Game-changing sensors

When Körber Technologies uses the phrase game changer to refer to the HAUNI Protos-M5e, it bases its conviction on its roughly 370 built-in quality and process sensors. Although many cigarette and filter manufacturers focus closely on the performance of quality sensors used to measure their products’ weight, diameter or visual characteristics on a daily basis, they often ignore crucial process sensors. Inside the HAUNI Protos-M5e, more than 300 different sensors ensure precise measurement and control of speeds, pressures and temperatures.

“We put a great deal of effort into selecting and integrating the right process sensors into our systems,” affirms Kristin Fock, Product Manager Körber Technologies GmbH. “They form the basis for continuous improvement in machine performance. If we had previously promised an efficiency of 85 percent for our machines and were able to increase it to 95 percent with the second generation of Protos, this is very much thanks to the sensor technology. The same applies to reducing the overall amount of waste to one percent.”

Data for optimum operation

Precise data from the inside of equipment is required to find the ideal machine settings (centre lines) to optimise a production process and continous improvement: How much pressure is applied to the draw rollers to feed the paper correctly? What kind of vibrations does the fan have? Does it need servicing shortly? Is the cover closed and can the machine start safely? What temperature does the format heater need to be, firstly, to close the rod seam safely and, secondly, to prevent a burned seam? Manufacturers require precise information from inside their machines to answer such questions. This information also forms the basis for developing successful concepts for continuous improvement. And that’s not all: smart digital sensors generate “vital parameters” that make predictive maintenance possible.

Sensors required for successful automation

Kristin Fock is sure that state-of-the-art Körber Technologies sensors will continue to gain importance in the future: “Every step towards a factory of exellence is based on the capture, comparison and control of individual process data and the interaction between different sensor systems.”