In today’s volatile business climate, companies must stay focused on consumer needs to succeed. For many manufacturers, this translates to an ability to o! er a wide range of products customized to meet speci” c consumer demands. Headquartered in Plymouth, Minn., Accraply helps manufacturers address this challenge by providing a range of labeling technologies designed for fast product changeovers and ease of operation.
Accraply, a division of Barry-Wehmiller, is a leader in the design, manufacture and support of automated label application systems, as well as converting and ” nishing equipment for the shrink-sleeve label and # exible packaging markets. At PACK EXPO 2012, the company will showcase two new machines: the Trine 4800 and the Accraply VF650.
The Trine 4800 roll-fed labeling system is equipped with quick-change parts and designed for use in a wide variety of industries, including beverage, food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, dairy, aerosol and nutritional products. The machine’s small footprint – just 5 feet in length – allows it to ” t easily into a manufacturer’s operation. Featuring the latest in container handling, label registration and glue application technology, the Trine 4800 provides production speeds up to 600 containers per minute and is ideal for manufacturers looking for rapid product changeover. Handling various sized packages – from 3 ounce containers up to 3 liters – is easy because the system saves settings for previously run container sizes. Changing container size s is as simple as retrieving an already-con” gured recipe.
The Accraply VF650 shrink-sleeve label applicator o! ers a small footprint, simple operator interface and minimal machine maintenance, making it a cost-e! ective choice for manufacturers in industries such as food, beverage, health and beauty, and detergents. Similar to the Trine 4800, the Accraply VF650 delivers fast changeover between container sizes. The system can handle empty or ” lled containers, plastics, glass or cans at production speeds up to 650 containers per minute. The VF650 features stainless-steel construction and was designed for the heavy-duty operations required by high-volume producers.
This system can be incorporated into an existing conveyor or can be supplied with an integrated, factory-designed
conveying system.
To help increase throughput speed and performance of its systems, Accraply chose to work with Rockwell Automation. Both machines feature an Allen-Bradley® PanelView™ Plus 600 human-machine interface (HMI), which provides a user-friendly interface between the machine and the operator monitoring the labeling process. The color touch screen automatically sets machine and ancillary module speeds, minimizing downtime for a “no-tools” product changeover.
Both Accraply systems rely on Allen-Bradley CompactLogix™ programmable automation controllers (PACs) to deliver high-performance control in a small footprint. The PACs provide a single programming environment for machine and motion control, giving users high functionality in an economical platform. The control platform is tightly synchronized via an EtherNet/IP™ network to Allen-Bradley Kinetix 300 servo drives on the Trine 4800 and Allen-Bradley Kinetix 6500 servo drives on the Accraply VF650. The servo drives o! er high-speed motion synchronization for improved performance and eliminate the need for a dedicated motion network.
“Working with Rockwell Automation has allowed us to signi” cantly reduce changeover time for our customers, from nearly two hours to less than 20 minutes,” said George Michaels, regional sales executive, Accraply. “In addition, because our customers are already familiar with Rockwell Automation products, they’re equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to operate and maintain our systems.
[info] Rockwell Automation
www.rockwellautomation.com
www.accraply.com [/info]