IDM ¦ Packaging
Piab / CAMA Group
Automatic high-speed handling of cheese slice pouches
of different formats
With the use of piGRIP suction cups, certified
for food contact, and COAX vacuum generators,
both Piab products, CAMA Group
has created a cutting-edge packaging system
that allows to handle 280 pouches of
cheese slices per minute.
In a complete line for the packaging of cheese slice pouches,
precisely on the loading machine, CAMA Group has installed
grippers made of plastic material using Piab’s piGRIP
FDA approved suction cups together with COAX vacuum generators,
Piab's highly efficient vacuum ejector.
The process is characterized by a very high number of
pouch formats to be managed: ten product formats and about
fifteen box formats, with many possible combinations. Leading
up to more than 100 formats in total. In case of multiple
formats (box plus pouches) weights of up to 1 kg can compile.
The first requirement was to minimize the replacement of
the grippers resulting from format changes. CAMA Group has
thereby developed two types of grippers, with which the company
is able to handle all formats of cheese slices: one with 2
and one with 3 gripping units. Each unit consists of 4 suction
cups and 4 vacuum generators and grips one pouch of cheese
slices at a time.
Another critical parameter of the process is the high speed
with the consequent risk of damaging the flow packs, resulting
in the possible creation of undesired wrinkles on the product.
FDA-compliance
“We were looking for FDA-compliant suction cups – which
not all suppliers are able to deliver – that would allow us
to handle different formats, at high process speeds, without
damaging the products,” explains Massimo Monguzzi,
CAMA’s R&D Manager, responsible for the project. “With
Piab we went straight to the point. We carried out feasibility
tests with the help of the Italian branch’s technicians and
we developed a gripping solution that is characterized by a
great flexibility. Since each suction cup is coupled with a single
vacuum generator, we can choose to operate only some
of the four suction cups of each gripper. All this results in
important savings in the consumption of compressed air and
electricity. Before choosing Piab’s vacuum generators, we
also tested some types of vacuum blowers. This technology
failed because vacuum blowers have a response time that is
too long, difficult in regulating vacuum and finally can lead
to damages to the products, with consequent high production
waste. We therefore focused on Piab’s COAX technology,
which allows the vacuum generator to be installed close
to the gripping point, solving all our problems. With regards
to the suction cups, we opted for the use of four suction
cups and decided to deploy Piab's piGRIP, with a diameter of
34 mm, at every location of the gripper. The reason is that
this solution offers a solid grip, but leaves no marks on the
pouches, and hence turned out to be the optimal solution
for our process.”
Piab’s vacuum generation technology COAX minimizes energy
consumption, while offering a secure and fast grip. (photo: Piab)
16 · March/April 2021 ¦ international-dairy.com
/international-dairy.com
