Packaging
machines are a vital part of the production process in the consumer goods
industry. They often work in multi shift operation, and any malfunctions have to
be repaired quickly. Proven automation technology provides clear diagnostic and
service strategies, and a partner with a global presence can offer prompt
on-site support. My recent blog covered aspects of OMAC Pack ML that enables
OEM customers to achieve these goals,
using technology that saves time and costs such as motion controllers with
enough memory and processing capability to be able to control the entire
machine with a single PLC. A multi-language programming environment for both
the controller and the HMI are also necessary to guarantee flexibility and
reduced development time.
In
addition, with PackML — a programming standard required by end-users for their
packaging systems - becoming widely accepted by a lot of packaging OEMs, it is
important that the machine programming environment is compliant with the
standard which also helps reduce programming time. This posts reviews the
importance and the benefits of the PackMl standard for the End Users.
in and interview "Do you speak PackML", Brian
Griffen, OMAC's Chairman, commented on the importance of the PackMl for the end
user:
“As
an end user, the problem you have when you build a line is that you buy a
filler from one company, a coupon inserter from somebody else, a labeler, a
caser, a palletizer and they're each made with a different engineering
methodology. So when everything arrives at your factory, you face the task of
making the machines work together.
You
spend a lot of money with a system integrator who has to go talk to each
machine builder and get into the inner workings of each machine. It gets very
expensive and very difficult. And where do most of the problems pop up during
commissioning? Not in any individual machine, but in making the machines work
together.
With
a standard methodology in place, the task of integrating the machines becomes
much easier. Rather than spending all this time down in the guts of the PLC
code aligning bits and bytes, the system integrator is focused on higher-level
applications – making the line more efficient and providing tools that make the
operator and supervisor more effective.
The
end user benefits from having the system integrator and OEM each focusing on
what they do best. If you dictate to the machine builder what technology to
use, you're guaranteed a suboptimal machine. That's like going to Ford or
Volkswagen and telling them how to build an engine. You don't do that. You
specify the functionality and performance, you specify PackML and say,
"OK, give me your best machine that complies." Then you get exactly
what you really want, which is a best-in-class machine with the best possible
performance.” 1
“Benefits to the End Users When packaging
machines on a line conform to the PackML standard, the end users can achieve
the following benefits:
1.
Fast start up of a packaging line because of the ease of integration of
different machine types and between the plant floor machines with the
higherlevel information systems. The key factors are:
a. Inter operable among different machine
types.
b. Identically configured common network
tags.
2. Maximized
system up time because standard PackML Mode and State
Machines provide a consistent operations and look-and-feel to reduce the
learning curve for users when troubleshooting machine problems.
3. Easy to
add features to machines to a line because of
reusable code and software objects that conform to the PackML standard.
4. Reduced
overall investment and operating costs since learning is provided for
subsequent machine implementations”. 2
Visit
Schneider Electric booth during the Pack Expo 2015 (September 28-30, 2015) to
see how
PackML
Standard Helps Improve Packaging Line Performance of South African Breweries’
Soft Drink Division and Highlight Industries was able to build a machine with
lower cost and optimized performance with Schneider Electric components. As a
result, Highlight Industries saves 25 percent per panel due to lower-cost
components and reduced labor to build and design.
References
[1]
Brian Griffen, OMAC Chairman ” Do you speak PackML? “omac.com Retrieved September 14, 2015
[2]
Masoud Fathizadeh, Jerry Yen, Mark Werthman: “Integration of PackML in
Engineering Education” 2013
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