Automation Intelligence: SERCOS motion controller

The Sanyo Denki SMS-10 stand-alone controller and PV-series servo system offer tightly coupled motion and logic control in an extremely compact package that the supplier claims is the world’s smallest motion control system with SERCOS.

Aug 31st, 2001

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From Automation Intelligence (Duluth, GA), the controller has built-in Ethernet, dual serial ports, and watchdog timer. NT-compatible AML software-based motion controller accepts up to 32 PV-series servo systems. Programmable limit switches, timers, and a prioritized event handler can handle any logic or motion sequence, which can be controlled for position, velocity, or torque mode.

Automation Intelligence

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What’s Keeping CPGs from Remote Access?

Planning to expand remote access technology use in response to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic is one thing; overcoming the long-standing barriers of resistance to this technology is another.

Label-less Bottle a Cinch to Recycle

Alkaline-purified water from premium vodka producer Toast uses a screen-printed bottle to convey elegance, and more importantly, to enable easy recycling.

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Trends in Adoption of Remote Access

In a just-released report from PMMI Business Intelligence, 29% of CPG respondents said they do not allow any remote access in their facilities.

4-part shipper keeps fragile microtissues in plates upright.

Cells Remain Upright in Floating Spherical Shipper

Fragile 3D microtissues for drug development and testing must remain upright in transit. This sphere-on-water system takes cues from boats while keeping products in temperature range.

‘Nature’s Fingerprints’ Provide Inspiration for Wine Packaging

Cans for a new line of wine from Odell Brewing Co. feature organic patterns that reflect nature’s own self-organizing biological systems.

Shown here is one of four case packers that receive bags (lower left) and then discharge finished cases (lower right) into a spiral conveyor takeaway.

Two-phase Upgrade at Ferrara Candy

After four scale/bagger systems produced welcome results on primary packaging efficiency, some impressively versatile and compact case packers were added to the mix.

Five Considerations for Preventing Product Damage Prior to Launch

Preparing your package for its journey to the end consumer involves many considerations.

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Manufacturing and New Automation Technologies - What is Around the Bend?

Predictive analytics, digital twinning, and augmented and virtual reality technologies are all finding uses in manufacturing operations – from line installation and maintenance to process training.

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Reusable Packaging for Food and Beverage: 6 Innovation Trends to Watch

Reusable packaging has long been integral to the food and beverage sector – and will continue to be as the latter industry makes its way to a digitized, automated, and more sustainable future.

E-Shaped Carton Calls Out Environmentally Friendly Position

Simple and direct, new packaging in the shape of an 'E' for E-Cloth reusable microfiber cleaning cloths cuts through the clutter of cleaning products, offering a chemically-free way to clean.

Burgess Davis, Vice President, Global Sustainable Plastics, PepsiCo

PepsiCo Partners to Prevent Ocean Plastics in Thailand

Burgess Davis, VP, Global Sustainable Plastics at PepsiCo, shares how The PepsiCo Foundation has joined TerraCycle to dramatically reduce the volume of marine debris and plastic waste found in the world’s waterways.

What do PFAS Actions Tell us About State Regulatory Officials?

Last month we looked at some recent FDA action against perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, aka PFAS, some of which are used in grease-resistant coatings in paper and paperboard. Turns out, there’s a fair amount of state-level action as well.

The new line from Seventh Generation includes powders as well as tablets.

Plastic-free Packaging for Homecare Line

Kelly Murosky, Senior Packaging Engineer at Seventh Generation, the Burlington, Vt.-based firm that sells eco-friendly cleaning, paper, and personal care products, talks about the packaging for the new Zero Plastic Homecare line.

Horizon’s Tillson says the versatile Criterion CL-240 cartoner was enhanced with safety features, which allow its blind employees to successfully operate the machinery.

Custom Cartoner Helps Employ the Blind

As a non-profit with a mission to create jobs, automation can be a tricky proposition. But with a custom machine optimized to be easily used by legally blind operators, Horizon Industries struck a positive balance between labor and automation.

Digital shopping services are here to stay, Daymon notes. Therefore, it advises private brands and retailers to be on the forefront of e-commerce.

Five Keys to Private-Brand Success in the ‘New Normal’

White paper explains those consumer behavior shifts that have occurred due to COVID-19 and advises ways private brands and retailers can address these fundamental changes moving forward.

