No theory beats a carefully executed practical test. For the gluing machine specialist Baumer hhs, the plant of the Düren-based folding carton manufacturer WestRock is an ideal test environment for its new cold glue valves and monitoring sensors.
The three-shift operation of WestRock in Kreuzau-Stockheim specialises in the production of high-quality paper and cardboard packaging for confectionery. The first prototypes of the new PX 1000 cold glue valve and the new GDX 1000 cold glue monitoring sensor were installed at the plant at the end of 2020.
"Baumer hhs asked us in the autumn whether we would like to test a new cold glue valve in one of our folder gluers, which was developed especially for the production of complex packaging at high speeds„, says Giuliano Terracciano, Head of Processing and Manager of the Gluing Department.
Even after the first test runs in the equipped folder gluer the machine operators were convinced by the new technology. „The PX 1000 applies the adhesive precisely and delicately. It utilises this advantage for packaging products with small flaps and at high machine speeds,“ says Terracciano, explaining the changes brought about by the new valve.
In the production of folding telescope cartons with long-side gluing for chocolates, for example, the PX 1000 applies the glue lines precisely from the defined start to the specified end points. The device works also works perfectly and reliably when it has to switch relatively rarely, as is the case, for example, in the manufacture of folding bottom boxes.
At the same time as the PX 1000, the folding carton gluing machine also the prototype of the new GDX 1000 cold glue monitoring sensor installed. With its high resolution and its measuring principle based on the latest electronics, it guarantees a high level of accuracy even at high machine speeds. Reliable control of the adhesive application.
„Above all, the GDX 1000 has significantly simplified the monitoring of adhesive-free areas,“ emphasises Terracciano. In edge areas, machine operators no longer need to define blind areas when setting up quality control. In teach-in mode, the high-performance sensor recognises these independently - during operation and on printed adhesive flaps.
The new Xtend3-control units in turn provide machine and Process data from the adhesive application is available, which can be used for further optimisation of this production step. The new PX 1000 cold glue valve and the new GDX 1000 cold glue monitoring sensor are now in operation at WestRock in two of the five folder-gluers at this WestRock plant. Three of the machines were supplied by Xtend2 on Xtend3 converted.
Source: Baumer hhs
