Siemens’ process control tech sought by pack firm Aylward
Aylward hopes the engineering solutions provided by Siemens will improve the efficiency of tablet analysis and counting which, the North Carolina firm claims, will have a significant impact on its customers’ manufacturing costs.
Siemens’ TM17 Sinamics I/O drive module, which will be at the core of the new system, will be combined with its Simotion P350 controller, 1FK7 servo motor and gearboxes in a design intended to improve throughput and accuracy.
Aylward CEO Dana Waterman said that: “[Siemens will] provide us with a scalable solution over the same software platform from our smallest blister feed equipment to our new ACT 9000, filling eighteen bottles per index.
"In addition to scalability, Siemens will enhance our tablet integrity inspection down to the mirco-second with vastly reduced controls cost. In the end this will provide our customers with a lower cost of ownership."
While still at early stage Aylward is confident about the success of the project and plans to broaden the scope of its collaboration with Siemens and specifically the use of its process management technology.
The firm said it will “phase Siemens’ control products into much of its standard equipment in the future because of its capabilities in motion control and reduced costs over competitors along with superior global support.”
Siemens’ partner CCA will provide on-site training and engineering support during programming, start-up and factory acceptance testing throughout the life-cycle of the ACT 9000.
As competition in the manufacturing market reaches boiling point technologies that enable contract manufacturing organisations (CMO) to reduce their costs and consequently the amount they charge clients are sure to attract attention.
