The opportunity to add an electronically driven machine in its range has been embraced by Sydney-based packaging machinery leader Packserv Australia, with the company recently developing a new-generation filling machine, designed to boost productivity, precision and efficiency, and included added features and functionality by incorporating digital Industry 4.0-enabled components from SMC's range.
The integration of SMC's electric actuators, coupled with innovative thinking, has given rise to a cutting-edge machine designed to provide customers with a competitive edge. This machine delivers real-time data and metrics, with the added capability of incorporating AI and machine learning.
“We have looked to SMC for its range of pneumatic components, and we still do, but this machine required digital, PLC controlled electric actuators. This shift that has opened a world of possibilities that aren’t available in in machines making use of pneumatics,” said Nathan Wardell, managing director of Packserv.
“By switching to electric actuators and expanding the machine to include eight heads and twin lane functionality, our clients are able to significantly increase the output of the machine. We are also working on additional new machines of the same ilk to add to our new range of production lines.
“Bringing electrical automation to the fore means that we can now fill around 100 units per minute or more - depending on the product, size and variable factors such as froth and foam.
“The indexing of containers can take a while post-fill, so we introduced a second lane to ensure that we could meet our clients' output requirements of more than 100 units per minute.”
SMC Corporation caps off machine success
Reflecting on the early days of this project, Mikael Sandell, key account manager for SMC, said he was excited to bring the benefits of electric actuators to Packserv, noting that it was the “perfect fit for the brief”.
“When it comes to extreme accuracy, speed control and positioning, the electric servo motor ball screw and belt actuators from SMC are the ideal solution,” added Sandell.
According to Wardell, the speed of the fill is increased and reduced in three stages. As the product enters, it is filled at 30 per cent because of bubbling and frothing, it is then sped up to 100 per cent mid stroke, and speed is reduced to 30 per cent in the narrowing of the neck so that it doesn’t overfill the container.
Beyond the precision that electric actuators provide, the servo drives are also used to monitor the machine – from both near and far – providing real-time feedback, data and metrics. In addition, preventative maintenance and technical support saves customers on downtime.
