DRINKTEC REVIEW PETplanet Insider Vol. 23 No. 12/22 www.petpla.net 31 In order to help beverage producers, overcome all of these challenges and to provide options beyond manual operator intervention, Krones has developed Contiloop AI. The system is fully integrated into the stretch blow moulder, measures the wall thickness of each container at 32 points. During ongoing production, Contiloop AI responds to the slightest variations in material distribution and automatically adjusts the stretch blow moulding process in real time. It also considers additional parameters such as ambient temperature and humidity as well as preform feed and discharge temperatures. Any adjustments made are displayed on the HMI to give the operator a clear overview of the current process controls. Because production conditions are constantly changing, it’s not enough to have the controls revert to a specific, pre-set formula. Instead, various initial process settings are made for the system in an automated trial run and the resulting measurements are passed on to the Krones IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) platform. There, the data flows into the Krones AI pipeline and is used to train the rule algorithm, the “intelligent agent”. When training is complete, the agent is loaded onto the machine’s Contiloop AI and is then available for use in production operations. Especially worthwhile when processing rPET In particular, when rPET is used, the available process window is usually very small and can sometimes be more variable than when virgin PET material is used. Even at high speeds and low container weights, this narrow window must be adhered to very precisely. Contiloop AI is climed to ensure a high level of quality in the finished containers and a low scrap (rejection) rate. But the advantages of Contiloop AI are not limited to material and process aspects – this technology also makes work considerably easier for operating personnel, says Krones. The automated controls mean far fewer manual interventions at the machine, and offline quality assurance can be reduced to a minimum. www.krones.com +44 78175 32087 +34 676 986 962 sales@petmachinery.com petmachinery.com Looking to sell your used PET machinery? We can help you. We offer a free valuation service, 50 years of industry experience, and a global network that guarantees you the best market value. Contact us today to find out more. THE INDUSTRY EXPERTS At Drinktec 2022, Jochen Hirdina, Head of Plastics Technology at Krones, explained the new Contiloop AI system which is fully integrated into the strech blow moulder. During production it measures the wall thickness of each container at 32 points and responds in real time. Any adjustments made are displayed on the HMI.
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