Innovation | materials handling
The latest materials handling equipment innovations are designed to provide the improved performance and process control required by injection moulders serving the most demanding end-use markets
Handled with care
Materials handling hardware rarely grabs the headlines but it plays a key role in ensuring cost effective injection moulding production. The latest conveying and dosing systems offer simplifi ed control, improved precision, faster product changeover and broader fl exibility – all key requirements for injection moulders aiming to deliver higher quality and lower cost moulding services. US-based Conair reports a growing demand for
web-enabled products that allow anyone with an internet-connected computer, tablet or smart phone (and the correct password credentials) to connect to their materials handling hardware to control and monitor conditions or adjust settings. “Customers have been telling us that they want these remote access options to maximise productivity,” says Doug Brewster, conveying product manager at the company. “Whether they are on the other side of the building or on the other side of the world, production supervi- sors and management can change settings, respond to alarms, perform troubleshooting and other operations just as if they were standing in front of the operator inter- face on the plant fl oor. It’s a tremen- dous time-saver,” Brewster says. Expansion fl exibility is also a
growing concern for moulders. Conair recently updated its entry-level FLX system for vacuum loader control to handle up to 128 loaders and 40 vacuum conveying pumps using standard industrial Ethernet in-plant wiring, which the company says makes it easy and inexpensive to install and expand as user needs change. A processor can start with an FLX system to manage just 8 loaders and 2 pumps (one primary pump and one back-up pump), and then increase capacity and capabilities in
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manageable increments as necessary simply by adding more input and output cards. The FLX system can include high-level functions
such as fi rst in/fi rst out (FIFO) and priority loading, multi-source/multi-destination loading, purge, ratio loading, ratio loading with purge, reverse conveying for regrind recovery, and loader fi ll sensing. The PLC- based system is supplied with a 7.5-inch colour touch screen interface as standard, with a 15-inch version available as an option. The graphic display has been designed for ease of use with minimal operator training.
At the K show in Germany last year, Conair also
demonstrated its TrueBlend TB-250 gravimetric blender in a networked application. The TB-250 offers throughputs up to 431 kg/hr and accuracy to within ±0.5% of the setpoint on colorant and additive weights. An LCD touch screen with full colour graphics allows easy set up - operators simply enter the percentages of the blend on the touch screen and the system automati- cally weighs the ingredients in the proper sequence and maintains the correct blend relationship.
Main image: Materials handling
technology is
key to achieving effi cient
processing
Left:
Wittmann’s Feedmax S3 net system provides simple connectivity to hopper loaders
March 2014 | INJECTION WORLD 35
PHOTO: KOCH TECHNIK
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