This content was written and submitted by the supplier. It has only been modified to comply with this publication’s space and style.
The SP2-NG is the first machine in the trendsetting ́Green Machine ́ product line
The SP2-NG is setting standards in another area as well. “The SP2-NG is the first machine where we have implemented our ‘Green Machine’ concept as part of our sustainability program,” explains Stefano De Maria, Business Development Manager at ACMA. “We have made it our goal to sell machines that require less energy and use energy in a more transparent way. Based on the robust logic that you can manage resources only if you can measure their use. Assuming you can optimize only what you can control, we have implemented the new SP2-NG system in such a way that you can actually see during operation itself how much energy the machine is using. Customers can perform real energy management from an absolute view and for each product being packaged. As far as I am aware, no other machine available on the market today offers this capability.”
To achieve this ambitious goal, ACMA collaborated with Schneider Electric, its automation partner for the machine. The automation solution used in the SP2-NG is based upon PacDrive technology. A PacDrive controller combining PLC, motion control, and IT functionalities in a single hardware platform using a fully integrated IEC 61131-3-compliant program to generate all of the machine functions, while simultaneously synchronizing up to 15 servo axes, depending on design.
Some of the servo axes are based upon a traditional design, in which servo drives are mounted within the control cabinet. To improve flexibility, the machine also incorporates integrated iSH-series servo modules. These iSH modules, which are networked in flexible topologies with only a single hybrid cable each, share a central power supply in the control cabinet. This permits a more compact control cabinet layout, and also allows the creation of different machine variants with enhanced functionalities, without the need to rewire the control cabinet.
ACMA is relying on Schneider Electric technology not only for their automation solutions, but also for a number of other components. For example, the equipment uses an Altivar® frequency converters, Preventa® machine safety technology and Magelis® Human Machine Interface (HMI) touchpanels.
