Energy efficient Packaging machines
Processing packaging materials in the most efficient way directly addresses one of the major operating expenses for mass-packaging moulders - energy consumption. Business Development Director Packaging, Arnaud Nomblot and team will prove the advantages of switching to all-electric. Citing examples of up to 70% reduction in energy costs, this year’s packaging exhibit features an IntElect 2 S 220/660-1400, efficiently manufacturing four decorated food containers in PP, with an integrated IML side entry robot.
The exhibit features a four cavity mould tool from Société Nouvelle Caulonque. Feeding labels with precision into the packaging machine is an automated IML system supplied by Pagès Group, with iPB Printing B.V. supplying the high quality labels and TotalEnergies providing the material.
Increased data transparency due to digital process companion
Providing greater processing transparency to help run machines at their most efficient, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag will unveil its advances in myAssist and how further optimisations offer processors even deeper data insights. These newest upgrades, summarised by the company as the ultimate "digital process companion", presents easy to read dashboards, consumption data and KPIs., all defined by the end user. The ability to connect and oversee digital data across multiple machines in a single production facility is also available.
This level of high data transparency makes it possible to spot deviations, aggregate data captured from all OPC-UA filtered sources and react to changes in production processes at the earliest stage. The ability to merge data from multiple sources facilitates complete digital mapping of all production and environmental factors, including historical data. Adding Human Virtual Interface (HVI) and an Expertise module also enables users to put data findings into context by adding labels and more detailed annotations.
Higher production output and automated assembly
Testament that high end and innovative solutions can work together and be cost efficient, this year’s Hekuma collaboration (A7-7202) features Asian tooling specialist Jestar Mold Tech. Rather than using a conventional stack mould to manufacturer petri dishes, Jestar supplies the 2+2 single face tool to support a seven second cycle time and high production output.
Showcasing that robotics aren’t confined to demoulding, the Sepro booth (A1-1203) further addresses labour shortages by presenting the future of automated assembly. Optimising efficiency, two moulded parts - a hull and sail boat - are removed from an IntElect 130 by a SDR16E linear robot integrated into the injection moulding machine. The next process step involves the sail being passed to a Sepro articulated arm robot 6X-140.2, which assembles the hull and sail in collaboration with the linear robot. The assembled sailboat is then placed on a conveyor belt. The system is a great example of the close co-operation between Sumitomo-Demag machines and Sepro 6-axis devices.
Other partners at the stand include Digicolor, who supplies materials to all machines, and Regloplas, who supports with suitable temperature control units.
Each of the eight exhibits at Fakuma 2024 exemplifies the close collaborative approach that Sumitomo (SHI) Demag adopts with every industry partner, and the combined drive to boost efficiency for processors locally and globally. A strategy that is totally aligned to the new management team headed up by CEO Christian Maget and CSO Anatol Sattel.
