Design Notes
Siemens “drives” snack food maker to higher production Edited by Mike Santora • Managing Editor
A major U.S. producer of snack foods, with locations worldwide, faced a problem at their plant in Arkansas. As an integral part of their process, the production line features bowl feeders, vibratory conveyors, and stainless steel, washable components. The vibratory conveyor, which is 55- long, moves cooked chips om the yer to the packaging area. Due to its age and degraded original equipment, it could no longer run the line at maximum production, with equent downtime and excess vibration that caused the chips to fall off the conveyor. Rather than make a major capital investment to change the entire line, the company looked for a cost-effective retrofit solution to their problem. Due to its existing relationship with 42
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The sensor used to look at product level in the vibrating tray. Drive amplitude is adjusted based on level to prevent damage and save power.
this customer, SE Packaging Systems helped them find the right solution. Located in Acworth, Georgia, SE Packaging Systems is both an equipment OEM and retrofit/upgrade provider, who has been operating since 2003 in the automated packaging sector. Since 2015, they’ve partnered with Comek, an Italian producer of weighing, wrapping, and packaging systems. Plants built by the company are used in the food and non-food consumer goods industries. On behalf of Comek, SE Packaging Systems provides on-site assistance for lines already installed in the U.S., including repairs or upgrades, supply of new equipment, and optimized integration in existing processes. The company is owned DESIGN WORLD
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