Discover your next big idea at PACK EXPO Las Vegas this September
Experience a breakthrough in packaging & processing and transform your business with solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries.
REGISTER NOW & SAVE

Simulate a machine before you build it

A brief detour at the recent interpack show in Dusseldorf, Germany, led me to the Virtual Packaging Engineering Forum, presented by MSC.Software Corp., a global provider of virtual product development (VPD) products including simulation software and services.

Pw 11605 Ma Photo

The forum included presentations by packaging machinery OEMs Kosme Group, KHS Kisters, and Sapal SA. All have used VPE in their machine-building businesses.

What is VPE? Essentially it’s a means of simulating, via software and computers, the impact of loads and stresses on mechanical systems and components without having to physically build those systems and components. Shown here is an illustration of how Kosme, for instance, was able to simulate the behavior of a lift cylinder on a rinser/filler/capper without having to build it first. Other portions of the Kosme presentation, delivered by Kosme technical director Stefano Grassi, showed similar virtual diagrams of cold glue labeling stations, pressure-sensitive labeling stations, pump sprayer sortation tooling, and more.

Among the benefits Kosme has gained from VPE, said Grassi, are these:

• Project development time can be shortened from six months to five by not having to build a physical prototype.

• Kosme engineers have gained a better understanding of already installed systems.

• Kosme engineers gain a better understanding of the physics of the machines they build.

For more on VPE, visit www.mscsoftware.com.

Researched List: Engineering Services Firms
Looking for engineering services? Our curated list features 100+ companies specializing in civil, process, structural, and electrical engineering. Many also offer construction, design, and architecture services. Download to access company names, markets served, key services, contact information, and more!
Download Now
Researched List: Engineering Services Firms
Annual Outlook Report: Sustainability
The road ahead for CPGs in 2025 and beyond—<i>Packaging World</i> editors review key findings from a survey of 88 brand owners, CPG, and FMCG readers.
Download Now
Annual Outlook Report: Sustainability