Electricity and Control May 2021

CONTROL SYSTEMS + AUTOMATION : PRODUCTS + SERVICES

Faster production changeovers in pharmaceuticals

Emerson has launched a range of two-way and three- way solenoid valves that support original equipment manufacturers’ (OEMs) need to develop more compact machines and equipment without compromising on fluid control. The optimised body design and internal flow path of the new ASCO™ Series 256/356 provide a smaller footprint as well as reduced power consumption and increased pressure ratings, key benefits in industrial and commercial applications. Instrotech, specialist in instrumentation and process control, represents SIKO locally, a company that designs and manufactures components to increase the efficiency and production quality of machines. These include intelligent sensors and positioning systems – for machine manufacturers and end users in the pharmaceutical industry. The manufacture of pharmaceutical products requires a particularly high degree of efficiency and safety. Production plants need to be flexible and it is important they allow for the quick and error-free changeover of machines. SIKO’smonitored position indicators and fully automated positioning drives make format changes in pharmaceutical processes significantly faster, with 100% process reliability and using digital protocols. This enables optimisation of production as well as delivering cost efficiency and traceability. The systems also offer the advantage that they can be retrofitted to existing machinery. Monitored format adjustment On a cartoning machine, for example, the process of constructing and filling packaging units needs to be carried out quickly. Time losses resulting from long change- over processes are counter-productive. Failures during changeover also result in a high scrap rate, particularly because of the high cycle rate in this manufacturing process. Bus-capable position indicators monitor manual adjustment and report errors visually and via bus communication. The risk of a production start with an Solenoid valves for more compact machine design

incorrect format setting is therefore excluded. Status LEDs and direction indicators allow for fast and precise setup. SIKO offers a range of solutions to optimise pharmaceutical production. Automated format adjustment Compact actuators replace manual adjustment and enable format change practically at the touch of a button, quickly and safely. Folding boxes depends on the packaging size and material quality. The respective adjustment axes need to be changed safely and quickly. The actuators move to the new axis positions at the touch of a button. The next packaging size is implemented automatically and is 100% process-reliable. Labelling and marking With the implementation of serialisation and ‘track & trace’, the requirements for labelling and inspection have increased significantly. Even with format adjustments, these must be ensured every time the product is changed so the labelling is also correctly aligned for the next repackaging. Otherwise, the subsequent test device can no longer Achieving comparative pressure ratings in a smaller valve typically results in increased power consumption, but the Series 256/356 reduces energy use by as much as 40%. This enables OEMs to apply a smaller valve while matching or improving on the fluid control performance of the previous version and gain significant energy savings. The pressure rating of some versions of the redesigned Series 256/356 has increased by up to 30% compared to the previous versions, so they can be used in more demanding applications, such as high-pressure washers and hydrogen fuel dispensers. The performance of the dc voltage version is now similar to that of the ac voltage version, enabling overall system costs to be reduced by eliminating the need to convert to ac power to maximise solenoid valve performance. “Emerson has engineered the Series 256/356 from the ground up, creating a range of solenoid valves that sets a new benchmark in fluid control technology by decreasing overall footprint and power consumption while also increasing pressure ratings,” said Erik VanLaningham, and air conditioning, pumps and compressors, and other equipment and devices.

The ASCO™ Series 256/356 offers a smaller footprint, reduced power consumption and higher pressure ratings.

The reduced overall footprint of the Series 256/356 helps OEMs optimise the internal layout of equipment, allowing for high-performance

fluid control options to be integrated into a smaller and sleeker final prod- uct. This is impor- tant for manufactur-

ers of coffee machines and other beverage dispensers, for exam- ple, as well as for heating, ventilation

10 Electricity + Control MAY 2021