Solutions for Packaging Automation OEMs

What if you could design your HMI solution to be more dynamic, easier to use and more in sync with your customer’s operations? FactoryTalk® Optix™ is a new way of approaching HMIs, prioritizing flexibility and openness to give operators easy access to critical information and the ability to act quickly using data. This modular, cloud-based and platform-independent HMI platform can transform your design workflows to be more productive and help you to deliver visualization that maximizes machine value. See how with FactoryTalk Optix you can:

• Design and test HMI projects directly from a web browser via the cloud, or if you prefer, use desktop installable design software.
• Build projects faster with pre-built libraries and a comprehensive set of graphical objects, including industry standard objects and Rockwell Automation standard libraries, organized with logical library folders. Quickly find and filter objects with library search tools.
• Create your application once and deploy to any device. An all-object-oriented graphical design means all objects are in containers with a defined relative position to the edges, ensuring automatic object repositioning upon screen size and ratio changes.

Your customers are looking for ways to increase capacity while improving their ability adapt their production to changes in demand. Our independent cart technology portfolio enables you to overcome the restrictions of traditional conveyance and provide machines that deliver more speed and flexibility than ever before. Each system seamlessly integrates into your machine control system and is comprised of modular building blocks that allow you to create solutions that are tailored to your exact packaging machine needs. 

• Eliminate bottlenecks and boost overall productivity with high-speed, high-density movement up to 5 m/s.
• Improve the profitability of short runs with flexible motion solutions that can simply and rapidly changeover at push of a button.
• Deliver more value with systems that use solid-state propulsion for longer lasting and more reliable designs.
• Maintain product quality with software-defined motion control and automatic zero-pressure conveyance.

Tired of spending time mapping data and aligning robot and machine behavior? Wish you didn’t have to wait for your skilled robot programmers to become available to keep your project moving? With a unified robot control solution you can break free from these issues and move into a new, simpler design process. Unified robot control removes the need for a dedicated robot controller and software, instead using a Logix controller and Kinetix® drives to directly control a robot arm. The Logix controller hosts the robot kinematics and the full program is made in the Studio 5000® environment to direct all robot movement and provide a single environment for complete control of your packaging solution. With unified robot control you can:

• Launch systems faster by designing, validating and commissioning using the Studio 5000 environment as the hub for all system control.
• Streamline workflows and create more supportable machines by leveraging skilled teams who are already proficient with the Studio 5000 environment.
• Simply machine designs and reduce their overall footprint by removing dedicated robot controllers.
• More easily exchange data and better synchronize robots and surrounding devices such as independent cart technology.

With our On-Machine™ portfolio you can revolutionize your next packaging machine design using the power of decentralized motion control. Using a decentralized control architecture, you can move away from using large, central enclosures to house all electrical components, and instead field mount your devices in locations that are more convenient for users and better optimized for your applications. Decentralized designs can also use far fewer components – meaning you can reduce your next bill of materials while upgrading your machine performance.

• Reduce machine cabling / terminations up to 90%
• Lower installation costs by an average of 30%
• Advance sustainability goals by using fewer components and improving energy efficiency
• Provide higher productivity per square foot by reducing or eliminating electrical enclosures
• Scale up and stay flexible with more modular designs that can be easily expanded or adjusted 

With any design change comes a level of risk. Typically, controls testing can only start once the machine is physically built and product can be run through the machine. This can lead to surprises, errors and costly redesigns or remanufacturing. Packaging automation OEMs can lower risk and improve startup reliability by virtually commissioning designs in a digital environment to diagnose and remedy late-stage issues before components are ordered. Using our digital design software solutions, it is possible to:

• Reduce design time and costs by shifting important controls programming tasks earlier in the project.
• Lower risk by using virtual commissioning to diagnose and fix issues earlier than ever.
• Make data-driven decisions by simulating system performance in a digital environment.
• Test and validate different production scenarios of online systems before going live.

Packaging automation OEMs have traditionally relied on deploying on-site personnel to provide support or used methods such as standalone dial-up access without using a firewall. These paths can be inefficient, costly and come with exposure to inherent security risks. Using FactoryTalk® Remote Access™, even your farthest machines are easily with reach, and you can apply the right skills and resources at the right time, independent of their physical location.

• Improve your support capabilities by connecting the right expert to the system in need from anywhere in the world.
• Skip the travel expenses, wait times and long-term commitments of having staff on-site for support. 
• Address today's data requirements while being poised to take on emerging applications, like remote support in an augmented or virtual reality (AR/VR) environment.
• Access your solutions quickly while meeting end user cybersecurity requirements.