Exclusive: Siemens’ Simotion finds early U.S. application in Pemco ream-wrapping machines

Alpharetta, GA—Earlier this year, Pemco Inc. (Sheboygan, WI) reportedly became the first-paper processing machine builder in the U.S. to specify Simotion machine-control technology from Siemens Energy & Automation.

By Control Engineering Staff April 2, 2003

Alpharetta, GA —Earlier this year, Pemco Inc. (Sheboygan, WI) reportedly became the first-paper processing machine builder in the U.S. to specify Simotion machine-control technology from Siemens Energy & Automation .

Intended for machine builders in need of a high level of motion control in their automation systems, Simotion merges motion control, logic, and special control technologies into one family of hardware/software products. Temperature control and pneumatic control are among additional functions integrated into the system.

Simotion has three basic elements. Its two software parts are an engineering system called Scout-which includes system configuration tools, project manager tools, and program editors-and a runtime system. The third part of the system consists of multiple platform hardware, currently available in a controller-based version (Simotion C) and a PC-based version (Simotion P). A drive-based platform for decentralized control will follow later.

The system greatly reduces the time and cost to develop machine controls, says Siemens, by integrating various machine functions within PC, controller, or drive platforms. Scout engineering software configures all the platform versions.

Applied in two machine models

Pemco manufactures complete packaging lines for cut-sized paper, including kraft or polypropylene ream-wrapping machines. The company has installed the controller-based version of Simotion (C230-2) as well as the PC-based version (P350) in its Model 32 and Model 39 lines of ream-wrapping machinery.

Built for maximum process flexibility, Pemco Model 32 Ream Wrapper handles registered or non-registered polypropylene clear film wrap, eliminating the need for conventional gluing. It also can feed sheets from a large paper roll or process individual sheets for specialty orders. This machine accommodates paper ream sizes with the following dimensions: widths from 7 to14 in. (176-360 mm); lengths from 10 to 20.5 in.; while ream height options are in the 0.4 to 5 in. range. It can process up to 80 reams per minute. Model 32 has eight motion axes-three for in-feed and one each for main drive, feed, transfer, rear tucker, and end seal.

Pemco’s Model 39 Ream Wrapper is designed for high-speed processing, with the capability to handle up to 150 reams of paper per minute. It has 15 motion axes, including overhead, roll feed, transfer belt, in-feed, loader horizontal, loader vertical, inside elevator, outside elevator, front under-folder, rear under-folder, ram, gripper, tucker, knife, and end sealer. Two other machine axes are optional.

Previously available in Europe, Simotion had its North American introduction in the second-half of 2002.

To read more about Simotion, click here or visit www.siemens.de/simotion .

Control Engineering Daily News Desk
Frank J. Bartos, executive editor
fbartos@reedbusiness.com