Solutions in Action
The Flexpack NF-180 Duplex is a flexible, efficient and high-performance packaging machine ideal for
medium size sachets with a throughput of 180 sachets per minute
Allen-Bradley CompactLogix 1769
programmable controller
Allen-Bradley Kinetix 5500 servo drives
Flexpack is a company located in Barcelona (Spain) that specialized in
the design, manufacturing and commissioning of Horizontal Form, Fill
and Seal (HFFS) for flexible packaging. “We develop simple, efficient, and
innovating solutions tailored to cover the needs of our customers, and
that allows us have a presence in virtually every industrial sector, like food
and beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and chemical,” states Esteban
Sola, Operations Manager.
The company has specialized in the development of high-performance
machines that feature an easy and quick changeover, being also flexible,
efficient and environmentally friendly. Furthermore, they stand out for
their versatility, since all of them handle sachets of up to 800 ml, with
unitary cutting, double cutting, top valve, zipper, and different formats.
Therefore, as Esteban Sola explains, “these machines can package all kinds
of products: powders or granules, liquid and solid, grains, seeds, cookies,
pasta, drinks, sauces, creams, etc.”
the machine, and simplifying the system wiring. In addition
to this, this machine integrates Allen-Bradley PowerFlex® 525
AC Drives, which offer EtherNet/IP communication, USB
programming, and built-in standard security features.
Thanks to this connectivity, the machine can be remotely
controlled and managed in real time.
The Flexpack NF-180 Duplex can package all
kinds of products: powders or granules, liquid
and solid, grains, seeds, cookies,pasta, drinks,
sauces, creams.
Within the wide range of machines sold by the company
worldwide, the model Flexpack NF-180 Duplex stands out
particularly. It’s a flexible, efficient and high-performance
packaging machine, ideal for medium size sachets, with
a throughput of 180 sachets per minute. “It’s a machine
able to form, fill and seal four-sided flat pouches filled with
unitary items (like sweets) and operated by intermittent
motion from a heat-sealed reel so, being duplex, can
manufacture two products per cycle,” explains Esteban Sola.
In order to perform this task, this model includes features
such as an ergonomic and reinforced monoblock, a
motorized unwinder with end of reel detector, expandable
reel support for easy mechanical adjustment, splicing table
for quick reel changeover, servo driven stroke system by
rollers, and several easy-to-use systems which provide clean
and accessible filling stations, watertight hoppers, vacuum
control or static pouch stretching prior to seal, among other
features.
The Flexpack NF-180 Duplex integrates several Rockwell
Automation® components, such as Bulletin 1769-L27ERM
Allen-Bradley® CompactLogix™ 5370 controllers, with built-in
security and the same programming software, network
protocol, and information resources as all Logix controllers.
Moreover, they operate together with Bulletin 2198 AllenBradley Kinetix® 5500 Servo Drives, thus supporting the
motion integrated in EtherNet/IP™, minimizing the size of
For Esteban Sola, “the main advantage is that, since
all Rockwell Automation products have become an
automation standard, many companies demand this type
of components for their design, performance, and price.”
Furthermore, they provide other benefits: “They reduce the
design and programming efforts, help to solve operation
problems, simplify maintenance and, with them, tests and
validations become easier.”
These results enable the customers to improve their process
automation, increase their production rates, optimize
quality, efficiency and production, and save labour and
operational costs. In fact, for Esteban Sola, “all of this can be
quantified in an overall efficiency of the machine between
85% and 95%, and in benefits in material costs of up to a
50% in pre-manufactured pouches and reels.” And last but
not least, the fact that, due to the quality of the components
that make up the machine, “it enables less product to be
wasted and allows a better control,” he concludes.
For more information, contact:
Flexible Packaging Company, SL (Flexpack)
Phone: +34 931 598 000
Fax: +34 931 598 000
E-mail: [email protected]
www.flexpack.es
Allen-Bradley, ControlLogix, CompactLogix, Guardmaster, iTRAK, Kinetix, LISTEN. THINK. SOLVE., PowerFlex, PanelView Plus and Rockwell Automation are trademarks of Rockwell Automation, Inc.
EtherNet/IP is a trademark of ODVA Inc.
Trademarks not belonging to Rockwell Automation are property of their respective companies.
Publication OEM-AP599A-EN-P – APRIL 2017
Copyright © 2017 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the EU.