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E+K Success Story: Linear Sorting
Creating innovative sorting solutions that combine flexibility and adaptability in production
Linear Sorting for Sterile Filling Processes
Our world is changing constantly. For companies, it is crucial to stay flexible and adaptable to be successful. Production in particular requires customized solutions that allow for quick reactions to changing demands. Our customer needed us to modernize and optimize their filling line for different types of packaging. It was a key challenge to find a solution that could handle various formats and meet our customer’s requirements while being flexible enough to adapt to constantly changing conditions. In this success story we would like to show you how we cooperated with our customer to develop an innovative sorting machine that unites flexibility and efficiency.
The Task
Our customer, a pharmaceutical company, was faced with the task to adapt their filling line to a wide range of both bulk and ready-to-use (RTU) packaging materials. Considering the increase in competition and changing demands, it was crucial to find a solution that could handle a variety of formats, as well as customer requirements, while providing a high level of flexibility and adaptability to meet changing market conditions.
The Challenge
It was challenging to develop a highly functional sorting system that was compatible with a universal sorting device. Thus, the latter had no sorting function as such. Additionally, the system’s output had to be adjustable, given that the machine, once integrated into the customer’s system, had to process various different formats. Consequently, we required a solution that was precise, flexible, and could thus handle consistently changing conditions.
The Solution
To tackle these challenges, we first developed a prototype using rapid prototyping before moving on to stainless steel production. This allowed for a quick review of our process as well as short development cycles. We then tested each format part extensively and developed a universal sorting device with a matching interface so that the machine’s output is easily adjustable. As functionally relevant parts are manufactured by machines and CNC, the machine can easily be replicated and spare parts as well as new formats can be supplied quickly.
The Result
The result of our joint efforts is a sorting and feeding solution that has not only exceeded our customer's expectations, but also sets new standards in terms of flexibility, efficiency, and innovation. Thanks to our machine, our customer is able to optimize production and react quickly to new requirements. It was decisive to develop a universal sorting device with a matching interface for format parts.
The machine is adaptable, as its output can be adjusted via the number of attached milled tracks alone. It is crucial that the machine can easily be replicated and thus ensures efficient production and maintenance. As functionally relevant parts are manufactured by machines and CNC, the machine can easily be replicated and spare parts as well as new formats can be supplied quickly. Thus, the machine is always ready-to-use and provides our customer with maximum production continuity as well as future security concerning the addition of new formats.
