The evolution of the design capabilities of the Goito-based company includes two new machine vision systems guaranteeing performance, less
production waste and top quality finished products. The preview during Makro’s participation in the sector’s most important exhibitions.
FACHPACK
24-26 Sep 2019 (Nuremberg, Germany) Hall 3, Stand 3-517
CIBUSTEC 22-25 Oct 2019 (Parma, Italy) Pav 03, Stand B014
GULFOOD MANUFACTURING
29-31 Oct 2019 (Dubai – UAE) Hall 6, Stand E6-28
BRAUBEVIALE
12-14 Nov 2019 (Nuremberg – Germany) Hall 8, Booth 8-422
SIMEI
19-22 Nov 2019 (Milan – Italy) Pav 13, Stand B02-C09
While on one hand, faster bottling lines ensure production schedules can be met, on the other, they make it very difficult – if not impossible – for the line
operator to accurately check every individual bottle. Only automatic
quality control and bottle orientation systems can guarantee the precise characteristics of each finished product, preventing defective bottles from reaching the market.
This is no news to Makro Labelling, one of the leading industrial labeller manufacturers, always committed to taking account of, or anticipating, the market’s requests, developing products, systems and patents able to guarantee performance, lower costs, less production waste and top quality packaging. The choice for advanced technological skills, production process rationalisation and the ability to anticipate the evolution of the market, Makro Labelling is preparing to present its latest developments at the benchmark exhibitions for the beverage, food and packaging world, with participation at FachPack in Nuremberg, at CibusTech in Parma, Gulfood Manufacturing in Dubai together with the PackPact network, BrauBeviale in Nuremberg and finally Simei in Milan.
“The machine vision system is the natural follow-through to the labelling process, as the procedure does not end when the label has been applied. It is necessary to check that the right label has been attached, positioned correctly and smoothed without defects. We at Makro Labelling therefore decided to create an in-house Vision Department and to invest heavily in developing two new vision systems: A.L.I.C.E. and M.A.I.A. We have recently launched them onto the market and they will guarantee perfect and complete integration with the machine automation and a flexible, intuitive, practical response to companies who know they need automatic systems”, says Simone Marcantoni, head of the Automation Department.
Fruit of about 10,000 hours of software development, the two systems integrate with the labelling machines and are also simple to manage for the line operator who can thus exploit the system to the full. Inhouse development and production of the two systems allows our customers to interface with a single producer, able to guarantee rapid and direct technical assistance and above all to satisfy the market’s diverse packaging needs, once again confirming the concept of flexibility. which has been a hallmark of Makro Labelling since the begining.
A.L.I.C.E. – Advanced Label Inspection and Control Environment
A.L.I.C.E. is a quality control system able to assess the horizontal and vertical position and angle of the label, together with its alignment with respect to a reference point, whether the logo on the glass, a capsule
or another level. The system also checks the label is correct and the overlap of a wraparound label and can read barcodes, a data matrix or characters, or simply check for the level presence.
M.A.I.A. – Makro Advanced In-line Analysis
M.A.I.A. on the other hand is Makro Labelling’s bottle orientation system. Line Scan Camera technology employing line scan cameras (also mounted on Makro Labelling’s patented Follower system) able to take thousands of linear photographs (1×2048 pixels) which, pasted one after the other, produce a single image representing the full length of the bottle. When subsequently analysed, this indicates the position of the reference point to be used by the plate control system to position the bottle correctly and receive the first label in the right position.
“A vision system must not be complex, otherwise the operator will not be able to use it easily, in practice limiting its use. We have seen production lines where the system has been turned off or bypassed because the operator is not able to manage it and so decides to do without its assistance. Or the intervention of highly trained but costly engineers is required in order to produce and obtain reliable checks. One of the reasons behind the success of Makro Labelling’s machines and systems is precisely our ability to offer functional solutions which, although complex, are available to operators simply and intuitively, giving them hitherto unthinkable possibilities and flexibility.
A.L.I.C.E. and M.A.I.A. have once again been designed and oriented towards simplicity and user-friendliness, so the operator can master them completely, quickly and simply,” says Simone Marcantoni.
Massimo Manzotti, President and Sales Director of Makro Labelling comments: “FachPack, CibusTech, Gulfood Manufacturing, BrauBeviale and Simei are the most important events in the constantly evolving world of packaging and an important shop window to present our new technology, together with our new concept of innovation. From all five, we expect not only to increase our business by exploiting new opportunities, but also to confirm our brand, already well established on both the national and international markets, where we are present with numerous installations.
www.makrolabelling.it