星德科技术丹麦桑沃分公司销售总监 Michael Andersen 说：“我有一个梦想。” “我希望我们的机器能有飞跃式的变革。这个梦想一旦实现，我们的灵活敏捷经营理念也将迎来最辉煌的时刻，”这位自动化专家补充说。
“引入包括伺服压机在内的 Festo 自动化平台后，我们离这一梦想更近一步了，”Andersen 说。Festo 伺服压机 YJKP——一款预配置的模块化系统，包含软件、控制器和标准电驱动器——已预先安装软件，可以直接集成到系统中，具有高度灵活性。这一模块化压机系统配有伺服电机，可以进行压装操作，最大下压力可达 17 kN，并且可以立即投入使用。与市面上其他类似解决方案相比，它易于安装，性价比高。
星德科桑沃公司工程部负责人 Ulrik Keldke 说：“我们在胰岛素笔自动装配生产线上安装了 100 个伺服压机。” 压装操作和压力可以调节，而且精度非常高，能够确保产品质量始终如一，降低废品率。Keldke 说：“关于 Festo 伺服压机，我们非常喜欢的一点是它操作简单，可以很快投入运行，不需要对机器操作员进行任何培训。”
“装配生产线通过自动化满足用户对终端产品的需求：胰岛素笔必须安全，并且方便患者自己使用，”Andersen 这样说道。最根本的是，患者在使用时，笔针不会断，否则会给患者带来危险。伺服压机能够保持恒定的张力和压力。“比如，即使在承受超出常规的压力时，注射器的玻璃针筒也绝对不会出现破裂的情况，”Keldke 说。自动化系统可以确保所有胰岛素笔都符合标准，能为患者提供准确剂量的胰岛素。
星德科有多种不同类型的机器，其中产量最高的机器每分钟可装配 300 支胰岛素笔。自动化程度可以根据需求进行设置，而且日后也可以进行调整。生产量较低或中等的机器采用转盘式设计，生产量高的机器采用直线型传输系统。另外，可以在原装配系统的基础上加装其他流水线和基站，用于提高生产能力或自动化程度。
Syntegon Technology, formerly Bosch Packaging Technology, views itself as a supplier of integrated solutions: the assembly line for insulin pens can be expanded to a full line with other coordinated systems from the company. Pharmaceutical manufacturers can obtain the process functions of filling, sealing, assembling, inspecting, labelling and packaging preconfigured from a single source.
The machine control system is based on electric and pneumatic components and modules from the Festo automation platform, thus ensuring consistency on the supply side: Festo’s products are available worldwide and offer open interfaces to higher-level control systems. The connection to the process control level is provided by the module CPX-E-CEC from Festo. This opens it up for PROFINET or, for other customers in Europe, EtherCAT®. However, the system could also be supplied with the EtherNet/IP module specifically for North American customers.
Standardisation on the component side has other benefits that give Syntegon the competitive edge: a faster time to market. 'This is a growing trend in the pharmaceutical industry,' explains Syntegon’s Michael Andersen. 'We are currently able to deliver systems in six to nine months. However, we aim to get this down to three to six months. With our flexible and agile approach, we’re moving a step closer to this goal every single day.'
About Syntegon:
Syntegon Technology is a world-leading supplier of process and packaging technology. As a former packaging division of the Bosch Group, the company, with its headquarters in Waiblingen, Germany, has been offering complete solutions for the pharmaceutical and food industries for more than 50 years. In 2019, more than 6,100 employees in 30 locations in over 15 countries generated an overall turnover of 1.3 billion euros. The company’s portfolio of smart and sustainable technologies includes individual machines as well as complete systems and services. They are used in the pharmaceutical industry in the areas of manufacturing, processing, filling, inspection and packaging of liquid and solid medication (e.g. syringes and capsules). The company’s portfolio for the food industry includes process technology for confectionery and packaging solutions for dry foods (e.g. bars, baked goods and coffee), frozen foods and dairy products.