The Elb-Milch branch of the Krüger Group in Stendal operates two lines for milk, whey and milk-based drinks in three different flavours, among other things. The products come in 0.5 litre and 1 litre PET bottles, being packaged in cartons or shrink packs of various sizes and weights. The range consists of around 20 different product sizes and weights. Both lines run at around 60 units per minute. In most cases, our systems with overhead rotary tunnels are turning of all types of products. As specialists in sorting, turning and distributing, we always seek the simplest solution for our customers. That is why a particularly simple and cost-effective variant was installed at Elb-Milch.
On one line, all cartons have to be rotated from lengthwise to crosswise on a slightly sloping roller conveyor. As this conveyor was fairly narrow, we had to cope with limited options for rotating the products. Here, we supplied a compact design with a specially adapted programme for controlling the rotation.
Cartons with 0.5 litre and 1 litre PET bottles coming lengthwise. The layers for the palettizer are prepared with a simple rotating board – photo: Sortec
On the second line shown here, the palletiser requires the cartons and packs to be arranged in layers lengthwise and crosswise. The products arrive running lengthwise, pass through the turning station running lengthwise, or are turned 90 degrees.
Rotation of ten different carton sizes per line
Since ten different product sizes are handled on this line, the operating personnel just has to push the button for easily selectable parameters in the motor control programme. Our servo technology rotates large and long cartons with dynamic movements differently than small packs that follow closely behind each other. Sometimes a simple and correspondingly inexpensive solution is all that is needed to fulfil a certain task.
