PILOT BENEFITS FROM KOCH'S LONGTIME KNOW-HOW IN THE FIELD OF SPECIAL MACHINE CONSTRUCTION
PILOT is a leading manufacturer in the field of writing instrument technology. The international company with Japanese roots offers a wide range of writing instruments. Today PILOT is one of the only manufacturers in the world able to perform all the stages necessary in developing a writing instrument - from research and development to design and manufacturing. Thus, the brand has stood for quality and innovation for over 100 years.
Task
- A packaging line on which both cardboard and blister packs can be produced.
- Increasing productivity by integrating customized stations.
- Good workplace conditions for the machine personnel (special requirement pallet transport).
- Anticipatory machine design for further robot handling to be retrofitted.
Solution
- Blister machine with linear pallet transport KBS-PL as hybrid machine.
- Grouping station just before the product discharge, designed in a way that several packs are grouped or placed inside each other before they are passed on to the machine operators.
- The height of the pallet conveyor has been reduced to ensure sufficient legroom.
- The pallet transport was extended up to 61 pallets to create enough space for two robots.
Results
- Flexibility in processing different materials paired with fast format changes.
- A machine solution with new technologies and customized stations that increase productivity.
- Ergonomic and safe workplace conditions at the packaging line for machine operators.
- Easy to retrofit loading station (second robot can be integrated).
The demand for cardboard packaging is increasing immensely. Sustainability is very important for our company PILOT. We have an environmental certificate for using sustainable materials and reducing plastics. That is why we are particularly pleased that KOCH is offering us the opportunity with this hybrid machine to prepare for the needs of the market at an early stage and that we can continue to choose flexibly between cardboard or plastic.
Philippe Leleu, Product and Process Development Manager, Pilot and Sébastien Clatot, Continuous Improvement Manager, Pilot
Productive
through a customized machine construction. Forward-looking and adapted to the needs of the customer. Reduction of throughput times and error rate. Remarkable output: 17 cycles/min. (136 blisters/min.) and improved quality.
Flexible
in processing different materials. As a hybrid machine, the KBS-PL processes both sustainable cardboard qualities from cyclePac® and common foils, paired with fast format changes.
Ergonomic
and safe workplace for the machine personnel. Customer-specific requirements for pallet transport were implemented to be able to offer staff even more legroom.
