Precision Engineering fills up on advanced automation 29 November 2013

Machine builder Precision Engineering, which manufactures the Dico container servo-capping and Gravfil liquid filling machines, is reporting success with its use of Siemens automation technology for its latest machine variants.

Rick Aitchison, sales manager for Dico and Gravfil, says that a central requirement was full traceability on every container capped, meaning that the tightening process had to be monitored, measured and data acquired for analysis.

"This would provide full traceability on all product from manufacture to point of sale and beyond, providing peace of mind that all caps had been applied to the correct tightening specification," explains Aitchison.

Siemens automation technology fulfilled that requirement, also linking into the capping machine's vision system, which checks cap condition prior to application, and its integrated coding system, which marks serial numbers on every container.

For every cap tightened, the machine PC now records the acquired tightening data, automatically generating a time-stamped graph. Siemens' technology – in this case a combination of safety functionality, drives and remote diagnostic – also handles the reject management.

"Thanks to Siemens, we can remotely support our customer, if issues arise with the machine, without the need to send engineers across the world following installation," comments Aitchison.

"Using Siemens allows us to offer our customers the latest technology solutions and we have been delighted with the results."

Brian Tinham

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