In a development for the packaging machinery industry, Span Tech has unveiled the Mini MicroSpan Transfer, a machine designed to address a common challenge faced by manufacturers: smooth product transfer between conveyors and machines. This system holds promise for easing product manipulation and space constraints for various industries, with a focus on pharmaceuticals, bottling, brewing, and canning, says application engineer Jake Halvorson.
Compact Automation
The Mini MicroSpan Transfer offers a compact yet effective solution. Span Tech has found success with its existing MicroSpan Transfer system, and with the introduction of the Mini MicroSpan Transfer, manufacturers with limited space can automate transfers and boost efficiency.
Research and development engineer Carlos Sierra adds that there is a variable angle capability to the Mini MicroSpan Transfer for both “infeed” and “outfeed” applications and that the Mini MicroSpan Transfer uses the same easy lift-out design as its bigger cousin (MicroSpan Transfer). The nose bar is made from the same aircraft-grade aluminum as the MicroSpan Transfer. Since it is sprocket powered, it requires no tracking mechanism.
In pharmaceutical production, precision and careful handling are paramount, making the seamless transfer of bottles between conveyors and machines a critical requirement. The Mini MicroSpan Transfer safely handles delicate pharmaceutical products, ensuring they move effortlessly from one stage of production to the next.
Beyond pharmaceuticals, this new transfer system offers value to a range of industries, including bottling, brewing, and canning. In these sectors, products often vary in size and shape, making reliable conveyor-to-conveyor transfers challenging. The Mini MicroSpan Transfer provides a dependable and space-saving solution, allowing for smoother production processes and improved efficiency.
Sierra noted that the Mini MicroSpan Transfer is directly powered (currently to the prototype design) by a Brushless IP65 DC Motor.
The system is still in development but is gaining interest both in North America with local customers and on a global scale. Its ability to alleviate the challenges of product manipulation and space constraints has piqued the interest of manufacturers across different sectors.
