HMI-MBS AUTOMATES END-OF-LINE OPERATIONS
In packaging workshops and warehouses alike, end-of-line operations remain among the most physically demanding tasks. Palletising boxes, strapping a load and moving containers from one workstation to another: these repetitive actions place considerable strain on teams and affect throughput. HMI-MBS has made this area its field of expertise, based on the principle that technology should first and foremost serve the people working on the line.
A Loiret-based SME assembling proven technologies
Based in Saint-Martin-d'Abbat, in the Loiret region, HMI-MBS has around forty employees and more than twenty years of experience. Its directors, Nicolas Bouhet and Charlotte Gille, come from engineering backgrounds. In 2013, after more than ten years in the field, they chose to focus on bringing innovative solutions to market, with the aim of making operators’ work more engaging, less physically demanding and more competitive.
The company’s model is based on combining proven technology building blocks: collaborative robots from Universal Robots, autonomous mobile robots from MiR, ErgoPack strapping systems and EFFIMAT storage systems. HMI-MBS selects this equipment, integrates it at customer sites and provides long-term support, from the initial audit through to after-sales service. Each solution is delivered with a transfer of skills, enabling customers to become autonomous quickly.
This approach is accompanied by a CSR commitment recognised in 2025 by EcoVadis, the international sustainability ratings organisation, which awarded the company Committed status.
Why ergonomics matter so much at the end of the line
Putting people at the centre responds to a reality measured by occupational health organisations. According to the INRS, musculoskeletal disorders account for nearly 90% of recognised occupational diseases in France, according to the 2024 annual report from the French National Health Insurance Fund. The institute notes that the food industry, logistics and transport are among the sectors where a large proportion of cases are concentrated.
L'Assurance Maladie also reported a 6.7% increase in musculoskeletal disorders between 2023 and 2024. The INRS stresses that prevention involves, among other measures, adapting workstations and choosing suitable equipment. This is precisely where HMI-MBS intervenes, offering solutions that remove the most physically demanding tasks from operators.
ErgoPack, ergonomic strapping at working height
A first example is pallet strapping. With conventional equipment, the operator has to bend down and walk around the load to pass the strap underneath. The ErgoPack systems distributed by HMI-MBS are semi-automatic strapping machines that allow this operation to be carried out while standing, at working height, without having to walk around the pallet.
The range covers several needs, from the ErgoPack 700X to the 713E, 726E and 745E models, as well as the RE-V version dedicated to reusable straps. The technology received a gold medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva in 2002, followed by AGR certification in 2013, awarded following verification by accredited experts. For sites strapping large numbers of pallets every day, this type of solution improves both load safety and operator comfort.
Collaborative palletising: a ready-to-use cell
Palletising is another major end-of-line challenge. HMI-MBS points out that more than 90% of goods worldwide are transported on pallets, making this operation a key link in the logistics chain. To automate it simply, the company offers the PE20 palletising solution from Robotiq, combined with Universal Robots’ UR20 cobot.
This cell handles boxes of different sizes up to a pallet height of 2.2 metres. It is supplied with pre-connected components and pre-programmed software, then installed and commissioned on site with CE certification. The visual interface guides users step by step, with no prior robotics knowledge required. Ahead of the project, a 3D palletising simulator can be used to visualise the line configuration and test different scenarios.
This approach makes it easier to automate palletising, including on lines that frequently change format.
Mobile robots to connect workstations
Between the packaging line, storage area and loading bays, internal flows also take up considerable time. To address this, HMI-MBS offers the MiR range of autonomous mobile robots. These robots transport loads of up to 1,350 kg and operate safely in the same spaces as employees, without requiring modifications to existing facilities.
The range includes the MiR250, MiR600 and MiR1350, as well as the autonomous MiR1200 Pallet Jack. MiR Fleet software can be used to manage the entire fleet and optimise robot traffic. HMI-MBS also highlights the MiR250 ER-FLEX from Enabled Robotics, which combines a mobile robot with a collaborative arm to carry out transport and handling tasks across several workstations.
These solutions meet a strong demand in logistics packaging, where companies are looking to connect process stages while limiting manual handling.
Automated storage and order preparation
HMI-MBS also offers automated storage solutions. The company is the exclusive distributor in France of EFFIMAT solutions, from a Danish manufacturer founded in Odense in 2011 and represented in more than 30 countries. Its systems, including EffiMat and ClassicMat, automate high-speed storage and order preparation while reducing floor space requirements. HMI-MBS handles the sale, integration and ongoing support of this equipment.
Training, demonstrations and support
Support is an integral part of the offering. HMI-MBS provides certified Universal Robots training, from basic level through to maintenance, as well as dedicated training for MiR robots and ErgoPack strapping systems. This allows teams to become familiar with the tools and develop their applications independently.
The company also welcomes professionals to its HUMANTECH HUB in Saint-Martin-d'Abbat. Its most recent open day, held on 24 April 2026, featured practical demonstrations focused on Industry 4.0.
See you at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles in 2027
The 2027 edition will take place from Tuesday 29 June to Thursday 1 July 2027 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, with a stronger presence of machinery in operation. According to Chantal de Lamotte, Director of ALLFORPACK EMBALLAGE PARIS, packaging is an industry that needs to be experienced and demonstrated, and seeing a solution operating in real conditions often remains the best way to validate an investment.
Visitors will be able to explore the Machines & Packaging and Intralogistics & Transport sectors, follow industry-specific visitor routes and organise meetings through the Business Meetings service. The ALLFORPACK INNOVATIONS AWARDS will highlight some of the sector’s most innovative approaches. For industrial, logistics and HSE managers, the event offers an opportunity to compare end-of-line automation solutions and speak directly with integrators such as HMI-MBS.