Latest generation preform monitoring
When IMD initially launched inline preform monitoring and IMDvista PECO LUX ten years ago, it brought something completely new to the market. Martin Gerber (CSO) proudly explains that preform monitoring has since become well established in the industry and is now the most widely used solution for inline inspection of preforms. As of today, IMD has successfully installed hundreds of PECO LUX systems on the market. Furthermore, market demand remains very strong. This success story has motivated IMD to invest heavily in a new design and enhanced functionality.
Photo top: Martin Gerber explains that using a specially designed calibration plate, each PECO LUX system can be calibrated and validated with repeatable precision and reproducibility.
Full integrated solution in Netstal’s new PET-Line
Netstal is the first injection moulding machine manufacturer, who fully integrates the PECO LUX system directly onto the outlet conveyor located within the machine housing. This new system version with Netstal is no longer visible and is seamlessly incorporated into the floor space of the injection moulding machine.
New-gen compact stand-alone version
As a matter of fact, many injection moulding machine manufacturers have reached out to find a suitable preform monitoring solution for their machine type(s). One of the key requirements is that space is always very limited within the existing machine plus the layout should remain the same. IMD has completely redesigned and optimised its traditional stand-alone solution.
Step by step, this new flexible stand-alone version is now being adapted to various injection moulding machines, allowing both new and existing lines to be equipped moving forward.
A design with no moving parts
The new-gen IMDvista PECO LUX V3, like its predecessor, features a design with no moving parts. Instead of complex mechanics, it uses a simple yet effective chute with backlighting – making the system both simple and efficient, stated IMD.
PECO LUX line efficiency
No belts to clean or maintain, no mechanical preform-singulation, and no additional conveying elements are required. When the vision system is deactivated, production continues seamlessly no production interruption nor line stoppage due to jammed conveyor belts.
Calibration capability
Martin Gerber explains that many customers operate 5, 10, or up to 20 PECO LUX systems across their facilities making calibration and validation an incredible valuable feature in order to guarantee identical production quality. The new-gen PECO LUX V3 is claimed to offer exactly this new capability.
Using a specially designed calibration plate, each system can be calibrated and validated with repeatable precision and reproducibility. The fully automated calibration process is claimed to provide operators with an easy and reliable way to set up the system. Therefore, the operator is able to achieve identical product recipes and ensure reproducibility within a fully documented process.
This aims to open up a new level of quality control. Producers can now guarantee consistent baseline settings and inspection results across the entire plant or across multiple production sites in Europe or anywhere in the world. This enables a more structured and centralised approach to quality management. It also ensures that inspection reports and quality results are comparable across machines, lines, and locations. Calibration/validation forms one of the most important pillars within IMD’s roadmap.
That is the reason why the recently launched closure inspection and measurement system, the IMDvista CAPMASTER, incorporates the same calibration/validation features. According to Martin Gerber, inline calibration for vision-based inspection will become the new industry standard.
Detailed short shot inspection
The new PECO LUX V3 enables precise and fully automated inline inspection of short shots – something that was previously only partially achievable. This is done by the use of IMDvista NEURON, IMD’s AI-based analysis tool. Short shots can now be detected and evaluated in detail without compromising the systems already high inspection rate up to 85%.
The IMDvista NEURON, an AI-based analysis tool enables automated inline inspection of short shots.
Preform factory concept
Martin Gerber explains that with the IMDvista Preform Factory Concept, which is well-established on the market, customers retain full flexibility. Whether it is inline monitoring, 100% inline inspection, 100% offline inspection for re-sorting or in combinbation with blowing/filling (together with M.Tanner AG Switzerland). For Martin Gerber, it is obvious that the new generation IMDvista PECO LUX V3 offers numerous options to bridge the gap towards 100% inline inspection.
He is confident that, especially with the upcoming challenges posed by rPET materials, inline monitoring systems will become the industry standard within the next one to three years.