Cama Group and B&R have joined forces to create the MTL Monoblock Top Loading system.
This flexible, ergonomic, and modular loading machine, suitable for coffee capsules, features transparent guards for maximum visibility and optimal hygiene.
“This is a very interesting and complex solution,” says Cama Sales Group Director, Alessandro Rocca. “It makes use of augmented reality to access maintenance, changeover and spare parts, which can be ordered directly via a tablet, also enabling predictive maintenance. As a result, this solution requires less human intervention, thereby reducing the potential for human error.”
Rocca adds that the modular unit solution saves time, cuts changeover time from 30 to 12 minutes, and results in greater attention to customer needs.
One of the challenges in designing the MTL Monoblock Top Loading system, was creating a unit that could serve three or more upstream feeds for similar products with different synchronisations, and manage buffers automatically.
Another challenge was the distance products have to travel – up to 14 metres. In this sense, Wlady Martino, B&R Global Industry Manager, Packaging says high throughput, speed and dynamics become really important.
“We proposed AcopoStrak in this case for a number of reasons. It is an extremely high-performance magnetic shuttle solution,” Martino says.
Each shuttle can reach a speed of four metres per second, and an acceleration of 50 metres per square second. The modular system also encourages machine scalability.
To help achieve customer objectives, B&R used simulation to optimise the layout, number of shuttles, and the work cycle. Customer changes can be made before the hardware is available.
The result is a Monoblock Top Loading system with increased productivity and a reduced footprint. The solution enables users to decouple process stations, optimise flow of products, cycle times, and processing times, and simplify the control panel. As such, it makes commissioning and maintenance quicker and easier, and is suited for a target market with diverse skills and potentially high staff turnover.
Founded in 1981, Cama is a leading manufacturer of advanced secondary packaging machines and turnkey line solutions with integrated robotics for food and non-food sectors.
Cama Group currently has six subsidiaries worldwide and invests 5 per cent of its annual turnover in technology.
B&R has been producing technologies and solutions for machine and factory automation since 1979. It is responsible for machine automation within the robotics and discrete automation business area at ABB, offering a full portfolio of robotics, automation and software.
In merging the companies trajectories and specialisms, a reciprocal partnership has formed, enabling both to profit from their combined expertise in machines, processes and products.
“Finding the right partners is no mean feat because you need to share the same values and objectives,” says Cama CEO Daniele Bellante, “Sustainability is our watchword at Cama. Not so much in terms of environmental sustainability as we don’t produce any polluting emissions and we’re not energy-intensive, but rather sustainability in terms of durability.”
Cama offers added value by perpetuating shared values over time, which requires a strong focus on people.
“This is the only way to consolidate market leadership. It is people who make the difference, and all partnerships are established with people,” Bellante says.
Cama Vice President Annalisa Bellante agrees, adding that the co-creation process is made possible by combining a variety of skills.
“We have always tried to stay one step ahead, with a large research and development team of young people. We have a holistic view of work, which enables us to be innovative in terms of our products, with a focus on the environment (we engineer increasingly sustainable packaging) and welfare policies,” Bellante says.
“We form relationships with our suppliers based on ethics and we care about corporate social responsibility, investing in society, seeing a return in the local area. Corporate governance involves taking global action and keeping a local focus, with an emphasis on gender equality. This is our way of working and it provides the framework against which we choose our partners.”
Cama customer Edgewell will exhibit the new awarding-winning solution at the upcoming packaging trade show, Pack Expo, in Chicago.
For more information, visit www.camagroup.com and www.br-automation.com
