Lavelli A21 is Tecnopails' new automated machine for coupling lids with latches.
Tecnopails, the filling division of IM GROUP (formerly Inkmaker Group), has unveiled the world's first automated system for coupling lids with latches. The two new “Lavelli A21” machines were specifically designed and manufactured for a European multinational operating in the eco-sustainable packaging sector.
The company Tecnopails, acquired by IM GROUP in early 2020, is specialised in the design and production of customised automated systems for dosing, sealing and labelling for ink, paint and chemical containers.
The two "Lavelli A21" machines (which take their name from the creator, Luigi Lavelli) have been specifically designed to effectively minimise the actions of the operator, who now only has to place a lid with a latch onto a container. The lid packaging operation is also fully integrated into the existing system, using IoT and industry 4.0 technology.
“The main reasons behind our being the first to develop this machine can be attributed to our forty years of experience in the sector, coupled with IM GROUP’s significant investment in R&D and industry 4.0 automation; the smart technology used enabled us to craft these machines to interface with the customer's management system, as well as to predesign them for future integration and automation of potentially many more process phases, within an industry 4.0 context,” declared Antonio Riggio, Operations Manager at Tecnopails. “We are very proud of this achievement, firstly because these machines are the first of their kind in the world but also because they have produced another example of quality Italian engineering at its best.”
The system uses two stations, where operators can load lids and latches in a safe environment even while the machine is in motion. The machine automatically assembles both the lid and the latch, pairs them and stacks them uniformly. The smart system is programmed to automatically detect the orientation in which any handle has been placed, eliminating the need for the operator to store the latches in a precise order. In addition, each machine is equipped with an easy-to-use touch screen to facilitate the GUI interface.
“We are very proud of this achievement, by Technopails, that has contributed significantly to ensuring that IM GROUP retains its position as a pioneer of industry 4.0 innovations,” commented Christophe Rizzo, CEO EMEA / AMERICAS of IM GROUP.