News Center

English Translation

Digital packaging machinery not only offers greater output and enhanced equipment flexibility, but also incorporates many new features, such as remote maintenance, integration with corporate ERP systems, and evaluation of production data.

Only a few years ago, no one would have anticipated the rapid pace at which packaging machinery would move towards digitalization. As the pace of electronification accelerated, there was a time when the control cabinet needed to be enlarged. However, the substantial reduction in the number of cables required for bus systems, coupled with the emergence of decentralized computers, meant that enlarging the control cabinet was no longer necessary. Today, stand-alone control cabinets are no longer essential in the packaging industry, and digital packaging machines occupy significantly less space than their earlier mechanical or electromechanical counterparts.

Automation Brings Changes to Packaging

The automation era in the packaging industry began approximately 20 years ago, when fully mechanical equipment was equipped with a programmable logic controller (PLC) to control logic functions and mechanical drive shafts for power transmission. However, the flexibility of this first generation of automation equipment was not entirely satisfactory. The shortening life cycles of consumer products—particularly food—and the trend towards product diversification fueled a growing demand for greater equipment flexibility. In the second generation of automation equipment developed later, an increasing number of functions were transferred from mechanical drive shafts to electronic drive systems, while logic functions continued to be controlled by PLC systems.

Control and drive technologies have proven to be key technologies in the field of packaging machinery structure. Today, fully electronic third-generation machines offer all the advantages of servo technology while establishing new industry standards. Digital packaging machinery not only delivers higher output and greater flexibility, but also incorporates many new features, such as remote maintenance, integration with corporate ERP systems, and production data evaluation.

The logic functions formerly performed by PLCs are losing their significance, while electronic motion functions now predominate. As requirements for equipment flexibility increase, the number of servo motors also grows. This means that, due to the use of different programming languages and systems, physical and logical interfaces are no longer necessary. Since the mid-1990s, certain companies have been leading the trend in the packaging machinery sector towards integrated motion control and logic control solutions.

Top-loading devices are gaining increasing popularity in carton packaging. Flexible top-loading cartoners offer greater flexibility than horizontal machines. Robot arms can be equipped with various vacuum grippers to accommodate a wide range of products. This solution is also highly effective for combination packaging—for example, in the pharmaceutical sector, blister packs, ampoules, vials, package inserts, and dosing spoons can all be packaged using top-loading equipment. In the confectionery sector, top-loading devices are used to place chocolates of various shapes into trays. The operational flexibility of top-loading equipment is also effective for larger packages. The machine requires only minor adjustments to accommodate different container shapes, meaning that new product types can meet future requirements.