The latest episode of The Downtime, WTWH Media’s weekly manufacturing podcast, features Zarren Zafiro, sales engineer at LinMot USA.
Sarah Wynn, co-host of the podcast, talks with Zarren about LinMot’s linear motion technology for packaging, including servo motors and robotic grippers. He also shares motion control trends packaging OEMs need to know and offers insight into his journey as a young engineer who grew up around the industry.
On the Plant Engineering side, Sheri Kasprzak, co-host of the show, spills the tea on how Eastern Tea Corporation updated its packaging line to keep it running smoothly.
Motion control components for packaging: LinMot’s linear motors and robotic grippers
For packaging applications, LinMot offers linear motion-control components such as motors, guides, and robotic grippers. Zafiro explains how those components support flexible packaging operations.
“The robotic grippers are so cool, and there are so many different types of grippers out there,” said Zafiro. “They are fairly new for us, but we’re really excited to get those out there.”
LinMot offers a variety of robotic grippers, including one that can be deployed in washdown settings required by food and beverage packaging, along with an option for lightweight pick-and-place. You can watch the video demo of those solutions by clicking here.
Zafiro also discussed the evolution of pneumatic to servo motion in the packaging industry.
“Servo motors give you that control… to be ready for the next, either cycle, the next maintenance, the next, whatever it could be,” said Zafiro.
LinMot showcases motor durability at its Switzerland headquarters
Zafiro recalled his visit to LinMot’s Switzerland headquarters, where motors are displayed that have been running for decades.
“These motors last for a long time,” he said. “We have a motor that’s been running at our headquarters in Switzerland since 1996, and it’s about four billion cycles.”
He added that there’s another motor running since the 2000s at a faster pace, and it’s completed six to eight billion cycles.
“I turned 24 years old this year. I’m very new to the industry, very eager, and excited,” said Zafiro. “To see this motor has pretty much lived longer than I have, and it’s still here and running, it’s like a wake-up moment. This stuff is still going right now, still running to this day.”
Emerging motion control trends for packaging OEMs
Zafiro offered perspective on emerging tech in motion control for packaging OEMs.
Those trends include flexible recipe-driven machines, emulation software, 3D visualization, and process monitoring and analysis. All of which offer flexibility on packaging lines while aiming to reduce downtime.
“More end users are asking for, if I have product A and product B… with servo motion, you’re able to mix in different programs to be able to swap on the same line, same machine, and changeover quickly,” explained Zafiro. “Servo motion gives you that access to help when you have a line switch if you’re doing multiple different products.”
All in the family: Perspective from a young engineer joining LinMot
Zafiro, a recent graduate of Purdue Northwest, was inspired to join manufacturing after watching his father, Peter Zafiro, lead LinMot as general manager.
“Going through my whole life, I’ve seen him work in the manufacturing world,” explained Zafiro. “It just always sparked my interest in engineering.”
That early behind-the-scenes experience inspired Zafiro to pursue engineering, with strong support from his father.
“He has helped me every step of the way, and I couldn’t be more appreciative of him doing that for me,” said Zafiro.
Show lineup for The Downtime Podcast | Episode 15: Get a Grip
00:17 – The co-hosts introduce themselves and start the show
02:37 – The duo chat about meeting Zarren Zafiro, sales engineer for LinMot USA, at Pack Expo Southeast 2025
03:39 – Wynn relays Zarren Zafiro’s story about a LinMot motor that’s been running since 1996 in the company’s Switzerland headquarters
04:18 – Wynn begins interview with LinMot USA’s Zarren Zafiro
04:38 – Zafiro introduces himself and shares his background in mechanical engineering
06:30 – Discussion on what packaging OEMs are trying to solve with motion control
11:03 – Zafiro spotlights LinMot’s stainless steel, hygienic grippers designed for washdown requirements needed for food and beverage packaging
13:56 – Zafiro addresses the learning curve for switching from pneumatic to servo-electric linear motors and shares recent packaging projects LinMot has worked on
28:20 – Zafiro shares three trends in motion control that packaging OEMs need to know
35:55 – The podcast co-hosts play a rapid-fire game of “This or That,” summer edition
32:29 – Kasprzak spills the tea on Plant Engineering’s story about Eastern Tea Corporation
42:59 – The dynamic duo wraps up the show
Check out The Downtime’s archive
Episode 1: Packaging + Robots + Tariffs, Oh, My!
Episode 5: Thinking Inside the Box
Episode 6: Conveyance, Copilots & College Grads
Episode 7: Running on AI and Coffee
Episode 10: Manufacturing Fun!
Episode 12: Digital Transformation
Episode 14: Take a Bite Out of Manufacturing
About The Downtime podcast and co-hosts
The Downtime is a weekly manufacturing podcast from WTWH Media that features insights from its automation and controls publications. It’s co-hosted by Wynn, who serves as the senior editor (digital) for Packaging OEM, and Kasprzak, who is the managing editor for Plant Engineering, Control Engineering, and Consulting-Specifying Engineer.
New episodes are released every Thursday and are available on this website, along with streaming platforms including SoundCloud, Spotify, and YouTube.
