An apparatus that controls the motion of independent movers located in different lanes along a path, said apparatus comprising: a track that forms a path for movers; a first lane and a second lane that are parallel to said path; a first mover movably mounted on the track for moving along said path, said first mover comprising a first driven member that is oriented to travel in the first lane and to be contacted by at least one drive element at any position along the path; a second mover movably mounted on the track for moving along said path, said second mover comprises a second driven member that is oriented to travel in the second lane and to be contacted by at least one drive element at any position along the path; a first plurality of drive elements arranged along the first lane of the track, said drive elements each comprising a surface that is oriented to contact the first driven member of said first mover, wherein said drive elements are configured to sequentially engage the first driven member of said movers to provide controlled motion of said first mover independently around said track, wherein the drive elements are each driven by a rotary motor; a second plurality of drive elements fixedly arranged along the second lane of the track, said drive elements each comprising a surface that is oriented to contact the second driven member of said second mover, wherein said drive elements are configured to sequentially engage the second driven member of said movers to provide controlled motion of said second mover independently around said track, wherein the drive elements are each driven by a rotary motor; and a programmable computer control system in communication with the rotary motors for controlling the motion of the rotary motors; characterized in that the first driven member comprises a first gear rack joined to said first mover and the second driven member comprises a second gear rack joined to said second mover wherein the first gear rack travels in the first lane and the second gear rack travels in the second lane; and wherein the machine direction length of the first gear rack is longer than the machine direction length of the first mover and the machine direction length of the second gear rack is longer than the machine direction length of the second mover. a track that forms a path for movers; a first lane and a second lane that are parallel to said path; a first mover movably mounted on the track for moving along said path, said first mover comprising a first driven member that is oriented to travel in the first lane and to be contacted by at least one drive element at any position along the path; a second mover movably mounted on the track for moving along said path, said second mover comprises a second driven member that is oriented to travel in the second lane and to be contacted by at least one drive element at any position along the path; a first plurality of drive elements arranged along the first lane of the track, said drive elements each comprising a surface that is oriented to contact the first driven member of said first mover, wherein said drive elements are configured to sequentially engage the first driven member of said movers to provide controlled motion of said first mover independently around said track, wherein the drive elements are each driven by a rotary motor; a second plurality of drive elements fixedly arranged along the second lane of the track, said drive elements each comprising a surface that is oriented to contact the second driven member of said second mover, wherein said drive elements are configured to sequentially engage the second driven member of said movers to provide controlled motion of said second mover independently around said track, wherein the drive elements are each driven by a rotary motor; and a programmable computer control system in communication with the rotary motors for controlling the motion of the rotary motors; characterized in that the first driven member comprises a first gear rack joined to said first mover and the second driven member comprises a second gear rack joined to said second mover wherein the first gear rack travels in the first lane and the second gear rack travels in the second lane; and wherein the machine direction length of the first gear rack is longer than the machine direction length of the first mover and the machine direction length of the second gear rack is longer than the machine direction length of the second mover.