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Read the online version if links don't work in this Packaging Update. | | | September 2009 | Sponsor: Emulate3D | Reduce on-site testing with Emulate3D 
Save significant time and costs at AMHS commissioning by reducing on-site PLC and other control system testing with Emulate3D. Take controls development and debugging off the project's critical path by driving an accurate virtual automation system earlier in the project, off-site. Produce better trained operators, and test future modifications safely. Click here to learn more | Sponsor: Grace Engineered Products | GracePort® 4:1 Unmanaged Ethernet Switch .jpg)
The new GracePort 4:1 Unmanaged Ethernet Switch meets the demands of electrical safety with its unique thru-door design. Diagnosing communications and resetting the switch can now be done through the panel door, which enhances compliance NFPA 70E and increases employee productivity. Click here for more information | Visit our Automation Portals | Our Automation Portals organize information on various topics and include content published on Automation.com as well as other industry websites. Each portal includes new products, company news, articles, white papers, application stories, training, resources, events, and more. Visit these one-stop sites for all your automation information | | | In this Issue | | | | Featured Articles | Colourblind no more — contrast and colour sensors for packaging and converting applications
What’s New in Process Technology, August 2009
By Jeff Allison, Pepperl+Fuchs
Contrast and colour sensors bridge the gap between photoelectric sensors and vision systems. Contrast sensors detect differences between colours. Colour sensors detect a specific colour. Laser Scanners for Work Cell Safety
Control Engineering, August 2009
By Brad Raven, Sick Safety Systems
Using safety laser scanners to prevent access to the area where the dangerous motion is located, and preventing the start-up of the dangerous motion using sensors. Robots’ Future Is Non-Automotive
Automation World, July 2009
By C. Kenna Amos
Given the very real downturn in the U.S. automotive market and the slowing of sales in traditional robotics markets, robotic manufacturers are looking to expand or continue expansion into other manufacturing sectors such as packaging and solar. Picking the Best Robotic Tooling for Palletizing
IEN, May 2009
By Earl Wohlrab, FKI Logistex
Choosing the correct end-of-arm tooling helps ensure that a new robotic palletizing or depalletizing system can effectively handle a company’s full range of packaging types. Here are five questions to ask before specifying robotic tooling. Investment decisions are not automatic in tough market
Control Engineering, May 2009
By John Kalkowski
Despite evidence that automation can lower their labor costs and help them gain a competitive edge, most packagers are delaying decisions to purchase automated equipment during the current recession. Balancing energy use, production capabilities
Control Engineering, May 2009
By Jeanine Katzel
Packaging machinery OEMs need to find a way to set themselves apart to succeed, and one way may be with attention to energy efficiency. Optimizing seemingly conflicting goals like energy use and production output requires a focus on the total machine and its components, especially motors.
| | Browse more articles on the Packaging portal. | Live News Feed | | | | | Product Announcements | | | Other Product Announcements | Browse more Product Announcements on the Packaging portal. Search all Products by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date. | | White Papers | Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) for Achieving Consumer Packaging Excellence
By GE Fanuc
Manufacturers that have the ability to efficiently analyze their data across their plant and to accurately associate events with a specific cause in real time will gain key insight
into their operations to achieve packaging excellence and ultimately, a sustainable advantage for success. Using Controls Standards to Accelerate Continuous Improvement Initiatives
By GE Fanuc
The OMAC Packaging Workgroup (OPW) has released their PackTags and PackML standards, which define naming conventions and “structural” guidelines that ensure consistency in the way the building blocks of code are used and described. Simplified Motion Control Increases Agility of Pouch/Pillow Packaging Machines
By Mark Traxler, Omron Electronics
Motion control techniques for pouch and pillow packaging help achieve a measure of success, but recent advances in motion controllers and servos made it possible to do so without high-cost hardware and complex integration, programming and operation. Achieving Value in Packaging Line Operations
By Wonderware
Describes the Wonderware Industry Application for Packaging software, which delivers a standard and normalized data layer for all packaging line types. It address the main requirements expressed by both manufacturing companies and machine vendors/OEMs.
| Browse more white papers on the Packaging portal.
| | Resources & Literature | Guide to Machine and Process Safeguarding
This comprehensive resource includes information and selection guidelines on safety solutions, including Laser Scanners, Perimeter Access Guards, Programmable Safety Controllers, Force Guided Relays, Light Curtains, Contact Strips and Edges, and more. Gotcha Stick - Safe Distance Scale for Machine Guarding
Is that Hard-Guard Adequately Protecting your Machine Operators? Based on revised anthropometric data, the "Gotcha Stick" from STI is a three-segment safe distance scale used to verify that openings in machine hard-guards will not allow the point-of-operation to be accessed by the operator. Guide to using assembly robots in packaging
Denso offers “Packaging Automation Trends: Using Small Assembly Robots in Upstream Packaging Processes,” a free guide for manufacturers, packaging engineers, machine builders and system integrators.
