ADVERTORIAL TECHNOLOGY IN ACTION


Harness robotic flexibility I


LAPAK is experiencing increasing demand for flow wrappers integrated with robotic feeding systems as bakeries push


for greater flexibility from their packaging plant. “In the past year or so, we have supplied at least ten


flow wrapping lines incorporating robotic handling for products such as cakes, chocolate bars and pastries,” confirms Massimo Furlato, project engineering manager with ILAPAK. “These operations want the flexibility to run various


product types and sizes and to pack them in different configurations but they don’t want the headache of having to source and integrate the robot and the flow wrapper. Our complete lines combine inherently flexible robotic handling with our versatile Carrera flow wrapping platform in a single source solution, so there is no


compromise on overall line efficiency.” Working with a third party robotics supplier, ILAPAK


project manages these turnkey installations, taking complete responsibility for the seamless operation of the line and relieving customers of having to source individual pieces of equipment and coordinate with different suppliers. The industry’s first IP65 rated fully modular flow


wrapper, the Carrera 6000, is often at the heart of these lines. On this flexible machine, size changeovers are executed in a matter of minutes, thanks to interchangeable product guides, a removable stacking device and an interchangeable sealing head. It is capable of packing bakery items in various configurations, from individually wrapped biscuits and cakes to twin-packs in which the products are in a single stack and packs of four


items in two stacks or six items in three stacks. The wrapper incorporates in-built quality control for detecting and rejecting broken products prior to wrapping, a ‘no product no bag’ function and automatic reel splicing for continuous operation. The Carrera is usually fed by a four-axis pick and place


robot with vacuum end-effector for gentle handling of soft bakery items. Guided by vision, this picks product from the belt and transfers it into the flow wrapper infeed. If required for multipack applications, ILAPAK can also integrate a collation system.


ILAPAK  marketing@ilapak.co.uk  www.ilapak.co.uk


ABB launches IEC Food Safe motors designed for easy cleaning and long life A


BB has launched a full range of IEC Food Safe motors designed for applications in the food and beverage industry that need frequent sanitation. The new IEC Food Safe


motors are part of ABB’s Food Safe family that includes stainless steel NEMA motors, mounted ball bearings and gearing. IEC Food Safe motors feature smooth stainless steel enclosures that are easy to clean and sanitise so customers can meet increasingly stringent hygiene standards. The motors’ enclosures have an IP69 water protection rating, while encapsulated winding enable the motors to last much longer than general purpose products in tough washdown conditions. The external surfaces of the motors are self-draining, with no crevices where particles


can collect. The markings are laser etched onto the frame, avoiding channels and ridges where contaminants could accumulate. The motors can withstand high pressure sprays and are fully compatible with clean-in-place (CIP) methods. Food Safe motors also eliminate the need for motor shrouds, which can harbour food particles and allow bacteria to breed. ABB IEC Food Safe motors are available in the power range 0.18-7.5 kilowatt, in 2-6 pole


versions for 230-690 volt at 50 or 60 hertz. They feature IE3 premium efficiency to reduce energy consumption and emissions. Flexible mounting arrangements ensure they will fit almost any application. The motors come in frame sizes 71-132.


ABB  07000 374 837  www.new.abb.com


Sumitomo (SHI) Demag adopts smarter approach to part traceability T


racking parts right back to the manufacturing data has taken another smart leap forward, with moulding machine specialist Sumitomo (SHI) Demag pioneering a fully automated In Mould Decorating (IMD) production cell. Nigel Flowers, UK Managing Director likens it to issuing each moulded component with its unique birth certificate, with all processing data held securely within the manufacturing executive system (MES). Designed predominantly for automotive, medical


device and aerospace manufacturing environments where quality control and traceability are critical, the advance represents a colossal change in how multiple components are individually issued with a unique identifier. It means that any potential quality defect, which might not be picked up for several months, or even years, can be tracked back to the very day and cycle it was manufactured to achieve item-level traceability and conduct root cause analyses on parts and components. By tightly integrating all elements of the plastic injection


processing, IMD, robotics and data capture and management into a single turnkey cleanroom cell, part-specific traceability and process monitoring is enhanced. It represents another step towards the Smart Factory for tier 1 to 4 injection moulders, offering heightened risk management, mitigation and containment which enables organisations to respond accurately and rapidly with a targeted recall.


40 APRIL 2019 | DESIGN SOLUTIONS CONNECTINGINDUSTRY.COM/DESIGNSOLUTIONS


Putting this into context, Nigel emphasises that authentication of individual components in high liability markets, such as healthcare, vehicle manufacturing and aerospace, requires a fingerprint style approach to traceability. He explains: “Heavily regulated products like medical devices or airbag sensors, requires comprehensive audit trails. However, it is not purely about information tracking. Real-time traceability is about being able to call up data and verify the exact settings used on


the injection moulding machine when that individual plastic part was made.” Using robotics is central to the in-line manufacturing


process, as even a single instance of applying an incorrect code can be a major liability cautions Nigel.


Sumitomo  salesUK@dpg.com  www.uk.sumitomo-shi-demag.eu


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44