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The future of machine programming is FAST

ABG reduced design time and costs with Application Templates that lead to software modules so modular in nature that they are effectively autonomous programs in their own right.

Slitter/rewinder. Mechanical flexibility and precise tension control are among the key benefits AB Graphic International values in its slitter/rewinder for label production.
Slitter/rewinder. Mechanical flexibility and precise tension control are among the key benefits AB Graphic International values in its slitter/rewinder for label production.

A B Graphic International is a global manufacturer of label converting and finishing equipment. This includes inspection rewind equipment and turret rewinding systems as well as machines for many specialist applications, including RFID tag insertion, laser die cutting, booklet label machines, and 100% camera inspection systems.

Based in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, England but with facilities in Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and the U.S, the firm has set a new standard with the latest generation of their machines. At the same time, by using FAST Application Software from Lenze, the company has significantly sped up the software design of its machines. This results in faster delivery times and lower engineering costs, which not only provide the company with an edge over the competition but, thanks to an integrated standardization process, now forms the backbone of ABG’s machine programming.

β€œWe always use the latest technology available,” says Mark Norman, Controls Manager at ABG. He adds that Lenze’s 9300 servo drives have been in use for more than 13 years. With that being the case, why not embrace Lenze’s latest products to speed up machine development?

β€œThe label printing industry is rapidly changing due to the digital revolution,” says Norman. β€œProduction runs get smaller with a growing demand for custom, localized labelling. Digital printing machines are replacing conventional flexographic presses, and there is a growing need for PC-based systems. But our customers also expect improved winding quality, faster changeover times, and more reliability. This means that we look to servo technology and software to help us out. And although I realize that full servo is something of a buzzword, in our case it offers unrivalled mechanical flexibility and precise tension control. We are therefore replacing more and more mechanical systems with the latest i700 servo inverter from Lenze. And to help us out with software development, we recently adopted their Application Template and FAST function blocks.”

Job Definition Format
The initial impetus at ABG for taking a good look at machine design and developing a new generation of label converting systems based on the latest technology available was a specific request from the printing industry: to be β€œJDF compatible.”

β€œIn the printing industry,” explains Norman, β€œJDF is used to describe the entire job content. For instance a JDF message can hold prepress parameters, label size, slit width, slit quality, and roll size. This is all information that we can use to automatically set up our machines without operator intervention, and it enables our customers to run smaller batches with faster changeover times.”

For ABG’s rewinding machines to be able to read JDF files, a PC-based approach was required so that Ethernet and access to a central server would be possible. These needs were met by Lenze’s VisiWinNET visualization software platform, which includes, in addition to SCADA, server/client technology. But why stop improving there when greater gains can be achieved?

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