Fiberglass manufacture line automation20150326_075829

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

 

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