Speed of pick-and-place machines doubled

The solution also enables full automation of packaging, helping to overcome the widespread labor shortage on packaging lines. The machines pick up tubes and arrange them using a strapping band so that they can be easily loaded onto pallets. As standard pneumatics could not achieve the required speeds, Spiraltech opted for a servo drive solution. Among others, the 'SV660N' servo drives, 'MS1' servo motors, the 'AM600' motion controller and 'GL10' and 'GL20' I/O modules from Inovance are used.

Spiraltech focuses on systems that can be retooled two to three times a day, which is advantageous for small batch production. To make this possible, the machines reportedly have twice as many servos as the leading competitor products.

In addition to size, performance and price-performance ratio, the ability to work with IEC software standards was a decisive factor in the choice of the Inovance solution. With a new speed of up to 140 tubes per minute (depending on tube size), the machines now achieve twice the output of most competitors. Whereas previously two to three people were needed to achieve a packaging output of 140 pieces per minute, the Spiraltech machine now does this completely automatically.

Spiraltech is a British manufacturer of packaging machines and develops and produces paper converting and cardboard tube cutting machines for the production of cardboard tubes, paper profiles and composite cans. Capss is a UK distributor of electrical and mechanical components for the automation and control of plant and machinery. Inovance Technology Europe offers a complete portfolio of automation products including low and medium voltage AC drives, servos, motion control, CNCs, PLCs, HMIs and industrial robots. Inovance Technology Europe is the European subsidiary of Inovance, a US$5.2 billion global industrial automation group headquartered in Shenzhen.