Traditionally, integrating these processes require users to stitch together three or four vendors’ products in a less-than-optimal approach that adds integration cost, solution complexity, and time-to-commissioning risk. Achieving high speed throughput requires Producers to solve the complicated process of synchronizing automation processes across these disparate components. In addition to the integration expense, production issues are exacerbated by the shared-responsibility challenges of multiple-vendor solutions. Finally, multi-vendor solutions delay time-to-value as Factory Acceptance Testing requires a multi-step process to evaluate individual components and their integration.
The ULMA FR500 incorporates a row distribution material handling module, a high-speed horizontal flow wrapper, and a bar top-loader cell for cartoning, with optional RSC shipper case packing and palletizing. The row distribution system ensures an efficient, continuous flow towards the horizontal wrapper, employing a buffer conveyor to manage unscheduled system stoppage. Accumulated bars in the buffer are combined with the incoming flow without having to stop the upstream process. The design allows the removal of individual components for cleaning and maintenance operations. After transference, bars are repositioned into an end-to-end orientation, and quality control is performed to reject out-of-tolerance products. If desired, its film former can accommodate 100% paper material. Cartoning is performed by the bar top-loader cell, which utilizes a high-speed star wheel to place the bars into a grouping chain. The bars and (automatically) formed cardboard cartons are fed to the cell, where a two-axis delta robot simultaneously transfers groups of bars from grouping chain to cartons, changing the pitch of the bars to match the cartons. Tertiary RSC cartoning and palletizing options are also available.
“The ULMA FR500 is a high-speed, compact end-to-end solution that takes less time for start-up and occupies less space in the customer’ s facilities,” said Hugh Crouch, Harpak-ULMA’s Flowwrap Product Manager. “The all-too-common approach – to concoct an automated solution using equipment from multiple vendors – can’t achieve the simplicity, speed, time to market, and reliability offered by a fully automatic, pre-integrated single-sourced solution.”
“Like all Harpak-ULMA packaging platforms, the FR500 is a smart, connected machine capable of leveraging our advanced Augmented Reality capabilities, including remote support, visual work instructions, and even remote OEE monitoring. As a result, the FR500 is one of the most advanced solutions in its class.”
