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Automation advances

Paul Sperling, technical systems manager at Cincinnati-based Kroger, talks about advances in automation and controls integration.

Pw 4450 Paul Sperling

Packaging World: What’s impressed you lately?

Paul Sperling:
Last year at Pack Expo Chicago we saw a shrink bundling system from Arpac that offered a customized HMI interface with online instructional videos and electrical schematics showing in real time what’s on the machine. It was set up so that when a maintenance mechanic comes up to it, it has a secure log-in for that mechanic so that the mechanic can bring up screens that help with diagnostics and such. They’ve since added functionality to their original concept by integrating into the HMI vibration analysis as well as infrared and ultrasound technologies that let you do other kinds of machine diagnostics.

Didn’t it also have a wireless component to it?
It did, yes. It allowed them to dial in and troubleshoot without necessarily going through your company’s proprietary network. We thought it was pretty neat, though we had some questions about it being a little too accessible. They’re working on that now with technology borrowed from the banking industry, the kind of solutions used on ATMs. By adding it to their platform, they can address the security issues that remain.

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