s Lexium SCARA robotic arm, configured for pick-and-place operations, and a vision system for quality inspection.
New levels of traceability through blockchain
Managing transfers between stations via a magnetic carrier system adds a further layer of control to the production process, as it enables real-time monitoring of the product’s position along its path, without the “variability” inherent in conventional conveyor belts. This level of information allows BCodeAutomation to leverage the native connectivity of the components. The system then transmits production data to a platform that ensures full traceability via blockchain technology, including the link between the product and the batch number printed on it.
“Full production traceability is not yet a regulatory requirement in the cosmetics industry, but ongoing developments – which increasingly emphasises the verifiability of product information and specific aspects such as sustainability – lead us to believe that, in the near future, having packaging machinery already capable of supporting complete traceability of the production process may prove to be a significant added value”, explains Marco Bagaggiolo, CEO of BCodeAutomation.
Technologies that boost productivity
The Lexium MC12 multi-carrier transport system delivers a significant productivity advantage. Made up of adjustable modules, the system can be electronically reconfigured to enable format changeovers; even when operator intervention is required, its mechanical design allows adjustments to be carried out quickly and with minimal tooling.
“Format changeovers have a major impact on productivity in a sector such as cosmetics. On the B-Track machine, leveraging the features of Schneider’s multi-carrier solution, we chose to use two carriers to move a single product. This allows, for example, to reconfigure the handling of packs with different diameters through a simple command”, explains Bagaggiolo.
But the benefits do not stop there: “A machine without all the typical conveyor elements, motors and the like is less prone to faults and requires less maintenance. Moreover, keeping the entire process within a single machine – which, incidentally, occupies almost half the space of a traditional configuration – reduces cycle times, delivering further productivity gains”, the CEO continues.
Additionally, the system helps reduce errors and waste: if a fault occurs at any stage – for example, capping – the product is immediately removed from the production line.
Naturally, such an innovative machine could not lack an equally advanced software architecture. B-Track runs a suite of proprietary software developed by BCodeAutomation, enabling preventive and predictive maintenance through dedicated algorithms designed to highlight early signs of wear and other critical issues.
A partnership shaping the future of automation in the cosmetics industry
Designing and delivering a solution that introduces a new approach is a team effort. In this respect, the collaboration between BCodeAutomation and Schneider Electric has proven highly successful.
“Schneider supported us in adopting recently launched solutions such as the Lexium MC12 and in integrating the robotics components, working side by side with our engineers”, explains Bagaggiolo.
Today, the partnership that led to the development of the B-Track prototype continues, with the aim of offering the cosmetics industry new and future-ready automation concepts.
