ATLANTA, GA ‚– Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. (NYSE:SI) and Jacobs Automation, LLC announced today they have agreed to jointly develop a PROFINET interface for Jacobs Automation‚’s PackTrak‚â„¢ linear drive system. The new interface will allow PackTrak‚â„¢ to be fully integrated within Siemens‚’ SimotionTM control platform. The companies plan to demonstrate the integrated system at PackExpo 2008 in Chicago. First shipments are planned for the first quarter of 2009.
Through working together on this linear motion technology, Siemens and Jacobs Automation aim to dramatically increase machine productivity and flexibility for the global packaging and converting industries. PackTrak is a flexible linear drive system with straight and curved modules that allow customers to form unique
motion paths. Based on an advanced linear motor design, PackTrak‚’s revolutionary technology reduces changeover times from hours to minutes to help customers potentially save millions of dollars per year.
By replacing belts and chains with a linear drive system, the spacing of moving carriages mounted on tracks can be independently controlled. Additionally, variable pitch capability can be applied to a wide variety of re-circulating processes to facilitate faster changeovers and higher speeds. PackTrak is one of the newer ‚“green‚†technologies that reduce the waste of packaging materials, such as paperboard or plastic that can occur during lengthy changeovers. It also improves the energy efficiency of production machines by eliminating chains, belts and gears that waste energy and consume petroleum-based lubricants.
Siemens‚’ Simotion is a programmable machine controller that enables machine builders to control motion, drives and process elements (i.e. temp control, logic and safety) within a single platform. The use of Simotion as the motion
controller for the PackTrak system facilitates the integration of PackTrak technology into packaging and converting machines.
Siemens
www.sea.siemens.com
Jacobs Automation
www.jacobsautomation.com
::Design World::
Filed Under: Factory automation, Packaging, HMIs • operator interfaces • monitors
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