There are many other examples where servo drives are benefiting the operation and control of packaging machines:
• End-of-line machinery needs to be increasingly versatile to cope with ever-changing packaging; therefore, case erecting, loading, and sealing operations are being automated.
• The trend in volumetric filling is to upgrade filling speeds using smaller-sized machines. This is being achieved by using servo drives.
• Servo-adjusted liquid fillers will speed up changeovers. Additionally, servo-operated pistons will ease cleaning.
• Carton-erecting machines have been slower to move to servo controls. However, being able to cope with varying carton sizes is seen as a key advantage, so clearly the benefits of servos mean their conversion is likely to grow.
• Pressure-sensitive labeling has been a major growth area, with most labeling machinery manufacturers preferring a servo drive to the more traditional brake/clutch solutions. Manufacturers of sleeving machines are following closely behind.
• Wrapping machines tend to use servos at the higher quality end of the market, but as competition in the servo market forces prices down they are becoming increasingly relevant to general purpose, lower-cost wrapping machines.
See the story that goes with this sidebar: Basics of servos