| Browse more resources and literature on the Packaging portal.
| | Application Stories | Planning a Safe and Successful Integration: Robots in Packaging/Palletizing
Robotics Online, August 2009
By Brette Christe, JR Automation Technologies
Implementing packaging/palletizing robots into a production process. The choices you make when it comes to process logistics, safety, and robot selection directly impact production planning, inventory, scheduling, quality, and efficiency. Bakkavor packaging solution cuts waste
Control Engineering Europe, July 2009
Anson Packaging turned to Illig for a thermoforming system that helped it meet the requirements of food producer Bakkavor. The third generation RDM70K system is used on the production line for 101 and slim-pot food containers. ABB drives double rate of tomato packing
Process Industry Informer, June 2009
ABB machinery drives control the speed of the tomato handling conveyors, matching the speed of the packing machine and ensuring that the tomatoes are packed quickly and accurately. Another ABB machinery drive runs rollers on the conveyors, allowing the tomatoes to be turned automatically and inspected for quality. Motion Controls Boost Speed on Bandage Packaging Line
By Bosch-Rexroth
Controller, industrial computer, drives, motors, HMI and motion profile make faster production speeds stick at Aso bandage company. Electric screw actuators improve bagging system
By Tolmatic
Thiele Technologies, a maker of packaging equipment, installed four custom electric screw linear actuators on its filling and sealing operation to precisely position incoming empty bags. The bagging system now automatically compensates for variations in bag dimensions and eliminates manual setup when changing bag sizes.
| Browse more application stories on the Packaging portal.
| | Company & Organizational News | Engent expands its micro-electronics manufacturing capability
Engent recently expanded its Norcross, GA facility by 8,000 square feet to support manufacturing expansion of its small form factor micro-electronics products. AMT President urges Congress to assist small manufacturers
Testifying before the House Small Business Committee, Douglas K. Woods, President of AMT, said the effects of tax breaks and other provisions within the stimulus law have so far been minimal on the struggling manufacturing industry. Beckhoff appoints Joe Martin to Packaging Sales Manager
Previously, Martin was Director of Sales at Holt Electric, Inc., a major Midwest electrical distributor based in Hartland, WI. GE Fanuc embraces OMAC Make2Pack standards
GE Fanuc announced that its hardware and software products enable OMAC Make2Pack standards to support multiple vendor platforms for applications in both new and existing equipment. Food and Beverage Industries slowly accept wireless
Frost & Sullivan says the wireless market in food and beverage industry is expected to grow at low levels over the next two years. The conservative nature of the industry is a major restraint for adoption.
| Browse more company and organizational news on the Packaging portal. | | Project News | SICK to supply cameras to USPS packaging processing project
SICK will provide Ruler E 3D cameras as part of continuing improvements to the United States Postal Service’s Automated Package Processing System (APPS).
| Browse more project news on the Packaging portal. | | Featured Events | Industrial Automation Vietnam
September 16-18, 2009 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
The second Industrial Automation Vietnam show will be held in the brand new Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC).The show will be co-located with PIA Vietnam– an exhibition profiling plant & process engineering, instrumentation, measurement and testing, and analysis & laboratory technology. Exhibition for Processing and Packaging Machinery
September 30-October 2, 2008, Birmingham, UK
UK’s annual showcase for processing and packaging machinery. Now entering its 20th year, the exhibition provides the opportunity to source, evaluate and purchase machinery, equipment and ancillary products & services for processing & packaging requirements SOUTH-TEC Advanced Productivity Exposition
October 6-8, 2009 Charlotte, NC
SOUTH-TEC will be focused around three themes, including “Lean Tools for Success,” “Motorsports in Manufacturing,” and “New Products and Innovations.” Industrial Automation Show
November 3-7, 2009 Shanghai
Since its inception in 2003, Factory Automation ASIA has been successfully held three times. It has established itself amongst the most important platforms in the production automation industry in Asia. Automation Fair 2009
November 11-12, 2009 Anaheim, California
At this two-day event, attend in-depth technical sessions, workshops, and hands-on labs. Visit more than 100 exhibits and displays. Learn best practices at specialized industry forums.
| Browse more industry events on the Packaging portal. Add an event to our calendar. | I hope you enjoyed this Packaging update. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding the content in this e-newsletter or on Automation.com, please don't hesitate to contact me. Rick Zabel
Vice President, Publisher
Automation.com View our Privacy Policy For editorial inquiries, please contact Rick Zabel
For advertising inquiries, please contact Chris Nelson, or see our Media Kit. | |
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ABB improves energy efficiency, productivity for StatoilHydro_thumb.jpg)
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