MACHINERY | CONTROL AND INSTRUMENTATION
Right: At K2025, BST introduced its iPQ-Surface with full integration into the SmartData Lake
ed to the requirements of a specific material flow at any given time. Digitalisation of the relevant param- eters, including mass flow, is necessary for AI to carry out the optimisation to reduce energy consumption and contribute to a reduced carbon footprint of the granulators, he said. The core of Smart Flow is a sensor that measures the flow rate (bulk flow) without contact and is positioned in the riser pipe of the extraction piping. Its data is transmitted to the Smart Control system, where it is processed and displayed in the form of the (extrapolated) mass ground per hour as a measure of the machine’s current performance. The reliability, precision and repeatability of the
Below:
Hellweg is integrating its Smart Flow online flow measurement system into its products
data generated by Smart Flow is based on the sensor’s operating mode, which uses microwave technology to measure bulk flow. The signal generated by the Doppler effect reflects changes in particle concentration and velocity, enabling an early response. Thanks to contactless measure- ment, the sensor requires no maintenance. The control system records parameters such as power consumption, motor speed and bearing temperatures. “Thanks to Smart Flow, we and our customers have access to a valuable additional option for planning maintenance work and avoiding unfore- seen downtime, beyond the display of data,” said Hellweg. “Ultimately, it is not the machine’s grind- ing time that determines the service life of compo- nents such as knives, screens and V-belts, but the grinding work it performs.”
Visible improvement BST introduced several systems for quality assur- ance and process optimisation for web-processing at K2025 – with a focus on digital connectivity and intuitive operation.
Its iPQ-Surface modular surface inspection system now has a 16k camera that offers higher resolution and reliably detects the smallest material defects, says BST. The system now also includes MPX stroboscope technology that was originally devel- oped for battery cell production. It has now been optimised for flexible packaging. It allows multiple images to be captured in a single pass under varying lighting conditions, to identify defects that are only visible under specific illumination. It can distinguish between gels – caused by incomplete melting during extrusion – and ‘burnt’ defects. This and other solutions are linked via BST’s
SmartData central platform, a dat management solution that collects and analyses quality-relevant data. As a result, process deviations are detected early, and waste is reduced. SmartData also helps companies to implement predictive maintenance. At K2025, BST introduced iPQ-Surface with full
integration into the SmartData Lake (SDL). Inspec- tion data is stored centrally and can be easily accessed and analysed via the browser-based SmartData Review (SDR) – alongside data from other BST systems already connected to the SDL. “By deploying our digital and intelligently
networked systems, we provide solutions that guarantee high quality standards while reducing production costs and waste,” said Joachim Bar- thelme, executive vice president for flexible materials at BST.
CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: �
https://reifenhauser.com �
www.amut.it �
www.macchi.it �
www.wh.group �
www.bmsvision.com �
www.hellweg-maschinenbau.de �
www.bst.elexis.group
28 FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | March 2026
www.filmandsheet.com
IMAGE: HELLWEG
IMAGE: BST
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