Consumer Goods
Package consumer goods the intelligent and efficient way
Nowadays, consumer goods such as potato crisps and chocolate bars but also non-food products need to be packaged and dispatched more and more quickly and cheaply. However, the high packaging speed must not be at the expense of sealing, which plays a key role in ensuring a longer shelf life and product safety. This requires supporting technologies that can speed up and automate packaging processes.
By using automation solutions in packaging machines, manufacturers can increase efficiency: They can achieve faster production cycles and package more products per unit of time. This offers significant economic benefits. In addition, systems can be adapted to meet different or new packaging requirements much more quickly. Automation solutions also help to ensure consistently high quality by guaranteeing compliance with specific standards and requirements and minimizing errors in processes that were previously performed manually.
With ctrlX AUTOMATION, Bosch Rexroth offers integrated, modular automation solutions for the packaging industry – and for consumer goods in particular. The open complete solution includes all hardware and software components for automatically controlling, regulating, monitoring and optimizing packaging machines, e.g. form, fill and seal machines. The automation toolkit provides hardware and software as well as services and offers a modular complete system which connects, controls and orchestrates all components. The package is rounded off with apps that are available as needed to expand the range of functions for applications in the packaging industry.
In the smallest solution (LRA), the control system is integrated into the drive for the first axis. The other two axes are packaged in a double axis drive. The ctrlX CORE control system is connected to the decentralized ctrlX I/O and the ctrlX SAFETY system via EtherCAT. Sensors for temperature, contrast or the master axis encoder are frequently used in this type of application. Safe Torque Off is achieved with the help of discrete wiring. The web-based ctrlX HMI is also connected to the compact control system. The HMI server can run in the controller itself in combination with a web panel or on a Windows PC (e.g. panel PC) to optimize and safeguard the performance of the ctrlX CORE. This results in a space-saving, safe and economical overall solution for very high efficiency.
If necessary, the solution can be expanded with additional components and scaled to meet the very highest requirements. The app architecture allows easy integration of Bosch Rexroth's own know-how and applications from Bosch Rexroth or third-party providers, for example in the field of motion and IoT. The ctrlX MOTION app and the Bosch Device Bridge app are examples of these.
ctrlX AUTOMATION was designed for simplicity. Bosch Rexroth allows easy engineering with intuitive usability. A ready-to-use, open application project for flow wrappers offers users numerous advantages such as: Starting the first project in just 10 minutes, up to 60% time savings during coding, increased code reusability, web HMI in a responsive design and open source code.
The automation system is also future-proof and with “Security by Design” offers maximum security on all levels. Thanks to integrated IoT solutions, it even opens the door to the smart factory.
Example applications for packaging solutions:
ctrlX AUTOMATION offers automation solutions for a variety of packaging applications for form, fill and seal machines and supports various specifications - in the area of Low Range Application (LRA), Mid Range Application (MRA) and High Range Application (HRA).
Reference
The packaging industry has to take action if it wants to meet the increasing customer requirements in the field of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG). High-performance machines that incorporate modern automation components are an important lever for greater speed and flexibility in this dynamic industry. WOLF Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH has taken its vertical form, fill and seal machines to a new level with solutions from Bosch Rexroth’s automation system ctrlX AUTOMATION – and also benefits from a fast time to market thanks to the simple implementation and the supplier’s strong delivery performance.
The machine manufacturer ILLIG is helping to make the changing food packaging industry more flexible and future-proof by relying on the technological openness of the automation toolkit ctrlX AUTOMATION from Bosch Rexroth. “The modular approach is a good platform for developing future-proof machines,” said Markus Peter, head of electrical development at ILLIG Maschinenbau. “The open hardware and software modules ensure high process quality and allow us to obtain data which can be used to continuously improve productivity and energy efficiency.”
With Generation X, UNIFILL has developed a new machine concept for its thermoforming technology. The machine with up to 35 cycles per minute is suitable for filling liquid and semi-solid products in single-dose packaging for the food and non-food industry. Scalable solutions from Rexroth reduce control cabinet size and wiring effort. The IndraDrive Mi drive technology without control cabinet meets the high performance required in the production of pouch packaging and supports the precision and flexibility of the new machine type.
WDS modularises its confectionery machines with the help of control cabinet-less drive technology from Bosch Rexroth. Users benefit from faster commissioning, space-saving production and optional M2M communication right through to packaging.
