Switching from PLC to ELAU's PacDrive as its standard automation platform gives Z Automation's high speed machines even greater speed and flexibility.

One of America's most innovative, the company makes horizontal and vertical cartoners up to 600 cpm, same-family carton tool-less changeovers in 3-4 minutes, patented loading technology that efficiently and gently 'carries' product into the carton, and patented streaming technology to reduce clogging and bridging of lightweight products in the funnel of vertical cartoners.

With a truly integrated automation controller and servos purpose-built for packaging as its new standard, Z Automation offers even greater performance, ease of validation, maintainability and overall reduced Total Cost of Ownership. Replacing hardware-constrained PLC control with modular, software-driven automation, the new control platform is ideally suited to the recipe-driven, automated format changes that are a trademark of the company.

It was a natural step for Z Automation to upgrade its control system standard because its designs incorporate so many automated features. These include multiple servo-controlled assemblies, quick tool-less changeovers, high speed sleeving and multi-stack blister cartoning. The PacDrive equipment has earned a positive reputation among packagers, who first experienced the ELAU brand on high performance European packaging machines. ELAU’s installed base is especially strong in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and personal care industries where Z Automation also does a great deal of business. Read the whole story…