Robot-based palletising continues to grow as a solution to reduce time, labour and cost in increasingly dynamic production and logistics environments. Now, US-based company Tutor Intelligence is launching a new cobot palletising system specifically built for high-SKU operations — without the usual capital investment.
Called the SKU Flexible Cobot Palletizer, the system is aimed at contract packagers (co-packers), manufacturers working with short production runs, and third-party logistics (3PL) firms. Instead of purchasing the robot outright, companies subscribe to the system, paying only 14 to 18 US dollars per hour from their operational budget.
The product will be on display at the upcoming MD&M East trade fair, where visitors can see the system in action and learn more about its pay-per-use model.
Designed for ease of use with zero experience required
– Our vision is that anyone on the production floor can operate the system immediately, without any prior experience, Tutor Intelligence stated ahead of the MD&M East expo.
The cobot does not require a safety enclosure, as it is designed to work directly alongside human operators. Equipped with advanced vision systems, it handles a wide range of product formats with no need for mechanical changeovers. It can process cases weighing between roughly 15 and 30 pounds, operating at up to 10 cycles per minute.
Flexible cobot aims to remove automation barriers for logistics firms
Operation is handled via a touchscreen interface, which Tutor describes as "the easiest-to-use production-floor user interface in the world." The company emphasises that even completely untrained workers can manage changeovers and basic control without a technical background.
A cloud-based automation ecosystem
The cobot palletizer is part of a larger integrated platform built around several core components:
- Smart cobots with built-in vision and autonomous adjustment capabilities
- Touchscreen interface for fast and intuitive operation
- Supervisory software that delivers real-time metrics and performance data
- Cloud-based platform using IoT for remote access, system updates and collaborative vendor support
These elements work together to provide a comprehensive system focused not only on automation, but also on operational transparency, scalability and minimal disruption. The cloud element allows service providers and clients to manage the cobot fleet remotely, ensuring timely support and system optimisation.
Robots-as-a-Service model gains momentum
The subscription-based model, often referred to as Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS), is gaining traction in a variety of industrial sectors. It allows companies to treat robotics as an operational expense rather than a capital investment, lowering financial barriers for small- and medium-sized businesses.
Tutor Intelligence reports growing interest from smaller production firms and logistics operators, where frequent equipment changeovers typically lead to costly downtime. The company sees strong demand in industries with highly variable product flows, such as food packaging, pharmaceuticals, and e-commerce fulfilment.
Larger corporations are also exploring RaaS as a flexible way to scale automation capacity up or down in response to market changes — without being locked into expensive, depreciating hardware.
Tutor aims to democratize access to robotics
Tutor Intelligence was founded with the mission of making automation more accessible. By combining a user-friendly interface, minimal training requirements, and a subscription-based pricing model, the company seeks to make cobot systems viable for firms that previously lacked the resources for traditional automation.
As packaging demands continue to diversify and labour shortages persist across industries, solutions like the SKU Flexible Cobot Palletizer may offer a viable path forward — especially for businesses that require agility more than scale.
Source:
Informa / Manufacturing by Informa, 2025
