Automation enables modular, safe, energy efficient packaging machinery

Mechatronic innovations help machine builders engineer more safely and efficiently, Bosch Rexroth said at Pack Expo Las Vegas 2011.

October 4, 2011

Bosch Rexroth Corporation, the Drive & Control Company, focused on its innovations in mechatronics and products that can help packaging machine builders engineer more efficiently, at Pack Expo Las Vegas 2011, last week. These include open system solutions, such as IndraMotion for Packaging Controls, IndraDrive Mi with Multi-Ethernet. Also useful are corrosion-resistant with FDA-certified materials – ball rail materials for wash-down environments, and productive pneumatic solutions for the food and packaging industry. Bosch Rexroth also offers help for energy efficient component and design, training, mechatronics, food and packaging, machine safety, lean manufacturing, and air management in food processing, packaging and in other areas.

Rexroth OEM partners like Cama, CP Packaging, and Brenton Engineering gave demonstrations. New drive and control products and systems are designed to lower equipment and operational costs, enhance safety and improve energy efficiency, including control systems, linear modules, specially-designed pneumatics and conveyor systems.

IndraMotion for packaging

Rexroth’s new software version of its fully open control system solution IndraMotion for Packaging version 12 offers an open IEC 61131-3 programming environment, allowing OEM’s to configure and program packaging applications. Applications that require precise synchronization, camming, registration, electronic gearing, collating, robotic path planning and dynamic belt synchronization in todays highly automated modular production lines.  The open architecture programming environment supports the use of the OMAC for packaging guidelines like PackML and use of PackTags including a wizard to configure the template and be up and running with your machine axes in minutes.

IndraDrive Mi integrated motor/ drive with multi-Ethernet interface

With its decentralized IndraDrive Mi integrated motor / drive, Rexroth offers a means for speedy engineering and the simple realization of modular machine designs and effective distributed safety concepts. The IndraDrive Mi features a Multi-Ethernet interface that simplifies the commissioning of various Ethernet automation architectures with one type of hardware. In addition, it also allows for Ethernet components, such as I/O connections or pneumatics valves, to be connected directly to the drives, which reduces wiring and lowers the cost of installation.

NFRG linear ball rail system for wash-down environments

Rexroth linear motion products withstand the challenges of harsh food packaging environments. A new NFRG ball rail system was designed with materials and engineering suitable in dry working zones and in wash-down environments. Materials are corrosion-resistant and unaffected by surface damage, lengthening product life cycles and lowering the total cost of ownership.

Pneumatic solutions for the food and packaging industry

Specially designed for use in the food and packaging industry, pneumatic components from Rexroth enable hygienic handling of food products and efficient packaging of all types of products. Whether the products are grippers, cylinders or valve terminal systems, all components in this family of hygienic products are matched and can be combined according to requirements of food processing and packaging. Products include CL03 valve terminal system, the corrosion-resistant ICS-D1 ISO cylinder, GPC Clean Series guide cylinders, and the NCT non-contact transport system.

Education in automation

Rexroth has mechatronic training simulators and offers online and cooperative training courses.

OEM partners

OEM partners demonstrating Bosch-Rexroth solutions include CP Packaging for primary packaging in a wash-down environment; a dynamic demonstration of a high-speed Delta-style robot from CAMA; multiple conveyor capabilities, and an all-servo-driven case packing application from Brenton Engineering.  Rexroth monitored each OEM’s machine to demonstrate ease of connectivity as well as monitoring performance and energy efficiency.

www.boschrexroth-us.com

www.bosch.com

www.camagroup.com

– Edited by Mark T. Hoske, CFE Media, Control Engineering, Plant Engineering.

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