PPMA show 2012

The PPMA show, taking place 25-27 September at the NEC in Birmingham, UK, is the UK's largest showcase for processing and packaging machinery.

Alrad

Alrad (www.alrad.co.uk) will showcase a number of products at the event, including the ISVI cameras. ISVI specialises in cutting-edge camera technology, featuring very high resolution and high speed cameras for automation, high speed inspection, such as PCB and wafer inspection.

Alrad will show the mvBlueFOX from Matrix Vision, a compact industrial CCD and CMOS camera solution for any PC with USB ports. An excellent image quality makes it suited for most applications. Matrix Vision’s mvBlueLYNX-X will also be displayed. The CPU core is based on ARM technology with up to 1GHz target clock and image processing acceleration by DSP co-processor for parallel handling of multiple pixels. The system is ideally suited for the classical areas of machine vision; the large processing power and high-end display and graphics capability make it perfect for many other application areas.

Products also on display from Alrad include the e2v DiViiNA, a high performance line scan camera; 2 and 4 Megapixel CMOS cameras from Sentech; the XBAR high power LED light line from TPL Vision, which is ideal for use with line scan and area scan cameras in machine vision applications; and Coherent’s Lasiris range of structured light lasers, including the SNF laser offering structured light patterns.

Multipix Imaging

Multipix Imaging (www.multipix.com), which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, will demonstrate new vision technologies including Cmosis high speed imaging cameras and all-in-one smart sensors ideal for packaging and production inspection.

The company will feature Halcon 11 imaging software including powerful identification tools using classification matching algorithms. Hi-Brite Smart lighting solutions with built-in controller to adjust the intensity will also be on display.

Omron

Automation expert Omron (www.industrial.omron.co.uk) is showcasing integrated automation solutions that provide the packaging industry with flexible, efficient and cost-effective ways of addressing the ever-increasing competitive and regulatory pressures it faces. Central themes include solutions for product handling, data integration and 100 per cent product inspection.

Included on the stand will be a demonstration of the recently launched Delta robot system, controlled by the Sysmac NJ machine automation controller. The NJ controller uses EtherCAT as its machine network, with servo drives, inverters, I/O, safety and vision systems all residing on the same network, reducing complexity, increasing response speed and simplifying programming for the user.

Also on show will be an example of Omron’s Scara robot series, highlighting simple conveyor tracking with integrated vision capabilities. Omron now offers complete automation solutions from a single supplier to machine builders in the packaging sector.

Omron will also show its latest vision systems and sensors, and is giving particular attention to automated checking of human-readable text and barcodes. Omron can offer both OEM component solutions and full turnkey packages designed to provide 100 per cent inspection and eliminate non-conformant products entering the supply chain.

Sick UK

New sensing solutions launched by Sick UK (www.sick.com) will be displayed at the show. Sick has developed the MultiLine sensor to ensure a stable and continuous detection signal from the leading to the trailing edge of a product, even when surfaces are glossy, flat or contoured.

The MultiLine’s twin light-beam technology detects low-profile, uneven or glossy product surfaces for example, vacuum foil coffee packs, wrapped chocolate bars or soup sachets. The sensor’s design reduces the risk of machine downtime by eliminating false signals, leading to improved productivity.

Also on display will be Sick’s W27-3 MultiPac, a single-unit optical sensor which operates without the need for reflectors. It promises to improve handling efficiency and productivity in operations where highly efficient checking and control is required, for example detecting PET-foil six packs or shrink-wrapped transparent bottles or pallets.

Visitors to the Sick stand are being offered a free Inspector vision sensor, or a free first annual support contract for any new Sick Inspector SystemsPlus installation and support package initiated at the show.

Sick’s expert commercial goods team will be on the stand to demonstrate solutions for packaging quality control using the Inspector for code and cap detection and the JEF 1D and 2D laser measurement device for box complete verification.

Sick’s advanced labelling technology solutions will also be showcased, including the slim WFS fork sensor for detecting label presence, the KT3 for compact and precise mark detection and the ML20 markless sensor which eliminates the need for a registration mark to be printed on packaging.

As a leading provider of machine safety, Sick will also be demonstrating a full range of safety solutions including its M4000 safety light curtains and the S300 mini safety laser scanner.

Stemmer Imaging

Stemmer Imaging (www.stemmer-imaging.co.uk) will be showing a comprehensive range of vision systems. System capabilities will cover applications as diverse as 3D measurement of product volume to optimise packing and reduce packaging waste, product and packaging inspection, and code and label reading and verification.

Many of the demonstrations will feature cameras from Stemmer Imaging’s extensive portfolio of smart cameras. These will include the Boa, Boa Pro and Boa IDR cameras from Teledyne Dalsa and the Gocator 3D camera from LMI Technologies. With on-board image processing, these cameras need no additional PC.

The entry level Boa smart camera is supplied complete with iNspect Express, a comprehensive set of click and apply inspection, measurement and positioning tools to satisfy a wide range of industrial inspection tasks, while the Boa Pro has the powerful Sherlock software on board for even greater flexibility. Boa applications include a wide range of product and packaging inspections for product quality and packaging integrity.

Although Boa and Boa Pro feature 1D and 2D code reading and verification capabilities, the Boa IDR is a dedicated code-reading version of Boa, which allows manufacturers to combine 1D and 2D tracking with other inspection tasks, such as character reading (OCR) and feature verification, to ensure all product markings are correct when they leave the factory floor.

The ability of the Gocator 3D to measure product volume and other 3D components such as surface flatness and groove measurements open up a host of new inspection applications. Product volume measurements allow the contents of cartons and containers to be optimised to avoid wasting valuable space. Groove measurement can be used wherever grooves are essential to a product’s performance such as plastic container lids. Surface flatness measurement is ideal for web applications such as paper or plastic film production.