“Since we introduced ACOPOStrak in 2017, there has been a significant evolution from a solution that was essentially a prototype.” Wlady Martino begins by saying: “Today the installed range reaches many kilometers with an incredible potential for its application possibilities. Many manufacturers have expressed interest in our system such as Cama, a forward-thinking company that has understood how to respond to the complex needs of an important customer by using the magnetic shuttle technique in their MTL monoblock”.
What are advantages that ACOPOStrak provides for a packaging machine?
“I will start by saying that the flexibility of the entire system has increased thanks to the features of the magnetic shuttles, which allow the machine to quickly adapt to new market demands. In this case, Cama has created a compact, versatile, high-productivity, multi-format machine that can be upgraded with new additional processing stations as needed. This was very important for the customer because it helped reduce the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) thanks to the ability of the system created to adapt to the products that the customer must produce today and will have to produce tomorrow,” explains Wlady Martino.
“The fact that a machine with ACOPOStrak has a smaller footprint than a machine with traditional technology is another factor that contributes to its higher productivity.
In production machines with traditional transport systems, the slowest station determines the output of the machine, so it is necessary to double the lines and also double the number of all the stations to increase productivity. Choosing ACOPOStrak enables you to improve your overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), machine return on investment (ROI), and time to market (TTM).”
Format changeover when batches are small
It is essential to have the possibility of a rapid format changeover in order to meet market demands for increasingly smaller and more diversified batches, as seen in many sectors. “Customization of items is an extremely significant consideration. We are talking about a new production trend in which production systems must be extremely flexible to satisfy the needs of the end consumer”. Wlady Martino continues to say: “customers in the personal care sector have experienced a significant change and have been satisfied thanks to the versatility of the lines. Let’s imagine a now real case, that is, receiving orders for batches of 4,000-5,000 pieces to be processed on lines that have a capacity of 6,000 products per hour. If just to make a format change it takes an hour, the work will no longer be sufficiently profitable, and you will have to rely on external suppliers”.
Co-Creation: synergy for great results
“Cama has extensive knowledge of manufacturing processes, B&R in ACOPOStrak. The combined expertise and simulation tools enabled the creation of an innovative system and its implementation within the allocated budget. The synergy between Cama and B&R was remarkable and the results on the MTL are evident. This is what we call Co-Creation. Cama’s R&D division can combine a variety of expertise, from robotics to automation, depending on the customer’s needs. As a result, our Co-Creation was born to respond to complex needs by working together and creating added value.”
The scalability of a project and its potential yet to be explored
“The MTL monoblock design satisfied the customer for performance and considered the scalability of the system, allowing the possibility of a subsequent upgrade when this will be necessary. It is strategically important to have systems that meet the demands of an extremely variable market.
When ACOPOStrak was launched, we knew that it had a certain potential, but that much depended on the capabilities of the manufacturers. There’s still plenty of space for creating new apps.
Currently, magnetic shuttles are mainly used in primary and secondary packaging, in the assembly of medical devices, in pharmaceuticals and in battery assembly; but also, in sectors such as home and personal care, pharmaceuticals for machine marking, food for packaging customization and the beverage industry for special applications”.
How much weight can an ACOPOStrak shuttle carry?
“Having to give a nominal value we indicate 2 kg but the real limit is linked to the dynamics of the system. Although you can combine multiple shuttles without thinking about the nominal transportable weight, I must consider that it is a very powerful device with great acceleration that can reach 5g (50 m/s2) and that using it at maximum would damage the product. The applications can move weights up to 10 kg with an incredible development potential both in terms of application type and in its versatility”.
