Tension Launches the New fitPACK500™at ProMat 2025

March 13, 2025 — KANSAS CITY, Mo., and CHICAGO, Ill. Tension Packaging & Automation will showcase its comprehensive portfolio of automation systems during ProMat 2025 in Chicago, March 1720, 2025.  

At the premier trade show, which includes the world’s leading manufacturing and supply chain solution providers, Tension will feature the company’s products, the fitPACK500™, HPS300, SLAM, Z-Sort, MAX-PRO 24 and TensionCONNECT™ workflow integration software. These products offer solutions for optimizing packaging and automation while addressing some of the biggest challenges in fulfillment, such as rising labor and shipping costs. 

Tension will feature a live look at their innovative fitPACK500, a right-sized packaging system engineered for speed, cost savings and versatility, all within a small footprint. It automatically adjusts package dimensions — length, width and height — and provides a more customized fit without compromising throughput. The Tension team looks forward to fitPACK500’s launch at ProMat 2025. 

“The fitPACK500 is a versatile and compact system, designed to take the guesswork out of packaging by creating true right-size packages on demand,” said James Herbert, vice president and general manager of Tension Packaging & Automation. “With its small footprint, the fitPACK500 maximizes floor space efficiency while its optimized packaging minimizes shipping costs. Additionally, its intuitive controls make operation seamless, ensuring the best shipping rates and delivering operational efficiencies through its impressive versatility to create custom package lengths, widths and heights.” 

ProMat 2025 attendees can experience a live demonstration of the fitPACK500 from Tension’s booth at the exhibition. Advanced reservations for the live demo are encouraged. 

In addition, Tension Packaging & Automation Senior Marketing Manager Erin Moloney will also speak at the “Latest & Greatest Advances @ ProMat 2025 in 45 Minutes” ProMat 2025 session on March 17 at 11 a.m. Central, in the MHI Industry Groups Theater. On March 19 at 10:30 a.m. Central, Tension Packaging & Automation Senior National Accounts Manager Herman Kuhlendahl will speak at the “Seamless SLAM Automation: Things You May Not Be Thinking About – Automation that Improves Order Flow from Pick to Ship” in the MHI Industry Groups Theater. 

At ProMat 2025, Tension will exhibit in the South Building, booth S3853, at McCormick Place in Chicago, March 1720, 2025. For more information on ProMat 2025 and how to attend the session “Latest & Greatest Advances @ ProMat 2025 in 45 Minutes,” or the session on “Seamless SLAM Automation: Things You May Not Be Thinking About Automation that Improves Order Flow From Pick to Ship,” visit https://www.promatshow.com.  

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About Tension Packaging & Automation 

Tension Packaging & Automation is an industry leader in comprehensive packaging and automation solutions. With a team of dedicated experts, we design, engineer and build scalable automation systems with intuitive, integrated end-to-end software tailored for the pharmacy and eCommerce order fulfillment sectors. As specialists in system integration, we provide extensive expertise across manufacturing, installation, equipment, robotics, software engineering, and ongoing support for both standard and custom automation needs. Learn more at https://tensionautomation.com/

Tension Packaging & Automation’s parent company, Tension Corporation, was founded in 1886 and is based in Kansas City, Missouri. 

The Perfect Fit Part 1, Sustainable Packaging Solutions

Sustainability is a growing priority, with 72% of Americans more likely to repurchase from brands that ship sustainably. Tension Packaging & Automation supports this shift with solutions like the HPS-300 Variable Length Poly Bagging System, which creates right-sized packages to reduce material usage and waste. By combining durable consumables with innovative automation, we help businesses protect the environment while optimizing efficiency.

According to a recent study, 72% of Americans would be more likely to purchase again from brands that ship sustainably (i.e., use less plastic). This research resonates with our customers, as many have expressed to us the need for sustainable packaging solutions. 

Tension Packaging & Automation is an organization committed to our environment and our customers. We offer a variety of sustainable packaging solutions (including the means for customers to use less plastic when packaging goods) from equipment to consumables, with precision focus on quality in all we do.  

Improving Sustainability Through an Operational Approach 

Sustainability goes beyond consideration for our environment; it’s taking responsibility for the environment and incorporating sustainability into your operations, processes, and entire approach to business. 

Through our Lean and Continuous Improvement culture, Tension strives to offer the highest quality in everything we do. This translates into durable, quality paper and poly consumable options that better protect the contents inside the package, which eventually reduces landfill waste from damaged items. The same approach to quality holds true for our equipment — and in the case of our HPS-300 variable length poly bagging system, we can create a poly bag that is right-sized for a product, reducing the amount of material needed for the package and ultimately the waste produced.  

Ultimately, by using quality consumable materials yet less of them when we create our packages, we better protect our environment both from potential waste inside the package and from the package itself. 

The HPS-300 Variable Length Poly Bagging System for eCommerce Automation

Our customers expressed a need for an eCommerce packaging solution that accepts a continuous stream of different sized goods while using less material than a fixed-size bag and with a variable cutoff. Packages are right-sized to help reduce packaging waste, and the HPS-300 uses cost-effective C-Fold poly film material with a heat seal to create a tamper-resistant, durable package. 

Designed specifically for shipping variable size items, the HPS accepts a continuous stream of products, determines the optimum size for the length and creates a finished package. It’s an ideal solution for packaging clothing, soft goods, shoes and boxed items. It is also modular in design, which enables us to add different features depending on customers’ needs, such as rate shopping, weight verification and pre-weights. 

Variable length bags created on the HPS-300 save costs on material, resulting in a tighter, smaller package. The easy-to-operate HMI touchscreen control panel enables the system to be operated by a single user. This is a major benefit in our current environment where labor is hard to find (stay tuned for Part 2 of this post to learn how our eCommerce packaging solutions can help organizations navigate labor shortages). 

Stay Connected with an Industry Leader

Tension Packaging & Automation is a leader in complete packaging and automation solutions for the eCommerce and pharmacy automation industries. Tension designs and builds equipment and systems, in addition to providing the consumables, software, service and support that help pharmacies and eCommerce fulfillment centers optimize productivity. 

Contact Tension

Founded in 1886, Tension Corporation – parent company of Tension Packaging & Automation – has a legacy of delivering excellence and innovation for envelope products, packaging and packaging automation solutions.  Contact us to get started on your sustainability journey.