Optima has presented a machine system for Lot Size 1 at the Hannover Messe Trade Fair.

Optima has presented a machine system for Lot Size 1 at the Hannover Messe Trade Fair.

The first ‘customer’ at the Siemens booth was German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was presented with a personalised perfume called Angela’s Dream by Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser.

The machine has a new multi-carrier transport system developed in joint cooperation with Festo and Siemens. On the Optima line, any unique perfume can be produced at the press of a button.

During the tour of the trade fair by Angela Merkel and prime minister of India Narendra Modi, the visiting politicians received information about production on Lot Size 1.

The Optima Moduline machine was fitted as a pilot machine line with a multi-carrier system.

The linear motor driven transport carriages move forward automatically to different processing stages such as filling, closing and labelling, as required.

The carriages can be inserted or removed from the system for easy modification. The line can be adjusted to different formats, other product types or seasonal requirements.

A module for CO2 laser engraving was integrated in the Moduline. Using a tablet or PC, visitors were able to enter their order to the Optima machine on a user interface and design their own labels.

Further functions are also available for customised, marketable products.

A few years ago, Optima built a machine for complete packaging of personalised perfumes, including folding cartons.

This process incorporated the selection of a flacon according to the respective order, an individually designed label, personally customised perfume compositions with basis, top and heart notes at the appropriate dosage levels and specific closure tops for atomisers.

Folding cartons were individually designed on the machine line. The machine, also based on an Optima Moduline, produces up to 1,800 individual units per hour.

From visualisation to automated services

‘Industry 4.0’ incorporates the intelligent digital interlink of multiple processes. Many experts believe this application is an evolution, rather than a revolution with other unforeseeable, application possibilities.

Development in many branches and industries is growing rapidly.

In the service area of the packaging machine industry, machines are equipped with intelligent sensor technology that recognises the need for service, necessary service assignments and purchase orders.

Optima Nonwovens’ TCAM offers new service modules that apply this technology, enabling condition monitoring and status-oriented maintenance.

Another feature of industry 4.0 is virtual and augmented reality used by Optima Pharma’s engineering department at the start of the value chain.

In the design phase, these technologies lead to flow patterns for hygiene requirements for the pharmaceutical industry to be optimised, even before the machine is designed. Substance exchange and vibration analyses can be displayed virtually.