FACHPACK 2024: Bosch Rexroth presents scalable solutions for more openness and security in packaging machines

• 40 years of motion expertise in the packaging industry
• Robust and easy-to-install drive solutions with or without cabinet
• Motion systems for highly efficient material and good flows

Manufacturers of packaging machines need open, scalable automation solutions in order to equip machines and plants from the low to the mid to the high-end segment and to be able to react quickly to new market requirements. At FACHPACK, Bosch Rexroth will be presenting its portfolio for the packaging industry, which starts right here: Automation solutions with high integration capability, scalability, safety and openness offer maximum freedom in the design of modern and future-proof packaging machines.

The automation system ctrlX AUTOMATION enables the simple integration of individual functions thanks to its app architecture. This allows automation processes to be efficiently adapted to specific production requirements and speeds up the development of new machine concepts. Users can react more quickly to market changes.

ctrlX AUTOMATION offers integration capability and openness on different levels, for example through its motion, robotics and CNC software ctrlX MOTION. Thanks to Bosch Rexroth's many years of motion expertise in the packaging industry, ctrlX AUTOMATION is ideally prepared to solve current and future challenges in the industry. "Customers can use our motion kernel, expand it with their own functions or integrate their own motion kernel. They can also incorporate special functions and their own kinematics. This makes them independent of the automation manufacturer," explains Tobias Gerhard, Senior Business Development Manager Consumer Goods in Sales Central Europe at Bosch Rexroth.

ctrlX DRIVE: Cabinet-free drives for high efficiency

Bosch Rexroth has almost 20 years of experience in decentralized drive technology and equipped the world's first cabinet-free packaging machine back in 2014. Since then, Bosch Rexroth has continuously developed this technology and now offers the third generation of cabinet-free drives in addition to the cabinet-based solution. Decentralized drive solutions enable simple and fast cabling as well as high efficiency. The robust drive units are available in protection class IP65, which also allows them to be used in challenging environments.

"We are thus responding to a trend. As a pioneer of cabinet-free drive technology, our customers benefit from our many years of market experience. Based on the ctrlX DRIVE, we offer a significant extension in terms of scalability and topology for drives in protection class IP65," says Gerhard.

ctrlX FLOW: Innovative motion system for efficient material and goods flows

Bosch Rexroth will also be presenting two motion systems at FACHPACK: ctrlX FLOW^HS and ctrlX FLOW^6D. With an acceleration of up to 10 G and a speed of 5 m/s, the linear motion system ctrlX FLOW^HS enables fast movements and is highly dynamic. Smaller movers and a distance of just 40 mm between the movers reduce the space requirement. The compact solution can be flexibly configured for different topologies and applications, such as flexible product feeding in packaging machines. Equipped with application-specific Rexroth linear guides, the system combines the expertise of linear motion technology and electrics. ctrlX FLOW^HS is fully integrated into the automation toolkit ctrlX AUTOMATION and benefits from its openness and safety and the entire ecosystem.

By using movers that move in six degrees of freedom in a very small space, the planar system ctrlX FLOW^6D enables high flexibility and precision in contactless high-performance transport and positioning. Compared to other systems on the market, the solution uses a permanent magnetic concept that also allows the movers to be operated overhead or vertically. The system also offers significant advantages when it comes to avoiding heat input into the process, which is critical in the food and pharmaceutical industries, as it doesn’t require any additional cooling. The solution is controlled by the ctrlX CORE, which provides access to a wide range of apps. ctrlX FLOW^6D thus opens up new solutions for individual processes or machine concepts.

Openness, scalability and security in automation

"The openness, security and scalability of ctrlX AUTOMATION enables machine manufacturers to react flexibly to market shifts and equip their machines for the mid-range segment as well as for more demanding applications. The mid-range segment is becoming increasingly important as it offers a good balance between cost and performance and thus meets the requirements of a broader customer base," summarizes Gerhard.

The continuous update and patch capability of the software increases security. New software functions can be provided, device settings managed and updates carried out via the ctrlX Device Portal. "Our solution enables secure remote access to the controls without the need for physical access. This means that security updates and new functions can be installed regardless of location," explains Gerhard.

Ready-to-use solution packages

The portfolio is rounded off by pre-configured solution packages specifically for the packaging machine market. For example, solution sets are available for vertical and horizontal form, fill and seal machines that are perfectly tailored to these applications. "Our solution offers an open application template that can be expanded and further developed by OEMs. The solution packages can reduce development costs, shorten time-to-market and increase adaptability to customer requirements," says Gerhard.

Bosch Rexroth at the FACHPACK: Hall 2, booth 424