Gebo Cermex introduces AQFLEX at drinktec

TO ADDRESS many of the packaging industry’s production and distribution issues, Gebo Cermex developed AQFlex®, a product handling technology for conveying and accumulation in a very compact space.

Packaging has more uses other than protection. Packaging quality plays a key role in brand recognition and production diversity. A growing number of stock keeping units (SKUs) and even product and secondary packaging personalization now possible, manufacturers are looking for improved flexibility and responsiveness from their existing packaging systems. Easy re-engineering of existing lines is also important if producers are to easily adapt to big changes in demand.

The AQFlex®,

Producers and brand owners are therefore becoming increasingly demanding when it comes to their line requirements. They cannot afford to compromise on extended performance in terms of production uptime, efficiency and reliability, always paying close attention to keeping total cost of ownership (TCO) as low as possible. As a consequence, they look for packaging solutions that are space-saving, easy to maintain, ergonomic in design, simple to use and sustainable.

In face of these ever changing demands, Gebo Cermex – part of the Sidel Group and world leader in packaging line engineering solutions – has reinvented the design of packaging lines thanks to a breakthrough product handling technology. The company decided on a system that would help manufacturers meet all their current performance objectives, as well as prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.

"After spending 50 years in pioneering conveying solutions and line regulation systems, we believe this introduction to be the culmination of our innovation processes," says Ludovic Tanchou, Vice President Strategy, Products and Innovation at Gebo Cermex. He goes on to explain: “AQFlex is the new IQ in product handling, encompassing all the advantages given by the existing conveying machines in a much smarter way."

Freeing product innovation thanks to total flexibility

AQFlex is designed by Gebo Cermex as a new concept in packaging solutions that accommodates any product, whatever the application, whatever the market, in all container materials, formats and shapes, full or empty, while also enabling automatic changeovers via an intuitive and user-friendly Human Machine Interface (HMI).

Care of product integrity is completely ensured by the single-lane, contact-free product handling and accumulation system that is able to process even fragile, unstable or premium containers.

High performance via unprecendented capability

More proof of the unprecedented packaging line performance of AQFlex is its ability to operate at any speed, from 1,000 to 100,000 containers per hour, delivering energy savings of up to 60%, without compromising high efficiency (99.5% even at high speeds) or sustainability.

This is ensured by high line performance regulation, together with a high accumulation performance to maintain continuous product flow - at any speed with the use of advanced robotics based on a proven logic motion technology and a centralized system architecture ensures the accurate synchronisation of motion control for all the servo axes of the equipment.

Tanchou continues: "Moreover, for greater product traceability and continuous control of production quality, the solution works according to a ‘first-in, first-out’ (FIFO) operating principle.”

Extremely compact, smart design offers up to 40% space saving

All the conveying functions of AQFlex, including contactless accumulation and multilane machine infeed, are cleverly regrouped into this single, universal, handling solution. As all conveying and accumulation is carried out as a single-file process, the usual peripheral conveying functions associated with mass accumulation - such as deceleration, de-grouping, combining and laning - are completely eliminated.

For minimized TCO and optimised operability, the solution from Gebo Cermex offers the best accumulation/space ratio on the market. Its compact design provides up to 40% space savings compared to traditional solutions and, as a result of its compact footprint, AQFlex is easily integrated into existing production lines. The solution has a clear and open design that gives full accessibility at floor level for enhanced ergonomics and easy cleaning. Having only a few added mechanical parts compared to a conveyor, maintenance of AQFlex is comparable to that of a standard conveyor - without the need for any lubrication.