Fiberglass manufacture line automation
Applied Manufacturing Technologies was engaged on a project to upgrade an existing Rockwell Automation Allen-Bradley PLC-5 to ControlLogix platform and implement a new product tracking system utilizing carrier barcode and product packing label generation in handshake with an ERP system. In addition, a sophisticated lift assist with product weight capability was implemented as a prototype study for future data analytics of fiber production to ERP. The product in this application is a composite fiberglass roll which is a raw material for many end products. At the time, AMT had already implemented packaging robotic cells in the final shipping line area for this customer. This project was the upgrade/retrofit and to establish a fail safe process for manual product packaging operator lines.
- PLC upgrade challenge - minimize downtime, weigh product, apply labels, and more
- Product tracking challenge - increase reliability
- Existing overhead material handling conveyors - reprogram to avoid potential crashes and incorrectly packed orders
- Lift assist challenge - future automation opportunity