CODI Manufacturing, a Colorado-based machine builder, has successfully developed a compact, high-speed case packer in under four weeks with support from Festo Canada. Designed for small-to-medium food processors, the machine combines flexibility with an exceptional price-to-performance ratio.
The case packer’s core is a two-axis handling system that lifts six bottles from one conveyor and places them into boxes on another. CODI used Festo’s Handling Guide Online (HGO) engineering tool to quickly configure the system, ensuring seamless integration of servos, motors, mounting plates, and accessories. This process, which typically requires extensive engineering time, was completed in minutes. Festo delivered a pre-assembled, plug-and-play handling system, enabling CODI to rapidly commission the machine.
Key components include multiprotocol CMMT-AS servo drives, EMMT-ST one-cable motors, a CPX-AP-A remote I/O terminal, a VTUX valve terminal, and electric-linear actuators from Festo’s Simplified Motion Series. The system also features a rugged CDPX IP67 HMI for machine-mounted control and a CPX-CEC controller with EtherCAT communications for advanced motion.
A custom pneumatic gripper, developed with Festo, provides real-time feedback on bottle handling. Operators can easily swap gripper heads to accommodate different container sizes—from bottles and cans to jars and pouches—then select a new recipe on the HMI to reconfigure the machine.
The project gained urgency when a customer requested a case packer mid-production, compressing CODI’s timeline. With Festo’s HGO-generated CAD files, the company not only met the tight deadline but delivered ahead of schedule. The case packer now runs at 12 cycles per minute, offering food processors an efficient and adaptable packaging solution.
Festo Canada provides advanced automation and pneumatic solutions to enhance manufacturing efficiency. CODI Manufacturing specializes in custom machinery for the food and beverage industry, delivering high-performance, cost-effective systems.
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