Robotic solution for NZ packaging supplier

Moulded-fibre packaging supplier Hawk is a New Zealand owned and operated company with sustainability at its heart — all products are made from 100% recycled paper.

“Our paper is deliberately sourced from kerbside-collected recycling paper,” Hawk Packaging Engineering Manager David Style said. “We don’t use any nasty bleaches, pigments, biocides or toxic chemicals in our manufacturing. Our products are recyclable and compostable after end use.

“Our facilities are located in the centre of the largest apple-growing region to ensure minimised transport requirements and a lower carbon footprint.”

As a preferred supplier, and in collaboration with East Coast Automation, SMC offered an innovative solution to a problem that was hindering Hawk’s production processes.

SMC New Zealand Area Sales Manager Dirk Siekmann explained that a fault in a stacker robot designed to stack bundles of finished products on top of pallets was causing downtime.

“An intermittent fault in the control of this particular robot was instigated by a communication cable failure. The robot had seen its fair amount of wear and tear after years of rotation and bending.”

Working with East Coast Automation, SMC recommended its recently launched wireless fieldbus system, EX600-W. Designed to make robotic applications easier, the EX600-W is small and lightweight, fits onto the robot head, has minimal wiring and offers remote control and fault finding.

“The installation was simple, and the solution was the perfect match for this particular application,” East Coast Automation Director Chris Robertson said.

According to Siekmann, the decentralised solution is EtherNet/IP and PROFINET compatible, can withstand electric noise and is suitable for harsh, industrial environments.

“This wireless fieldbus system can manage both digital and analog signals, as well as pneumatic products — making it a flexible solution for all applications,” he said. We are pleased to say that we have a happy customer.