Italian packaging machine builders introduced a range of new, ELAU PacDrive-equipped machines at IPACK IMA in Milan in 2006, the result of a record year of growth for ELAU Systems Italia in 2005.
Apsol robotic case packer & palletizer
Apsol’s MCFP is a case packing monobloc that combines case erecting, tape or hot melt glue bottom sealing, and a robotic pick-and-place arm. It’s a compact, 1,000 case per hour unit automated by ELAU’s PacDrive system that also includes a case squaring system and features no-tool changeovers.
Of the company’s robotic palletizer design, Roberto Pezzini, robotic projects and programming manager for Apsol,
“Using ELAU’s advanced robotic software library, the design replaces a ‘black box’ robot controller, motion controller and PLC with a single, integrated, open architecture PacDrive controller. The robotic functionality results in a small, low maintenance, modular machine capable of quick format changes.
ICA offers coffee pod machine
Coffee “pods” are now widely available, and ICA can help coffee roasters enter the pod market with their pod and vertical form/fill/seal machines, both equipped with ELAU’s PacDrive automation system.
ACMA makes candy cartoning a ‘snap’
ACMA showed its PacDrive-equipped system for packaging hard candy, gum or lozenges into pocket packs and wrapping them in single or multipack configurations. Their clever carton design has proven popular with consumers, who like the reassuringly positive ‘snap’ closure. The pre-glued cartons are available in some interesting shapes, too.
Ronchi rotary servo capper
The SIRIO-S is the most technologically advanced capper manufactured by RONCHI. Each of the capping stations is equipped with an independently controlled PacDrive SCL servo motor/drive from ELAU that assures maximum production flexibility, extremely precise torque control simple offline adjustment accessible from the operator panel.
Applications include screw-on caps, in which bottles with applied torque below the preset value for each capping station are rejected. For oriented caps, the use of servo motors permits the caps to be oriented to the correct application position. Typically, the orientation of the incoming cap is detected by photocells or a machine vision system. The servo motor is also capable of placing the cap into the exact radial position for placement on the bottle.
www.ronchi.it
www.ronchiamerica.com
MG2 at IPACK IMA and Interphex
MG2 and its North American branch, MG America, exhibited back-to-back at the IPACK-IMA with their robotic GTL30 vertical case packer and at the Interphex pharmaceutical industry show in New York with their GSL20 horizontal case packer (up to 20 cpm).
Distinguishing characteristics include balcony style design for easy access and cleaning, no-tool changeovers, and reliable case setup and insertion of various product configurations, for tape or hot melt glue closures. Both are servo machines controlled by ELAU’s PacDrive automation system, including the GTL30’s robotic top loading arm. Options include product orienting infeeds, case flap checking, outfeeds, code readers, and case labeling and printing units.
www.mg2.it
www.mgamerica.com
Finpac
The company introduced its new SHM series of machines for optimized shrink sleeve decoration of containers at speeds up to 600 to 800 bpm. Although highly automated, Finpac intentionally designed the machine to be maintained by unskilled operators around the world. Factory technicians can use a modem (analog or GSM) managed directly by the controller’s serial port for remote maintenance, in environments where internet access is difficult to secure.
Finpac also sought a control system compact enough to install onboard, and sufficiently modular to allow plug-and-play installation of options without modifying the control software. The ability to fulfill all these requirements led Finpac to select ELAU’s PacDrive automation system.
Several available options include a multiple-reel material buffer for non-stop operation while reloading, steam or hot air shrink tunnel depending on the machine and/or sleeve dimensions, and an automatic reject system for missing or misapplied sleeves.
Amotek flow bagger applies zippers in line
Amotek introduced a patented recloseable zipper profile application system for in-line use with its flow baggers. Easy-opening bags are produced by installing the PacDrive servo-driven cutting system into the film infeed to score the area where the zipper profile will be inserted and sealed. Cut geometries are produced to the customer’s specifications, and punches are easily replaceable.
UCIMA shares research results
According to a new report released by the Italian packaging machinery association UCIMA at their big show in Milan, global packaging managers are looking for lead times 2 to 4 times faster than machine builders consider practical. And overall, they feel their material suppliers are more responsive than machinery suppliers.
While global packaging managers are not necessarily as familiar with machinery purchasing criteria as packaging engineers, these results demonstrate an opportunity for machine builders to strengthen their value proposition within customer organizations. For more information, visit www.ucima.it.
Italian OEMS use ELAU
Many prominent Italian OEMs at IPACK IMA are automating their machinery with PacDrive, and therefore already offer shorter lead times, higher efficiencies and greater flexibility to meet these requirements. For them, the issue is to raise greater awareness and actively engage packaging managers at their customers.
All-Schneider machines debut
Packagers and machine builders have been searching for better value in their electrical component supply chain. Some have found it, now that packaging automation specialist ELAU is a company of Schneider Electric.
Zucchini introduced its new ZFC 60 vertical case packer and ZFLP portal palletizer at IPACK IMA featuring a complete electrical package from Schneider Electric, including ELAU PacDrive™ automation systems, Magelis HMI, Advantys I/O and Altivar variable frequency drives.
Combined with a servo-driven ZV03 infeed system, the modular machines form an end-of-line cell controlled in a single software environment and powered by 13 servo axes and 15 micromotors for totally automated recipe-driven format changes from the operator panel.
In addition, the palletizer uses the revolutionary PacDrive robotic software library, which replaces proprietary ‘black box’ robot controllers with a software object running in the same automation controller that performs integrated motion and logic control for the rest of the machine. The result is tighter synchronization between robotic and other packaging processes.
This level of modularity and automation marks a new level of flexibility, efficiency and reduced operator intervention with a throughput of 18 cpm.
For more information, visit www.zucchinisrl.it.
