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Butter precisely dosed
Emmi is one of the leading milk processors in Switzerland. Dairy products, cream and butter are produced at the Suhr site. In the industrial butter factory, butter portions are produced in weights of 1, 5 and 10 kg. Annual production amounts to 5,500 tons. A hydraulic cylinder with a thrust of 14 tons was used to press the butter in the desired quantity and shape. This cylinder actuates a piston which presses the butter through the forming tool in the desired quantity.
In order to dose the portion quantity more precisely and to reduce the changeover time for a product change, the hydraulic actuator was replaced by a completely electric actuator. Specifically, the FTX215 electric actuator with a feed force of 17.8 tons is in use.
Hardware used:
- Electric actuator: FTX215-0600, screw pitch 30mm, stroke 600mm, maximum force 178'000N, maximum speed: 300mm/sec.
- Planetary gearbox: PSN190, reduction ratio 5:1
- Servo motor: MH2053090538S6I65A74, nominal torque 61.6Nm, peak torque 398Nm, nominal speed 3000rpm
- Servo controller: C3H125V4F11I20T11M00, rated power: 91kVA
The following advantages were achieved with the electric solution:
- The dosing quantity can now be achieved more precisely and consistently (variation <0.5%)
- The changeover time has been reduced from four hours to half an hour (no more mechanical adjustment necessary, new recipe selection via control system)
- The noise level has been massively reduced, which makes the production staff very happy
- The power consumption of the new electrical system is only 40% of the hydraulic solution.
- The production speed has increased, as the electric system allows precisely defined movement profiles to be run. This has a positive effect on the behavior of the product.
- A hydraulic system (oil, leakage, etc.) is no longer desirable in a food-producing company today. Oil could be eliminated from production.
