Motion Control Advances Move Packaging Machinery Toward Industry 4.0
To enable lot-size-1 production, optimize changeovers, footprint and precision in packaging machines with leading-edge servo drive and software solutions.
Industry 4.0. The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Lot size 1. It is difficult to talk about automation today, particularly in the packaging industry, without someone throwing around these terms. In practical terms, packaging machine builders and CPG manufacturers continue to look for new ways to enable greater customization while increasing throughput. However, many of these conversations often turn into a laundry list of buzzwords and “what ifs.” And ultimately, the discussions typically do not go beyond connectivity concerns.
While these are important, a regularly overlooked yet critical aspect of Industry 4.0 is drive technology. After all, production, packaging, palletizing and so on all depend on a great deal of motion control in the real world. New motion technologies enable faster changeovers, smaller machine footprints, high-precision torque control for capping and smoother continuous motion. Combined with greater communication and data acquisition capabilities, rotary motors, linear motors and drives complete the overall infrastructure needed to make Industry 4.0 concepts a reality.