Tecnopails, the filling system division of the recently renamed IM GROUP (formerly Inkmaker Group), has introduced the world’s first automated system for attaching latch closures, in time for the end of year festive period.
Tecnopails, which was acquired by IM GROUP at the beginning of last year and specializes in the design and production of automated systems for filling, sealing and labeling of ink, paint and chemical containers, produced the innovative machines for a well-known European multinational company, which specializes in sInnovative and sustainable packaging solutions.
Known as “Lavelli A21” (after its creator Luigi Lavelli), the twin machines conceived in unison with Tecnopails’ customer, were specifically designed to produce the ultimate packaging solution and effectively minimize the actions of any operator to that of simply placing a lid. with latch, over a container. The operation of packing the stacked lids, which is currently the only action left for an operator to handle, has also been pre-engineered to fully integrate into the existing system using IoT and Industry 4.0 technology.
“The main reasons why we are the first to develop this machine can be attributed to our forty years of experience in the industry, along with IM GROUP’s significant investment in R&D and Industry 4.0 automation; the intelligent technology used allowed us to design these machines to interact with the customer’s management system, as well as to pre-design them for future integration and automation of potentially many more process phases, within an Industry 4.0 context,” explained Antonio Riggio, Operations Manager, Tecnopails, “We are very proud of this achievement, first of all because these machines are the first of their kind in the world, but also because they have produced another example of Italian quality engineering at its best”.
The system uses two stations, where operators can load lids and latches in a completely safe environment, even while the machine is in motion. The machine then automatically assembles the lid and latch, matches them and then stacks them evenly. The intelligent system is programmed to automatically detect the orientation in which any handle has been positioned, eliminating the need for the latches to be stored in precise order by the operator. In addition, each machine comes equipped with a user-friendly touch screen for easy graphical interface with the operator.
“We are very proud of this achievement, of Tecnopails, which has contributed significantly to ensuring that IM GROUP maintains its position as a pioneer of Industry 4.0 innovations,” said Christophe Rizzo, CEO EMEA / AMERICAS, IM GROUP.
For more information, please contact Raffaele Ragni at sales@tecnopails.it / tel: +39011984 00 44
