Cerulean, a leading food manufacturing company, has recently launched an upgraded version of its popular FPS-1 tube packer. The new FPS120s tube packer is designed to meet the increasing demand for energy-efficient solutions and cost reduction in the industry.
In collaboration with its long-standing automation partner, Festo, Cerulean identified areas where cost savings could be achieved during the tube packing process. By optimizing the design and performance of the FPS120s, they were able to achieve energy efficiency improvements of over 90%, resulting in a saving of 4.5 million litres of compressed air per year.
The FPS120s tube packing machine is specifically designed for hygienic packing at high speeds of up to 120 tubes per minute. Equipped with the latest control and display technology, it offers a user-friendly experience with a color touch screen. This touch screen allows users to easily control setup, packing options, and store settings in a library for quick changeover and future use. Additionally, it supports multiple languages and can be configured according to operator preferences. Changing tube or carton size is a breeze, taking less than 15 minutes, making the FPS120s highly adaptable to the flexible requirements of modern tube making facilities.
In order to achieve significant improvements in total cost of ownership (TCO), Festo and Cerulean conducted a comprehensive review from component selection to running costs at designated outputs. Festo’s Pneumatic Simulation Tool proved to be invaluable in this regard. It allowed users to input various application parameters and provided the most efficient options for pneumatic cylinders, flow controls, valves, and settings based on energy consumption.
To refine the system design, Festo’s Pneumatic Sizing Tool was utilized. This online tool addressed factors such as positioning time and CO2 emissions. By using these assessment tools, Cerulean was able to achieve immediate savings by using standard products from Festo’s core range. These included VUVG-LK valves, DSNU cylinders, and the MS Air Prep. Furthermore, efficiency savings were achieved by reducing tube lengths and diameters, which decreased dead volumes and cycle times.
Through an energy efficiency survey conducted by Festo, it was confirmed that the FPS120s tube packer offered significant TCO improvements compared to the original FPS-1 model. The new machine demonstrated a 48% improvement in maximum air consumption and an impressive 92% improvement in average air consumption. This translates to a calculated saving of 4.5 million litres of compressed air per year based on continuous operation.
Shaun Toms, portfolio manager at Cerulean, emphasized the importance of continuous improvement and innovation in today’s competitive marketplace. He acknowledged Festo’s automation expertise as instrumental in achieving their goal of addressing customers’ concerns regarding energy consumption and TCO.
The FPS120s tube packer is now available for immediate order. For more information, please visit Cerulean’s website.
