Monitoring of a bagging machine for the detection of incompletely sealed bags

If a bag is not properly sealed, a large amount of dust will then abruptly escape.

Customer: Bostik GmbH (Germany)

Material measured: Adhesives and levelling compounds | Building adhesives

Installation point: Between the bagging system and the palletizer

Function: Automated detection of incompletely sealed bags

APPLICATION

Bostik was founded over 130 years ago and is now a leading manufacturer of adhesive and sealant systems for the building trade, industry and DIY enthusiasts. At its site in Borgholzhausen, Germany, the company produces, among other things, building adhesives and levelling compounds.

In a bagging machine, powdered levelling compound is filled into bags at the end of the production process and transported to palletizing via a conveyor belt. The material is then shipped to the customer.

Challenge faced

It is occasionally possible that a bag has not been properly sealed after filling in the bagging machine. The incompletely sealed bags then reach the customer. Material can leak out and cause contamination during transport or later at the customer‘s premises. Product complaints and associated expenses could be the result as well.

Objective

Bostik‘s goal was to detect incompletely sealed bags in good time and to eject the bags before they reach palletizing and thus the customer to minimize the problems caused by contamination and complaints.

For this purpose, the bagging line was to be monitored. ENVEA proposed a very simple monitoring solution including measuring the dust concentration.

SOLUTION

The bags are transported from the bagging unit to the palletizer via a conveyor belt. The bags tip over at a transfer point. If a bag is not properly sealed, a large amount of dust will then abruptly escape.

Since this only happens with incompletely sealed bags, the problematic bags could be detected by measuring the dust concentration in the ambient air at the transfer point and removed from the process before they reach palletizing.

ENVEA‘s AirSafe 2 has been designed to monitor the dust concentration in ambient air of process applications, making it ideal for Bostik’s requirements. The AirSafe 2 was mounted at the transfer point above the conveyor belt and set to a specific dust limit value. As soon as this is exceeded, the conveying process to the palletizer is automatically interrupted and the incompletely sealed bag can be removed.

CUSTOMER BENEFITS

Safe monitoring of the bagging line

Robust, process-safe and durable sensor technology

Low and simple maintenance

Solution easy to implement for significantly improved customer satisfaction

Continuous dust monitoring in ambient air: control system areas, silo areas, boiler houses, work stations