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Automation Line Control Uses No Supervisory PLC
The Organizaon for Machine Automaon and Control (OMAC) demonstrated a mini-operaonal line that controlled five different
machines from five different suppliers working in concert to complete a task. The line did not use an integraon PLC or PC. Rather,
the machine interfaces provided supervisory communicaon without the need for a separate PLC overseeing machine-to-machine
links. Nestlé, an OMAC member, provided the funding and general specificaons to the manufacturers who supplied the equip-­ment.
The suppliers came up with similar graphic user interfaces (GUIs) for all the machines and the protocols used to achieve the
result. Nestlé will give the enre system, including the specificaons for machine controls, to OMAC to become part of its PackML
standard. – EJB
More informaon
OMAC: 571.612.3197, info@omac.org.
Transport Module Replaces Conveyors
Schubert introduced the Transmodule as an intelligent means of transport that can replace conveyors and be programmed to
move in a connuous or indexed manner, each tooled and programmed separately. These are independent,
highly flexible, servo motor-driven modules with programmable pitch speed capabilies. When the unit reach-­es
the end of the producon frame, it flips to the underside of the frame and is returned to the starng point.
A Transmodule can accommodate any number of product and package assembly processes, and product pack-­ing,
when linked with robots programmed to change the Transmodule tooling during producon changes. –
RCC
Schubert Transmodule
More informaon:
Todd Shewmaker, sales manager, Schubert : 972.692.1764, tshewmaker@schubertpackaging.com.
Contract CT Scanning for Manufacturing
Industrial CT scanning technology allows for extremely precise measurements when developing and manufacturing products, but
the equipment needed is costly. JG & A Metrology Center uses its own equipment to provide contract CT scanning services for ap-­plicaons
in a variety of industries, such as aerospace and medical equipment. It introduced its services to the packaging market at
PACK EXPO. CT technology can be used to fine-tune prototype specificaons and in quality control for periodic checks during pro-­ducon
runs. – BAG
More informaon:
Spiro Spiliadis, markeng manager, JG & A Metrology Center: 519.962.5300, spiros@jgarantmc.com ; www.jgarantmc.com.
Robotic Erector/Packer Handles Cases, Trays
ADCO Manufacturing’s new case packer , EnCompass RCP-15 uses a small Fanuc roboc arm to erect the case, and can erect and
pack up to 15 cases/minute. The compact machine’s modular approach allows end users to switch the carton erecon module for a
tray erecng module with a very small footprint.
ADCO worked closely with Fanuc Robocs America, a leader in roboc factory automaon equipment, to incorporate a roboc arm
into this case packing machine. With the increasing demand for more retail-ready packages, this case packer is well suited for being
able to erect and pack a multude of case and tray types and sizes. Changeovers are also quite fast and easy to accomplish due to
the design of the machine. – BAG
More informaon:
Glen Long, chief operang officer: 559.875.5563, glong@adcomfg.com; www.adcomfg.com.
Customized Robotic Head Tools
Moon Controls Robocs designs custom, mul-funconal roboc heads, and is a Fanuc Robocs authorized in-­tegrator.
Among the developments at PACK EXPO was one they claimed to be unique to Moon Controls Ro-­bocs.
A series of roboc heads expand from the center point, pick up products coming down mulple staging
lanes, then contract to a ght paern for loading into shippers or transport trays. Another technology, demon-­strated
via video, used robocs to load a pallet. A mul-funconal robot head picks up a pallet and places it in a
loading posion. The robot head then posions a slip sheet for loading, and picks up a complete er of boles
and loads them on the sheet, repeang the process unl the pallet is full, with a slip sheet on top. – RCC
More informaon:
Earl Raynal, Jr., sales manager, 231.622.8600, earl.raynal@mcri-us.com.
Moon Controls
Robocs
PACK EXPO INT’L 2012