Columbia/Okura LLC celebrates 25 years providing automated palletizing and material handling solutions.

Powder Bulk Solids Staff

February 22, 2021

2 Min Read
Robotic_Palletizer_COLUMBIA_OKURA.jpg
Image courtesy of Columbia/Okura

Columbia/Okura LLC is celebrating 25 years as a provider of end-of-line automated palletizing and material handling solutions.

Selling its first robotic palletizer in 1996, the early years of the business were challenging. Focusing the business on robotic palletizing solutions brought clarity and expertise over time, and ultimately provided confidence to expand the scope and complexity of applications. As a testament to the reliability and durability of the company's palletizing robots, that first robotic system was only recently pulled out of service to be replaced with a current generation Columbia/Okura palletizer for higher throughput. The robot was still operational and was repurchased by Columbia/Okura as a historic icon.

As a joint venture business, owned by two fourth-generation families with their own historic legacies of automated solutions, the culture of the joint venture reflects family values. "We’ve achieved this historic milestone with the support and strategic vision of our owners and through the hard work and dedication of our employees. Our culture of caring, flexibility, and responsive customer service exists throughout the entire organization,” said Columbia/Okura president Brian Hutton.

While the focus of the business remains on end-of-line automation, the scope of offerings and integration services has grown to include large, complex, multi-line, multi-robot systems, as well as high-speed, automated bagging lines, and collaborative palletizing and depalletizing solutions.

“We believe in the transformative power of automation,” said Hutton. “Our company vision establishes an exciting roadmap for our future.”

About Columbia/Okura

Columbia/Okura LLC designs, builds, integrates, and commissions end-of-line robotic palletizing solutions for most major industries. For 25 years, Columbia/Okura has been a leading provider of robotic palletizing systems by delivering custom-engineered solutions meeting demanding customer requirements. Serving clients in agriculture, animal feed, seed, pet food, chemical, mineral, milling, food, building materials, and medical industries, Columbia/Okura provides a robotic palletizing solution to meet the needs of any application. Headquartered in Vancouver, WA, Columbia/Okura is a joint venture of material handling leaders, Columbia Machine Inc. and Okura Yusoki Company, Ltd. For more information, visit www.columbiaokura.com.

About the Author(s)

Powder Bulk Solids Staff

Established in 1983, Powder & Bulk Solids (PBS) serves industries that process, handle, and package dry particulate matter, including the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical markets.

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