Packaging Automation & Controls

AIA Unveils Vision for the Future
Jack Mans, January 20, 2012
AIA, the global industry trade group for vision and imaging companies, recently unveiled its Vision for the Future-a new brand identity emphasizing AIA's commitment to advancing vision and imaging technology worldwide. The new brand identity premiered at the 20th Annual AIA Business Conference in Orlando on January 18, 2012. More
EasySlave enables inexpensive development of Sercos slave devices
Jack Mans, January 18, 2012
Sercos Intl.has introduced the Sercos EasySlave, an FPGA-based single-chip controller for simple Sercos III slave devices. It has a real time channel with one input and one output connection, and supports cycle times as low as 31.25 usec. An IP core is provided as a netlist for the Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGA family. The IP core contains all the functions of a Sercos slave connection, including the associated software library for I/O devices. More
Intelligent power supply
Jack Mans, January 12, 2012
The IP67 intelligent power supply with HeartbeatTM technology allows maintenance crews to get reliable feedback on the real time and long term status of the supply on packaging machines and be able to predict the replacement and maintenance cycle of the supply. The power supply can be mounted directly on the side of a conveyor in plain sight, instead of inside the controls cabinet. This allows operators to easily review the status of power, while also reducing space inside the cabinet. More
Automation software
Jack Mans, January 9, 2012
The Totally Integrated Automation Portal (TIA Portal) is the industry's first automation software with one Engineering Environment and One Software Project for all automation tasks, the company says. The new software engineering framework enables users to develop and commission automation systems quickly and intuitively, which eliminates the traditional time consuming and costly integration of separate software packages. More
Design Decisions: Choosing a Rotary Encoder
Posted by Jack Mans, Plant Operations Editor, January 5, 2012
The selection of a rotary encoder or encoder technology for use within the system is dependent on the accuracy requirements of the application, whether it is position and/or velocity control. Before making an encoder decision, an engineer should examine this and all the major encoder properties that influence important motor performance. More
Robot controller
Jack Mans, January 4, 2012
ABB Robotics has extended the functionality of its IRC5 panel-mounted controller (PMC) to all ABB robots, including its largest robot models.The PMC Large consists of a large drive module and the standard IRC5 control module that can be separately mounted in a variety of configurations, such as on top of each other, side-by-side, or back-to-back. Each module is made up of two layers, the first of which may be folded down for easy access to the second. Up to four drive modules may be connected to the same control module for multiple robot control (MultiMove) or control of additional axes. More
Innovations with impact
The Packaging Digest editorial staff, January 2, 2012
Among a bevy of new packaging introduced during 2011, several cutting-edge items hold promise for success in the marketplace. More
Automated robotic truck loader optimizes shipping space
Jack Mans, Plant Operations Editor, January 2, 2012
An automated robotic truck loader (RTL) from Wynright Robotics can load and stack boxes, bales and containers directly onto the floor of a truck or shipping container without the use of pallets. More
WestPack showcases state-of-art solutions
Jenni Spinner, Senior Editor, January 2, 2012
For packaging pros looking to recharge their business with the latest equipment and technology, WestPack 2012 is the place to be. More
Sales for EXPO PACK Mexico 2012 going strong
Posted by Jenni Spinner, Senior Editor, December 13, 2011
Exhibit space for the Latin American packaging show—scheduled June 26-29 in Mexico City—already is more than 90 percent sold. According to show organizers, the sales figures point toward a high degree of confidence in the market. More
Machine vision market sales in North America up 15% through September
Posted by Lisa McTigue Pierce, December 7, 2011
Machine vision sales in North America rose 15 percent through the third quarter of 2011, according to new statistics from the Automated Imaging Assn (AIA). However, after a strong first half, sales fell 2 percent in the third quarter compared with the same period in 2010, showing market growth is slowing. More
Practical Advice for Implementing RFID Applications
Posted by Jack Mans, Plant Operations Editor, December 1, 2011
Your radio-frequency identification (RFID) automation project has been approved and is under way. The technology is available, the application scenarios have been formulated, and the economic benefit has been assessed. So how does your vision become reality, and what are the next steps you need to take as you implement your application? More
Machine control
Posted by Lisa McTigue Pierce, December 1, 2011
The new Machine Automation Controller (MAC), supported by Sysmac Studio machine automation software, was created to integrate multiple, specialized controllers-motion, logic, sequence, vision, operator safety and RFID tracking-with exacting system synchronization to deliver high performance throughput on a single controller. More
NEW EQUIPMENT December 2011
Posted by Lisa McTigue Pierce, December 1, 2011
More
Smart baggers optimize efficiency
Jack Mans, Plant Operations Editor, December 1, 2011
Nypro Healthcare integrates bagging machines with forming machines to produce various plastic fitments for healthcare companies with minimum operator interaction. The Nypro Healthcare plant in Gurnee, IL has 28 injection molding machines that produce in excess of 2 billion parts a year. Thirteen of the machines are equipped with baggers. More
Newsmakers: December 2011
Posted by Jenni Spinner, Senior Editor, December 1, 2011
Appointments, promotions, acquisitions and new facilities in the packaging industry. More
Quick makeover
Posted by Jack Mans, Plant Operations Editor, November 29, 2011
L'Oréal Canada needed to set up a packaging line in Montreal for hair coloring products-fast. Sales of the company's new INOA brand ammonia-free hair color packaged in 0.28-oz. tubes was booming, and the plant had only four months to begin large volume production of the new product. The highlight of the solution was a new, small robot that could handle the small tubes. More
Intelligrated expansion to add hundreds of jobs
Posted by Jenni Spinner, Senior Editor, November 22, 2011
Automated material handling equipment firm Intelligrated is expanding its Mason, OH, headquarters. The move is expected to bring 200 new jobs to the area. More
Top 5 Roadblocks to Digital Factory of the Future
Jack Mans, November 21, 2011
PLCs and PACs with higher capabilities for programmability and intercommunications are the cornerstones of factory automation. The other linchpin is easier and more global programming capabilities. This means two things. First and foremost is enabling engineers to sidestep command-line programming and instead use some kind of graphical or drag-and-drop paradigm. The other underpinning of the digital factory is the ability to deploy that software globally to all PLCs/PACs within a factory. More
Frequency inverter
Jack Mans, November 18, 2011
For complex machines and systems, B&R offers the ACOPOSinverter P84 with an integrated POWERLINK interface and a performance range of 0.37 to 500 kW. The P84 has a selection of onboard digital and analog I/O channels to control a wide range of technology functions. An integrated POWERLINK hub also greatly simplifiesus cabling. An encoder interface can be added to the P84 for applications with strict requirements for speed or torque control. More