Abstract: An edge finishing system for heavily piled, relatively stiff materials has a robot member which engages a piece of the material and forces it to bear against a fence along one edge. The robot moves the piece through a sewing station where tape is applied and sewn to the edge as it is pulled through the station by a splined wheel. A rotating mechanism rotates the piece ninety degrees and the second edge is finished. Where all four edges have been finished, a cutter removes any trailing tape. An automatic hopper moves pieces into position to be gripped and lifted by a gripper mechanism and placed on the work table for the robot to engage the piece.