MACHINE BUILDING, FRAMEWORKS & SAFETY FEATURE


machine buildinG with ‘Fleximatisation’ H


enk Nikkels founded TechNikkels in 2003 and, around seven years ago, the company went into business with Lenze.


For the company, meeting customer


requirements is essential. “Whereas the focus used to be mainly on building high-quality flexible machines, it has now been expanded to ensure that customers get the maximum yield from our machines,” said Nikkels. “One of our goals is to build long-term relationships with customers by proactively helping them to optimise their production results.” In most filling and packaging lines, you see


machines from different manufacturers; and each has its own way of controlling, operating and using components. Even in one machine, you can see components from different suppliers. Henk sees an important role for his company here, explaining: “As a machine builder, we really make the difference. We build complete lines ourselves, including our own controls. Plus, there is more to it than there used to be – a number of our university engineering graduates have become fully-fledged software engineers.”


different oPerations


TechNikkels’ machines fully automate several operations in a packaging process – such as feeding the packs, filling them, closing them and packing them into a box. There can be challenges. Thijs Krijgsman, manager sales and services,


said: “Not only can the shape and size of packaging be very diverse, but also the material used and the margins on the thickness of that material. Packaging is also becoming thinner.” He continued: “We don’t just want to


deliver a machine or a line, but also optimal


performance and a smaller CO2 footprint. This means that we also advise and develop proactively in the area of monitoring.” Stefan van Dooren, project manager, added:


“How do you stay competitive? You find a distinguishing factor in the lifecycle of the machine – helping customers to get the most out of it. But because machine builders are often mechanically oriented, they don’t have all the IT knowledge themselves to build something from


scratch. That’s where Lenze products can make a big contribution. We see that Lenze and TechNikkels visions match seamlessly, and so we have several pilot projects running.”


efficiency is key


Thijs said: “Getting more out of a packaging line is essential – not shopping around for the cheapest machine or components. Industry 4.0 and digitalization can support this. One example is the creation of dashboards for OEE improvement. “The data that comes out of the machine is


purely factual. This allows you to analyse the production and see where you can improve. You substantiate your OEE, as it were, with objective data. The aim is not to tell them how to do it, but to provide tools to focus on the right things.”


a PartnershiP


There is a real advantage of working together with your supplier. Marc Vissers, marketing & communication manager Lenze EMEA West, said: “That cooperation becomes much closer with the result that you no longer have a customer/ supplier relationship, but really become partners. Then everyone feels responsible – and that results in higher commitment.” Henk added: “The vision of partnership


is supported throughout the organisation, everything is aimed at helping the customer quickly by responding as flexibly as possible.” The flexibility of TechNikkels is not only


expressed in the types of packaging a machine can process, but also in its use. Operating, adjusting, controlling, flexible use of components – everything is aimed at flexible production. “Our machines are specially designed for a


wide product range,” said Thijs. “That is why all our machines are super fast, or even fully automatic changeover machines. Nowadays, batches are often small and product lifecycles short. Being able to change quickly and easily without errors is a real must. Everything is aimed at making the line easy to operate.” Henk added: “We choose the right technology


for each process, such as when placing bottles in the box. If you use grippers, then your grippers have to be very cleverly engineered. If you reverse the process and lower the bottles into the box onto a tray and then fold the box closed from below, then only the size of the box is decisive. Compared to expensive grippers, you then only need simple plate components to handle all the different sizes.”


suPPort and Monitoring


For remote support and condition monitoring, the PLC assumes the role of the gateway to the outside world, as it were. van Dooren


TechNikkels develops and builds machines


for feeding, filling and sealing bottles, jars


and (jerry) cans and American folding boxes. With the company’s motto


being ‘fleximatise’, in other words flexible automation, it has


chosen Lenze as its automation partner


said: “All data is displayed in a dashboard. That gives real added value, because everything is coordinated – it really is an end-to-end solution. With the dashboard you have a great tool for OEE monitoring.” Thijs added: “Customers want dashboards


that are as simple as possible, that offer the information in a clear way, and that everyone can read. The HMI can be a distinguishing factor for the operator’s job satisfaction. We design our HMI to be very user-friendly.” In 2014 TechNikkels built a large special


machine for wrapping gift paper. At the same time, it had an order underway for a large line with all kinds of different machines. Both orders had a very short lead time, so for the controls the company contacted Lenze. Vissers notes that the company also has a


forerunner position when it comes to industry 4.0. Stefan sees this as a result of the short lines of communication between sales and technology.


ManageMent of your installed base


“We have a platform where everything revolves around the machine,” said van Dooren. “Everything around it is included in a portal. From there we can offer remote maintenance and we log all information about such failures, but also all documentation is stored there. Everything is centralised with an extensive historical overview. We can see exactly how many and what kind of questions the customer has asked and how much remote service has been provided.” Henk added: “Automation will become


increasingly important. Not just to save costs, but out of pure necessity, because you have to be able to work with fewer people on a line. So, it’s great if your supplier is close by.”


Lenze www.lenze.com DECEMBER/JANUARY 2022 DESIGN SOLUTIONS 19


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