Packaging Toolbox enables easy engineering of packaging machines

The Siemens’ Packaging Toolbox is now available in its entirety for the Simatic S7-1500 controller in the TIA Portal engineering framework. It offers users packaging specific libraries which can be integrated into existing or new machine applications as well as program blocks. The Toolbox supports international standards such as OMAC, PackML and Weihenstephan Standards. By adding or modifying function blocks it can be adapted to suit individual requirements, while at the same time saving the user time during engineering and commissioning through tested functions and software solutions.

The toolbox comprises basic functions, technology functions and international standards. Typical Basic functionalities that the toolbox provides are axis control, TCP/IP communication, acyclic communication and alarm handling. The Intelligent Belt technology function enables sequentially arriving products to be picked up and made available in groups at an unloading position. The Intelligent Infeed application is used to pick up products arriving in a continuous but irregular flow and make them available to the downstream station with defined and equal gaps between them. The Form, Fill and Seal library contains functionalities for the overall coordination of foil feeders, dosing units, and cross sealers in horizontal and vertical applications. 

In order to fulfill international packaging standard requirements, the Simatic CPG Template (Consumer Packaged Goods) provides a TIA Portal project structure based on a modular design. This gives machine builders a clear and tested project basis, and end customers a standardized interface that enables easy line integration. The OMAC software library provides an OMAC-compliant mode and state manager.

There are also motion control applications for handling equipment, the Converting Toolbox and applications for the linear motor based multi-carrier system (MCS) transport system available.

Siemens Digital Industries (DI) is an innovation leader in automation and digitalization. Closely collaborating with partners and customers, DI drives the digital transformation in the process and discrete industries. With its Digital Enterprise portfolio, DI provides companies of all sizes with an end-to-end set of products, solutions and services to integrate and digitalize the entire value chain. Optimized for the specific needs of each industry, DI’s unique portfolio supports customers to achieve greater productivity and flexibility. DI is constantly adding innovations to its portfolio to integrate cutting-edge future technologies. Siemens Digital Industries has its global headquarters in Nuremberg, Germany, and has around 76,000 employees internationally.

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 170 years. The company is active around the globe, focusing on the areas of intelligent infrastructure for buildings and distributed energy systems, and automation and digitalization in the process and manufacturing industries. Through the separately managed companies Siemens Energy, the global energy business of Siemens, and Siemens Mobility, a leading supplier of smart mobility solutions for rail and road transport, Siemens is shaping the energy systems of today and tomorrow as well as the world market for passenger and freight services. Due to its majority stakes in the publicly listed companies Siemens Healthineers AG and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (as part of Siemens Energy), Siemens is also a world-leading supplier of medical technology and digital healthcare services as well as environmentally friendly solutions for onshore and offshore wind power generation. In fiscal 2019, which ended on September 30, 2019, Siemens generated revenue of €86.8 billion and net income of €5.6 billion. At the end of September 2019, the company had around 385,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.