Sensors & Transducers


Sensor solutions for packaging applications

February 2018 Sensors & Transducers

Modern packaging plays an important role in preserving, protecting and selling a host of products, from items small enough to need tweezers to be picked up to those that need a forklift to be moved. Packaging also comes in a confusing array of materials, which can be costly if incorrectly selected or processed.

Countapulse Controls offers a broad range of opto-electronic sensors that have been developed to ensure packaging lines operate at peak efficiency for the packaging industry. Made by the respected German instrumentation manufacturer Leuze Electronic, the sensors are purpose-designed for the feeding, packing, dosing, detecting, labelling, sealing and other operations that go into the makeup of any packaged product.

Sensors for demanding requirements

Countapulse Controls' managing director, Gerry Bryant points out that the variety of materials used for packaging, as well as the surface properties and the specialised printing used in the industry require the highest standards of instrumentation and machinery.

"Modern, high-production packaging uses cutting edge technology, and sensors applied to these applications have to be capable of meeting the demanding requirements," he says.

Leuze is one of the leading developers and manufacturers of opto-electronic systems, which use light in various spectra for sensing, monitoring and controlling products and equipment in the production line.

This includes standard opto-electronic sensors, colour sensors, label detectors and sensors for workplace safety. Also in the range are sensors for foil and glass detection, CCD sensors, forked photoelectric sensors and sensors for differentiating between glass and PET.

These can be effectively applied to hasten and improve quality control in any number of processes. In feeding and conveying, for instance, solid granules, loose goods, paste products, fluids or mixed items are transported, accumulated and passed on. Opto-electronic sensors are used to position products on conveyors, recognise their shapes, measure them for filling and sealing and even check the quality of printing and labelling.

"The many ways used to package products nowadays show the dynamics and bandwidth of the various packaging technologies. Leuze has expended considerable research and development effort in producing its range of opto-electronic sensors, using concepts aimed at improving speed, accuracy and performance in the packaging line," explains Bryant.

The complexity and depth of sensors available on the market can be confusing, and for this reason Countapulse Controls often assists customers to evaluate an application for either the fitment of new sensors or the retrofit of replacement units.

“While the Leuze sensor range is broad enough to offer units of the right type and size for virtually any operation in the line, we have found that in some instances we have sourced alternative sensor solutions for the customer,” concludes Bryant. “This is not unusual at all, and with the depth of expertise that resides within Countapulse Controls it is easy to apply best practice sensor technology to any application.”

For more information contact Gerry Bryant, Countapulse Controls, +27 (0)11 615 7556, [email protected], www.countapulse.co.za



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Leading the way with Level 9 PDS implementation
Sensors & Transducers
Applying a Level 9 Proximity Detection System (PDS) to a mining operation is as much about changes in behaviour as it is about technical solutions, according to Pieter Wolfaardt from Apex, Booyco Electronics’ training partner of choice.

Read more...
Enhanced automated weld inspection system
Sensors & Transducers
SmartRay is offering the release of new hardware for its weld inspection system, JOSY, delivering elevated performance and flexibility in the process.

Read more...
Leaders in sensor technology
Gail Norton Instrumentation Sensors & Transducers
Photoelectric eyes have always needed perfect working conditions, but in the workplace there is no such thing. Steam, water, light and dirt interfere with most photoelectric eyes, but never with a Telco sensor.

Read more...
Easy parameter setting of vision sensors
ifm - South Africa Sensors & Transducers
Contour verification and object inspection are two of the most important functionalities in industrial imaging. With the new O2D5xx series, ifm now offers a solution that perfectly masters both functionalities

Read more...
Keeping a close eye on product quality and purity
Endress+Hauser South Africa Sensors & Transducers
Colour measurements are necessary in many processes to avoid product losses and ensure safe production and batching. The Memosens Wave CKI50 process spectrometer from Endress+Hauser is a compact, robust and process-friendly device allowing quality, batching and phase checks to be performed by a single instrument for the entire visible colour spectrum.

Read more...
The sensory reaction of building management systems
Schneider Electric South Africa Sensors & Transducers
Today’s building management systems (BMS) cannot function properly without sensors. This is so critical that if sensors start failing, they can become ‘blind’.

Read more...
Advanced sensor technology to reduce vehicle fatalities
Senseca Sensors & Transducers
Measurement technology plays a critical role across a range of industries. This is especially true when supplying highly accurate and reliable data for road management entities that assist drivers of vehicles experiencing hazardous weather conditions.

Read more...
High-precision automated inspection
Sensors & Transducers
Delivering advanced inline metrology to an expanding range of challenging industries, SmartRay is launching the smallest field-of-view 3D sensor of its cutting-edge ECCO X series.

Read more...
Long-range laser distance measuring sensor
Vepac Electronics Sensors & Transducers
The MS-100A is a long-range laser distance measuring sensor with a range of 150 to 1000 mm. This sensor excels in applications requiring extended measurement capabilities, such as quality control and logistics.

Read more...
The power of smart maintenance for securing water supply
Omron Electronics Sensors & Transducers
The water industry plays an essential role in delivering safe drinking water and effective wastewater services to society and various industries. A lack of maintenance could have severe consequences, as even the failure of a single component can significantly impact operations, and maintenance expenses represent a substantial part of the overall costs of water and pumping systems.

Read more...