A special HERMA labelling system with a self-adjusting camera system ensures the extremely precise positioning of lid labels for tobacco products from the world-renowned company.
Placing round labels exactly in the centre of round can lids at high speeds is a challenging task. Especially when the edge trimming of the labels is not always completely correct. However, Swedish Match was not prepared to compromise on this point. The Swedish company specialises in the manufacture of tobacco products and matches.
An important part of the product portfolio is snus, a moist tobacco powder for oral use that is popular in Norway and Sweden - this is packaged in small portion sachets in tins for sale.
Swedish Match places high demands on the inline labelling of these cans and in particular on the precise positioning of the round labels on the round can lids. For this task, labelling specialist HERMA has developed a particularly precise solution that is specially tailored to the requirements of Swedish Match.
Fast and highly accurate
„We wanted to take over the labelling of the can lids ourselves instead of leaving this task to our suppliers in order to achieve more flexibility in our processes“
Mattias Wermé, Manager Process Development at Swedish Match„Once we had selected the right plastic containers for our various production lines, the requirements for the labelling systems became clear. The particular challenges we faced included the required labelling speed and precision. HERMA was already known to us as a supplier and demonstrated in a test how our requirements could best be met.“
Mattias Wermé, Manager Process Development at Swedish Match
The choice fell on Obenauf labelling machines - the type 452E S was customised by HERMA especially for this application.
Swedish Match now successfully operates 13 of these systems in its production facilities in Sweden: seven at the Gothenburg site and six at the Kungälv site. They are customised to the available space in the production line and are equipped with different types of protection depending on their location.
In most cases, they label the lids attached to the cans, in a few cases only the very flat lids - here a special light barrier and adapted side belts ensure that these very flat objects are correctly detected and labelled.
The tins are either around 20 mm high and have a diameter of 66 mm. Or they are 24 mm high and have a diameter of 70 mm. One of the lid formats has a raised edge of approx. 2 mm - this also needs to be taken into account when labelling. In total, one Labelling speed of 175 products per minute achieved.
Reliable operation with minimal input
The labelling machine HERMA 452E S has many sophisticated features, including a special Self-adjusting camera system, which checks the presence and position of the labels. This keeps the labelling tolerance to a very low level of ±0.7 mm.
Even a label edge trim that is not 100% correct, as occasionally occurs, can be compensated for along two axes by positioning the cans - by adjusting the lateral conveyor belts using a Festo linear unit and by changing the start delay.
Once the label has been applied, the products are inspected by a Cognex vision system that detects the position of the label. Missing, misplaced or incorrect labels are registered and bad products are ejected into an ejection chute using a blast of compressed air - a control sensor prevents them from leaving the system. The label position data collected is used to adjust the next products.
A height adjustment with servo drive automatically adjusts the height of the labeller to the product format. Alternatively, operators can also make settings on the HMI - however, only minimal operator input is required overall, resulting in long running times. A sensor monitors the product outfeed for jams and, if necessary, stops the infeed conveyor until the fault has been rectified.
In addition, a servo motor automatically moves the labeller up and down, making it easy to change label rolls. An innovative vacuum waste system is used to remove and dispose of backing paper - any waste is shredded immediately.
Good timing
„HERMA made it possible for us to realise this project within a tight time frame“
Mattias Wermé, Manager Process Development at Swedish Match„We also had to comply with new packaging guidelines for tobacco products sold in Norway: ‚Plain packaging‘ became mandatory there on 01 July 2018. In order to comply with these regulations, we had to rearrange the installation and commissioning of some labelling machines - HERMA also provided us with active support here.“
Mattias Wermé, Manager Process Development at Swedish Match
„The decisive factor here was not only the cooperation with Swedish Match, but also the good collaboration between our sites. The machines were built in Haverhill (UK), and there was always a close dialogue with our headquarters in Filderstadt.“
Christoph Ziegler, labelling machine sales at HERMA
Conclusion:
Wermé describes his experience to date with the new labelling systems from HERMA as „consistently positive - we have fully achieved our goals.“ Martin Kühl, Head of HERMA's Labelling Machines division, adds: „This application is an example of how a special machine in slightly modified versions can solve even highly complex requirements in several production lines.“
Source: HERMA
