Retrofit Package Sealing Systems for Improved Efficiency, Quality
When the seal on a food package is imperfect, a couple of things can happen. Neither is good for your business. Is now a good time to think about upgrading outdated equipment?
Sealing is one of the most critical operations in any packaging line because the quality of the end product depends on it. It also has a profound influence on efficiency and productivity, since it comes near the end of the line after many other processes, including forming and filling, have already taken place. When a package is rejected for an imperfect seal, the entire product is lost.
Nevertheless, many manufacturers in the packaging industry are using outdated equipment, whether it is a heat-sealing system or older ultrasonic welders. These systems are often equipped with analog controls systems hardwired to PLCs. This equipment has significant inadequacies, including the fact that setup parameters and machine-health and productivity information can only be controlled, monitored and managed locally using site-based personnel. There is no way to directly communicate manufacturing or control information or to monitor or adjust equipment performance except on the plant floor. Intra- and inter-plant networking is difficult or, more likely, impossible.