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www.machineryupdate.co.uk JULY/AUGUST 2018 MACHINERY UPDATE 33
Handling and conveying solution
is saving time and product losses
The Kidlington site of
Essentra Components
(EC) has worked with
UPM Conveyors on an ongoing
component capture project
that has seen a customised
solution being installed and
commissioned this year.
The project began last
autumn and EC Kidlington
production engineers were
joined by their counterparts
at UPM to conduct root cause
analysis. Together, they
identified several ‘loss zones’
where components were
escaping from either poorly
designed component chutes,
conveyors which were unfit
for purpose, or overriding
discharge points due to static
from the moulding process.
These components were
scrapped due to possible
contamination from landing
on the floor, and therefore
ultimately causing machines
to overrun.
Due to the variety of
products produced (Essentra
offer over 35,000) it was
necessary for UPM to evaluate
different belt types and flight
Ceetak MU M-A 2018.qxp_MU 28/02/2018 15:57 Page 1
The project continues and will see more UPM conveyors installed at the site
combinations to accommodate
all possible solutions. However,
the biggest challenge was
the integration and mating
systems for the conveyor,
component chute and
anti-static equipment,
explains UPM’s Roy Fowler.
“Surprisingly, there are very
few suppliers that offer all
three solutions, or are willing
to modify standard equipment
to suit customer requirements
whilst working with suppliers
of the other key components,”
he told Machinery Update.
R&D and then trials have
taken about six months and
involved EC and UPM also
working with Fraser anti-static
solutions as well as fabricator
TDI Solutions.
The resulting solution now
includes the integration of a
custom designed chute using
a dock designed by UPM’s
Sean Martin, and deposits all
components onto the centre of
customised UPM swan necked
conveyors. At discharge
point, Fraser de-ionisation
equipment removes all static
from the components, and
ensures a clean drop to the
inspection tables.
“We are lucky enough to be
playing a part in a period of
change and development, and
working with colleagues such
as those from UPM, who have
the same energy for change as
ourselves, enables significant
progress,” comments Chris
Butler, process development
manager at EC Kidlington.
“Their attitude towards
delivery, safety and the open
exchange of ideas matches our
own, and is a key component
in driving essential factory
improvements,” he says.
The Essentra & UPM project
team are now working on the
second and third phases of
this ongoing project.
T 01753 548801
W www.upmconveyors.co.uk
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