Innovative Product Info
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New slider-bed belt scale for light-to-medium-duty loads
 A new slider-bed belt scale from the Siemens Industry Automation Division measures light-to-medium-duty loads. The Milltronics Weighdeck 600, with IP67 degree of protection, is suitable for flat belt conveyors transporting dry products as well for Intralox style belts conveying wet products. As a system, including an integrator and a speed sensor, daily production totals can be tallied. The areas of application range from food and beverages through pharmaceuticals to the tobacco industry.
The Milltronics WD600 belt scale offers many features including ease of installation and corrosion resistant components that are robust, virtually maintenance-free and are especially suitable for aggressive environments and the hygienic processing of foodstuffs. The belt support bed is made of Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) polyethelene and the scale is either available with nickel-plated alloy steel or hermetically sealed stainless steel load cells. Fitted with load cells of different size, the WD600 is suitable for universal use for applications from very low to medium loads.
A speed sensor and, alternatively, a BW100 or BW500 integrator or a Siwarex FTC module, expand the WD600 scale to form a weighing system. This can be used, for example, to determine the flowrate or the current belt load and speed or to calculate the daily production total with a totalization accuracy of 0.5% -1.0%. Accuracy is maintained even with severe off-center belt loading due to electronic load cell balancing. The WD600 can also be used to control feed rates. For this purpose it is combined with a variable frequency drive for varying the belt speed accordingly.
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Automation solutions for reliable and validatable packaging
 At Interpack 2008, for the first time Siemens Drive Technologies will be exhibiting concepts and e-pedigree solutions for an electronic pedigree in the packaging process. Automatic identification of all packaging components and process assurance with Machine Vision ensures the uninterrupted traceability that is required above all in the pharmaceutical industry.
Pharmaceutical products and products from the food, beverage and tobacco industry in particular are subject to ever stricter safety requirements. Among other things these include full proof of manufacture, which presupposes automatic identification of all packaging elements and detailed and retraceable monitoring of the packaging process. The relevant laws and regulations mean that it is essential for packaging systems to be integrated into track-and-trace systems.
At this year's Interpack, Siemens is exhibiting a consistent, integrated portfolio that embraces RFID, Data Matrix code reading systems and Machine Vision concepts. The solutions therefore also meet the latest requirements for e-pedigrees. An e-pedigree, or electronic pedigree, provides evidence for the movement of a product through the supply chain and can be produced on the basis of RFID or Data Matrix code. The e-pedigree thus ensures end-to-end protection for the product, especially against adulteration or tampering. From January 2009, for example, California will require an e-pedigree at unit level for all pharmaceuticals distributed in the state. In addition, all companies involved in the pharmaceutical supply chain must update these pedigrees on every change of ownership. To meet these requirements, Siemens provides solutions for the recognition of barcodes or Data Matrix codes, but also offers the possibility of the direct interpretation of text and graphics on a printed label with Machine Vision technologies as well as solutions on an RFID basis.
Depending on the target market, the product code can be applied to the packaging with a Data Matrix code and an RFID tag. A combination of both techniques also makes production more flexible. With RFID, logistics processes and distribution in production benefit from the high-speed bulk reading of all information relating to a delivery. On the one hand the results of process monitoring are used directly for controlling the plant, via auto ID, while on the other they provide the input for product tracing. Process monitoring, track and trace and the automation of packaging go hand in hand.
At the trade fair Siemens is exhibiting its entire integrated portfolio, which includes RFID and Data Matrix code reading systems, Machine Vision and manufacturing execution systems, and also supports modular machine concepts. With distributed synchronous operation, the Simotion Motion Control System establishes the synchronous relationships between machine modules that are automated on a distributed basis. Also when dealing with alarm logging, operating mode management, general emergency-off functionality and other standard functions, the system can coordinate and utilize the intelligence distributed across the packaging line. In addition this includes software libraries for the automation of entire packaging lines, including the handling processes. Consisting of standardized and simple-to-adapt Motion Control solutions, these Siemens OPL (Optimized Packaging Line) libraries also conform to the regulations of 21 CFR part 11. Standards such as OMAC (Open Modular Architecture Controls Users target="_blank" Group) and Profinet ensure the harmonization of interfaces and machine operation. They cover all the necessary machine functions, ranging from communication and operation through to validated shift registers. The latter function is available for the Simotion control system and as a library. This means that the assignment of a single product to its record of production- and quality-related data for the e-pedigree is also reliably maintained even in the event of a fault or if a power failure affects the entire packaging line.
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Consistent automation solutions for packaging lines
 At Interpack 2008, Siemens Drive Technologies is exhibiting integrated drive and automation concepts with standardized communication solutions for packaging machines and packaging lines. For handling modules, Siemens is presenting the path interpolation integrated in the Simotion Motion Control System in conjunction with the Simatic Visionscape machine vision system. As well as this, concepts such as the Optimized Packaging Line (OPL) for the integrated automation of packaging lines will also be on show.
Shortening the time to market, reducing the engineering outlay and uninterrupted traceability of products in the packaging process: these are what both machine manufacturers and machine users in the packaging industry demand of an innovative automation system. At Interpack 2008 in Düsseldorf, Siemens is exhibiting concepts and innovative solutions for automation systems on the basis of the Simotion motion control system. These solutions make it easier to integrate packaging machines into the line and reduce the amount of computing power required internally.
The simulation of entire machines and production sequences considerably shortens the prototype phase for the machine manufacturer and thus reduces the time to market maturity. Through the use of services such as Mechatronic Support from Siemens Drive Technologies, the drive system of a machine, for example, can be optimized much earlier, in the design phase. Comprehensive simulation tools also serve to simplify commissioning, and can be used for operator training. The solutions comply with the requirements of OMAC (Open Modular Architecture Controls Users target="_blank" Group) or the Weihenstephan standards. As a result they simplify line integration and the exchange of data between the machines. For users of packaging machines in particular, consistent, integrated communication together with linking to MES solutions on the basis of Simatic IT present the opportunity to reduce lifecycle costs for their machines and raise cost effectiveness. The link to MES solutions also helps to satisfy requirements relating to product tracing and product management such as those imposed by the pharmaceutical industry.
The Optimized Packaging Line (OPL) concept supports the end-to-end automation of packaging machines and lines. This reduces the time to market while at the same time lowering the cost of engineering and commissioning. For the integration of handling modules into advanced production and packaging machines, Siemens is exhibiting the “path interpolation” technology object at Interpack 2008, a software solution that is integrated into the Simotion control system and which renders the cyclical calculation of cam disks superfluous, thus increasing the performance capability of machines. This software solution replaces the complex calculation of the cam disk function in the motion control system that has been required up to now and yields higher levels of productivity, especially when used for machines with a high degree of automation and short cycle times.
As a rule, the various products passing through the packaging process arrive in the handling module unsorted. Machine Vision systems are used to determine the position of the individual products on the infeed section. Simatic Visionscape from Siemens is an image processing system that can easily be combined with the Simotion controller via Ethernet. The vision system sends telegrams with the data of the identified products to the Simotion and at the same time makes the data available to the user program.
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