TG-Group absorbs Swiss robotics specialist Pick Place in strategic packaging automation move

BELGIUM – TG-Group has integrated Swiss robotics specialist Pick Place into its industrial ecosystem, combining Belgian packaging machinery expertise with high-speed delta robotics, vision systems, and AI-driven automation to deliver end-to-end solutions for food manufacturers.

The strategic integration, announced on 10 June 2026 from Verrebroek, Belgium and Fully, Switzerland, follows TG-Group’s partnership with Waterland as a strategic investor in April 2025. 

Pick Place brings decades of experience in high-speed delta robotics, vision technology, and AI-driven automation for food packaging and assembly lines. 

Together, the companies now offer complete tailored automation lines spanning initial engineering, machine development, advanced robotics, line integration, and long-term maintenance. 

The automated packaging system market is projected to reach US$126.6 billion by 2033, growing at 7.10 percent annually, with robotics integration driving much of this expansion.

How Two Decades of Swiss Robotics Expertise Supercharges Belgian Packaging Powerhouse

TG-Group comprises specialized companies including TG-Packaging, Entrec, Frematt, and A-tec, offering capabilities in packaging machinery, infeed technology, flowpack solutions, retrofit projects, and spare parts management. 

Pick Place’s expertise in high-speed delta robotics, vision systems, and AI-driven automation directly supplements TG-Group’s engineering and production capacity. 

Tom Vermonden, founder and CEO of TG-Group, said that Pick Place becoming part of TG-Group marked an exciting new chapter. 

He explained that by combining their strengths and shared vision, the companies could accelerate new developments, improve service, and deliver greater results for clients, aiming to shape the direction of their industry with practical, forward-thinking solutions.

Why Food Manufacturers Are Hungry for Smarter Pick-and-Place Solutions

Manufacturers are increasingly seeking partners who can help improve efficiency, increase flexibility, reduce manual handling, and future-proof production environments. 

Delta parallel robots, like those developed by Pick Place, are particularly well-suited for high-speed pick-and-place tasks in food packaging, with experimental studies achieving 82 percent success rates using visual perception systems. 

Christian Vouilamoz, founder and chief robotics officer of Pick Place, said that for more than two decades, his team had helped manufacturers push the boundaries of robotics. 

He stated that joining TG-Group gave Pick Place the industrial reach and engineering backing to move faster, take on larger projects, and bring systems to more factories.

Crucially, he noted, the company would keep the entrepreneurial drive that defined Pick Place while gaining a stronger foundation to develop SmartPick.AI and new automation technologies.

Continuity Assured as Founders Remain Shareholders

Pick Place retains its existing team, expertise, and entrepreneurial culture. 

Founders Christian Vouilamoz and Denise Sivete remain shareholders and will actively drive the next growth phase. 

Existing customer relationships, ongoing projects, and service contracts continue seamlessly.

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