PFFC - January 2008 - (Page 40) WEB HANDLING But as presses become more complex, suppliers continually are striving to take the “science” out of the operators’ hands. Ultimately, however, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t control it,” he says. “We’re not saying that you’re going to replace the art,” adds Ephraim. “The art is when you’re running a product and the operator says, ‘This is perfect; it looks perfect; it feels perfect.’ The science we apply is repeating that again and again. The art is developing the product; the science is repeating it. I’ve been in installations where you see an immediate impact on quality when they’ve gone from a manual system to an automated system.” One of Hardy’s most recent developments is designed to monitor vibration, a chief cause of registration issues. The Hardy Vibration Switch is a low-cost, selfcontained monitoring system that can be mounted to any location on rotating or reciprocating equipment, and it sets off an alarm or shuts down the machine if excessive vibration levels are reached. BST Promark, a manufacturer of video inspection equipment and web process controls, has developed the ekr500 series of controllers that use push buttons for fast and direct access to the controls, reducing startup and handling. The operator can monitor the status of the guiding system instantaneously as the controller provides data on critical system elements, including sensor coverage, actuator position, gain, and guiding set point. With the ekr500 as a foundation, BST has engineered a series of three “compact guides” that fit onto a wide range of machines with minimal effort. Edge or center guiding is done via single or dual infrared or ultrasonic sensors, depending on the application. Roll Quality Overlooked uSupplier Infot u FMS USA| www.fms-technology.com PFFC-ASAP 307 u North American Mfg. Co./Guiding Systems | www.namfg.com PFFC-ASAP 308 u Parkinson Technologies | www.parkinsontechnologies.com PFFC-ASAP 309 u Hardy Instruments Inc. | www.hardyinstruments.com PFFC-ASAP 310 u BST Promark | www.bstpromark.com PFFC-ASAP 311 u Maxcess Intl. | www.maxcessintl.com PFFC-ASAP 312 u Process Inc. | www.processinc.net PFFC-ASAP 313 Del Carlson, project manager for Process Inc., a project management firm, says that while it may seem obvious, converters should pay particular attention to the types of materials that run on their presses, since web tension can be affected as much by the quality of the roll as by the Web tension can be equipment it’s running on. As with meat, the center cuts of a roll of film may be affected as much the most expensive, but they deliver the most consistent quality and can improve by the tension control throughout the run. Odd lots are a definite no-no for anything but as by of the the simplest job. “The very best material you can buy the obviously does not come at the cheapest price point, but if you want the best film, it’s running on. you have to buy the center cuts,” says Carlson. “That’s where you’ll find the —Del Carlson, most consistent tension across the face of the material. The majority of the [conProcess Inc. verters] in the US try to buy at the best price. They don’t know where it’s cut from, and they certainly don’t spend the “Web guides remain an often overlooked time to find out what the tension is.” but essential ingredient of an efficient and Haste Without Waste productive machine,” says BST general manager John Thome. “Web guides being In the future, as automation plays an even bigger role in all areas of web haninstalled today are more operator-friendly dling, Paul Smith says that computerizaand easier to use than ever, and they protion—particularly the use of BUS systems vide real-time data to the operator on the to better monitor all aspects of a running status of the guiding system.” machine—will improve an operator’s abilAndy Wissenback, a district manager ity to get real-time data and make instant for Maxcess Intl., says companies in his adjustments that allow the equipment not Southern California territory are “really only to run faster but with even less waste. looking at eliminating people” and conseUsing the Ethernet, says Smith, converters quently investing more in equipment and can “move one step closer to the mythical upgrades that will enhance productivity. Improvements in ancillary equipment such ‘lights out factory’ where a manager can sit at his desk and see what every part of as brakes, knifeholders, and tension controls are critical, particularly when modify- the machine is doing. But the industry still has some work to do in developing ing a press to handle different substrates. an industry standard that will allow the Recent introductions include the allelectronic e-Knifeholder from Tidland that system to function seamlessly. “Communication will be better, there self-calibrates to optimize blade geometry during setup, blade overlap, and side-force; will be less wires involved, and there will be a ‘series-ability’ about it,” says Smith. the TruWide sensor from Fife that allows “Ultimately, [the operator] will be able operators to run multiple webs and a varito see if the load cell on roller number ety of materials without setup changes or sensor repositioning; and the MAGPOWR two on machine five is running odd, so maybe we should check the bearing on Smart Brake, which indicates common problems, like brake wear and overheating, the roller. It’s the ideal scenario.” And perhaps the ultimate in efficient before they affect product quality. web handling. “Good companies will always invest in new equipment,” says Wissenback. Contributing editor Edward Boyle, based in “They know there’s payback in doing Reading, PA, has covered the converting that, but other people won’t do that, industry for more than 23 years. Contact and those people aren’t going to be here forever. If you don’t invest in equipment him at EJB Communications; 610-6704680; ejbcomm@aol.com. now, it’s going to be done overseas.” quality roll equipment 40 | JANUARY 2008 WWW.PFFC-ONLINE.COM http://www.fms-technology.com http://www.namfg.com http://www.parkinsontechnologies.com http://www.hardyinstruments.com http://www.bstpromark.com http://www.maxcessintl.com http://www.processinc.net http://WWW.PFFC-ONLINE.COM
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