Up for the cup! I
njection moulding machines from Sumitomo (SHI) Demag are
enabling a Bavarian food producer, Zott SE & Co, to produce its own brand yoghurt cups on-site. The 14 Sumitomo injection
A
t the time of writing the industry is gearing up for two
of the most significant events on the calendar. Taking place from 7th-11th April Hannover Fair will cover all areas of industrial technology and will provide an insight into the products and technologies that will help shape the factories of the future. Meanwhile, back in blighty,
the Birmingham NEC will host the Drives & Controls exhibition from the 8th-10th April, and will cover the latest in mechanical power transmission, motion control and automation. Being co-located with
complementary shows Plant & Asset Management and Air-Tech, together with the Fluid Power & Systems Exhibition, the European Offshore & Energy Exhibition, as well as MACH, there is a high number of visitors expected over the course of the show. Not being able to split myself in two, yours truly will be heading off to Birmingham to see what’s on offer, and I’ll report back next month on what is likely to be a busy and vibrant event. As for this month’s issue,
regulations and legislation have made machine safety an even more vital element of plant operations than ever before. With this in mind our latest supplement this month focuses on the latest from this vital industry sector.
Joe Bush - Editor
moulding machines are currently in operation at the group’s cup plant, speeding up the packaging and distribution of a variety of European yoghurt brands. Using the in-mould labelling (IML)
technique, the injection moulding machines, which include Sumitomo’s EL-EXIS 250-1450, produce plastic cups, known as ‘goblets’, 24 hours a day. “At the same time, machines of the same type produce the Zott Jogole cups,” explained Theodor Hosp, production manager of the cup plant. Zott favoured introducing several
identical machines from Sumitomo, all with identical features. “Having several machines for one product boosts output,” commented Hosp. “It’s also more cost efficient. Being able to produce our own cups on-site makes economic sense and they can be transported direct to the yoghurt filling stations. The whole process runs very smoothly.” The handling systems on both
machines stack the cups before they are transported onto the packing station. A sensor detects the label during the quality assurance phase and detects and discards any cups that are undecorated. The cups are then checked for holes at a turning station by applying a voltage. The cups with no flaws are packed in the plant’s cardboard packaging system.
uk.sumitomo-shi-demag.eu
CAR MANUFACTURING GAME FOR SCHOOLS
Siemens and BMW have collaborated to develop an online car manufacturing game for schools, as part of the Siemens Education Portal launched in February last year. The Siemens Education Portal lets teachers,
students and parents access a central hub of information about Siemens to be used in the classroom. It is explicitly designed to encourage young people to engage with engineering and manufacturing related subjects. The interactive game is set to be rolled-out across
the UK and forms part of a drive to encourage more young people into highly skilled engineering jobs. It will focus on modern production processes within the automotive industry and will allow school children to make a number of virtual vehicles including the new MINI model. The latest interactive game in the Siemens Education
Series will illustrate lean production methods in order to complete as many orders as cost efficiently as possible. Teachers introduce the concept of lean manufacturing by using MINI as a gold standard case study and encourages students to explore how MINIs are manufactured at the Oxford plant.
Juergen Maier, Siemens Industry managing director
said, “Investing in education, skills and young people is absolutely critical if we are to develop the engineers of the future. Working with BMW we have been able to demonstrate, in an interesting and engaging way, how modern factories work using advanced manufacturing technology.”
www.yokogawa.com
THE COMPLETE PRODUCTION LINE EVENT
The PPMA show, taking place at the Birmingham NEC on 30th September - 2nd October, is a free to attend complete production line event for processing and packaging machinery. The show attracts hundreds of machinery manufacturers and component suppliers across a wide range of industries including food, drink, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, dairy, snacks, construction and electronics. This year will see the event return to the sole
ownership and management of the PPMA Group of trade associations. Visitors can register for the event via the event website (
www.ppmashow.co.uk). Visitor badges are valid across all three days of the show and as this is a
4 APRIL 2014 | AUTOMATION
trade show, no under 16s will be admitted. Exhibiting at the PPMA Show 2014 will enable
companies to engage in face to face selling with receptive buyers; demonstrate machinery and equipment live to senior professionals; network face to face with new and existing clients; prove products really work and keep up to date with the competition; and generate brand new business and build brand awareness. Visitors at the PPMA Show 2014 can discover
and purchase the latest technology; talk face to face with the technical experts; solve processing and packaging queries; watch LIVE machinery demonstrations; and listen to the industry’s top figures speak on hot topics. In addition, it has just been announced that
Christine Tacon, the government’s first appointed supermarket ombudsman, is to give a combative talk on the UK’s leading supermarkets. The seminar session will not only shine a light
on Tacon’s work with the UK’s largest supermarkets but demonstrate her aim to work with associations like the PPMA to help encourage feedback from suppliers, whether its personal, anonymous or through a trade association. More information on Tacon’s talk can be found on page 26.
www.ppmashow.co.uk
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