At HANNOVER MESSE, the automation specialist from Bruchsal will demonstrate how such a production machine can be fully automated using motion control technology from the SEW-EURODRIVE portfolio. Operating entirely electronically and thus completely without compressed air, this machine packs particularly quickly and gently, even with sensitive materials such as paper. Visitors to the booth of the Bruchsal-based family-owned company will experience this machine as a showcase and prime example of how comprehensive, energy-optimized, and digitally networked modular drive and automation components, intelligent software, and digital products and solutions work together perfectly.

“Thanks to the drive and automation components from SEW-EURODRIVE and the use of digital twins before and during development, the machine was implemented in just three months,” emphasizes Alexander Hack, Head of Machine Automation at SEW-EURODRIVE.

Stepper motors are replacing pneumatic technology

For machine operators, the complete retrofit of this type of horizontal production packaging machine brings one key technical innovation above all else: they can now completely eliminate the need for energy- and maintenance-intensive compressed air technology. Instead of pneumatic components, energy-efficient stepper motors are used to perform tasks such as positioning and cutting movements, or to control the dancer.

Smart energy management bridges power outages

As a key component of the packaging machine, SEW-EURODRIVE’s Power and Energy solution, featuring energy storage modules, significantly improves energy efficiency. A major advantage of this technology is that the horizontal form-fill-seal machine can operate without mains voltage, allowing it to bridge power outages of up to 9.5 seconds. In the event of a complete power outage, the machine is safely stopped via a controlled halt, which provides additional protection for the machine’s mechanics. Thanks to the energy buffer, the machine can also be operated in a controlled manner even in unstable power grids. At our booth, we will have the opportunity to simulate such a power outage live and demonstrate the controlled halt as well as the restart.

Full automation based on a modular system

The basis for the full automation of the HFFS machine is the comprehensive drive and automation portfolio of the MOVI-C® generation from SEW-EURODRIVE. This means that all components from the Bruchsal-based drive specialist’s modular system are utilized, including power and energy modules, servo and stepper motors, stainless steel servo gearmotors, low-voltage drives, precision planetary gearheads, inverters, motion controllers, software, and PLC® I/O systems.

Experiencing digital products firsthand

Digital twins, OrchestrationSuite, DriveRadar® IoT Suite, DriveRadar® APPredict, OPTIME sensor technology, or CDM® (Complete Drive Management) – all of SEW-Eurodrive’s digital products and solutions can be demonstrated live on the actual packaging machine. From condition monitoring, predictive maintenance, simulation of motion sequences, temperature scenarios, print mark controls, and commissioning to secure software management, visitors can experience and learn about all these tools firsthand.

Single-serve coffee quickly packaged in paper

“Visitors to the trade show are welcome to pick up some of our conveniently packaged Brazilian drip coffee to take home or to the office. It’s very easy to prepare: tear open the paper packet, place the filter bag in a cup, brew the coffee with boiling water directly in the cup, and you’re done – no coffee maker required,” explains Alexander Hack.

About SEW EURODRIVE

Ever since it was founded in 1931, the family business SEW EURODRIVE GmbH & Co KG has been headquartered in Bruchsal, near Karlsruhe, in the Baden-Württemberg region of Germany. Today, SEW EURODRIVE is one of the world's leading specialists in drive and automation technology, with around 22 700 employees, 18 production plants, and 92 assembly plants in 57 countries. As one of the leading companies in its field, SEW EURODRIVE keeps applications, processes, systems, and machinery moving in countless sectors – from airport logistics to industrial processes. With around 850 research and development staff, it is making an innovative contribution to shaping the future of drive technology. Proximity to customers is one of SEW EURODRIVE's top priorities. An extensive sales and service network provides professional advice on site and ensures the rapid availability of spare parts and repairs – anywhere in the world. Alongside its headquarters and production facilities in Bruchsal and its plant in Graben-Neudorf, the company operates 30 other sites across Germany.

About SEW-EURODRIVE in the partner country Brazil

When SEW EURODRIVE opened its first branch on the South American continent back in 1978 – over 48 years ago – in Brazil, many European beverage manufacturers who were SEW EURODRIVE customers also built new production plants overseas. The global manufacturer of drive technology components and customized automation solutions has now become a permanent fixture in this multicultural country. Key sectors in Brazil that use SEW EURODRIVE technologies include the sugar and ethanol industry, mining, and the automotive industry. Today, SEW EURODRIVE BRASIL, which has its national headquarters and a production plant in Indaiatuba (in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo), employs over 1700 staff at 18 locations, including two assembly plants in Rio Claro and Joinville. That makes Brazil the third-largest foreign subsidiary of the Bruchsal-based family company after China and France.