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When Will AI be Common in Manufacturing?

Companies want to rely less on skilled labor and more on AI and machine intelligence, but currently only 1% of all manufacturers are utilizing this technology in their operations.

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Industry Snapshot: Organic and Natural Products

The natural and organic industry is expected to grow 9.5% in 2020, to $252 billion. Supplements and plant-based proteins are two fast-growing categories.

New Package Ideas for the E-Commerce Space

Join Jim Chrzan, PMMI Media Groups' VP of Content, as he discusses disruptive e-commerce packaging ideas from around the globe at ISTA's Omni-Channel Packaging Strategies Webinar.

Richard Harrison (l.), partner and CEO, and Andrew Cawthray Chairman and joint CEO, Cawingredients

New Canning Line for Contract Filler Fuels Future Business

U.K. beverage co-packer Cawingredients installs canning line that achieves 99.9% performance and offers flexibility for a variety of can formats and secondary packaging.

Quest developed a flexible robotic system to load meat and poultry into an Ossid ReeForm E40 thermoformer.

Robotics Special Report: Food-Safe Solutions Emerge

New opportunities for the direct and indirect handling of foods emerge as manufacturers begin developing robots for handling unpacked goods.

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Workers Wanted? Contact the Robot Employment Agency

Start-up MusashiAI introduces intelligent autonomous robots for quality inspection and forklift driving—allowing the redistribution of human labor to more value-added jobs.

The T5 pick-and-place delta robot from Gerhard Schubert GmbH features a fifth axis that allows for high performance in small spaces.

Special Report: Robots Drive the Manufacturing Revolution

New innovations in robotics for the packaging industry enable greater flexibility, efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness for those CPGs looking to automate a range of applications.

Pearson’s dual-cell solution is able to handle four palletizing lines dedicated to the customer’s new case style, along with two additional lines, when needed

Robotics Special Report: Cobot-Placed Top Sheets Protect Frozen Foods

The installation of 12 robotic palletizers for frozen food products necessitates the addition of two cobot cap-sheet placers to keep the cases free from dust.

The new, light-blue easy-grip container is made of recyclable polypropylene with a wraparound in-mold label and a space-efficient tapered cube design.

Swiss Miss is First in Cocoa with Recyclable Tub

The new, recyclable package uses a tapered, space-efficient cube design that reduces the package’s carbon footprint by 98 metric tons each year versus the previous round canister.

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Robotics Solutions Future Looks Bright

The demand for cobots will continue to grow, and robotics will expand outside of end-of-line applications, according to a new report by PMMI Business Intelligence.

New web-based PMMI Media Group event will bring the packaging and processing industry together, virtually.

Register Now for First of Its Kind PACK EXPO Connects

The new web-based PMMI Media Group event will bring the packaging and processing industry together, virtually Nov. 9-13.

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Bold, Appetizing Packaging for New Tyson Product in Europe

The new range of 28 products for foodservice uses strong black branding for the Speciality tier and ‘confident’ red for the Core, along with mouth-watering photography and a clear window to the product.

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Pharma Packaging Innovations

New webinar covers several unique packaging innovations to overcome challenges such as child resistance/senior friendly, on-the-go convenience, anti-counterfeiting and improved packaging functionality.

Photo 1 – Caption: With an audience of over 570 attendees from all over Latin America, Carlos Velasco shared several ideas regarding the vision he has developed through his more than ten years of research in the experiences and multisensory packaging fields.

Packaging for the senses

A journey through the senses and new opportunities facing consumers brought by packaging innovation, creating better experiences. This was the theme of our latest webinar of the second EXPO PACK Mexico and Mundo PMMI series, conducted by Carlos Velasco.

Updated Laughing Cow Conveys the Joy of Snacking

Iconic red laughing cow takes center stage in new packaging graphics for the cheese wedge product, positioning the brand as a fun and spontaneous snack.

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IIoT Blind Spots: Where are They and Do You Have Them?

A crucial component of automation advancement, yet one that is lacking at most manufacturers, is the deployment of IIoT connectivity across an entire enterprise, including key areas such as receiving, warehousing, and shipping.

Dropps Partners with Oceana to Protect World’s Oceans

Pioneering detergent pod company with eco-responsible formulas joins with international organization to educate consumers on the environmental impacts of their packaging choices.