Global packaging systems provider Cama Group will use this year’s interpack trade fair to showcase a range of highly automated secondary and tertiary packaging technologies.
The Cama systems on display are designed to demonstrate how robotics, modular machine architecture and digital controls can support speed, flexibility and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) in demanding packaging environments.
Three machines will form the centrepiece of Cama’s presence on stand A33 in Hall 13. The company says the equipment reflects its “Breakthrough Generation” (BTG) design principles, which focus on flexibility, accessibility and hygiene.
According to Cama, its modular technology platform allows packaging lines to be configured to meet different production requirements across multiple industries. The company says its approach combines machine engineering with experience gained from decades of working with complex packaging applications.
One of the new developments on show will be a latest-generation model of Cama’s CL169 continuous motion sideload cartoner. The company says the machine has been redesigned to improve repeatability and simplify operation. Ergonomic improvements are intended to make loading easier, while tool-less changeovers aim to reduce downtime and support faster format adjustments.
The CL169 will also demonstrate Cama’s use of control solutions from Rockwell Automation, including the FactoryTalk Optix human–machine interface. According to Cama, the machine can also be equipped with servo-driven conveyor systems using independently driven platforms to allow greater flexibility in product handling.
A second machine on the stand will be the MTL monobloc top loader, designed to demonstrate the company’s capabilities in non-food packaging applications. The system combines carton erection, product grouping, carton filling and carton closing within a single machine structure.
The machine incorporates several of Cama’s in-house robotic technologies, including six RB002 robots and the newer carbon-fibre RB003 model. The company says the configuration highlights the potential for robotics to coordinate high-speed packaging movements within a compact footprint.
Completing the equipment display will be the FW748 wraparound case packer. Cama describes the model as one of its most widely adopted systems, designed for flexible case packing applications. According to the company, the machine features semi-automated changeovers that allow operators to adjust machine settings through the HMI, enabling rapid transitions between packaging formats.
The FW748 will also demonstrate elements of Cama’s cobot-based Machine Enhancement Programme (MEP). Systems such as the automated carton loader (ACL) and automated case palletiser (ACP) are designed to automate repetitive pre – and post-packaging tasks. Cama says these solutions can integrate with its own machinery or with third-party packaging systems.
In addition to the physical equipment on display, visitors will be able to explore digital presentations of Cama’s wider technology portfolio, including advanced vision systems incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning.
According to Cama, the combination of mechanical design, automation, throughput optimisation and packaging efficiency is intended to support more sustainable packaging operations through reduced waste and improved productivity.
This article was first published in the Quarterly March print issue of PKN Packaging News, p.38.
