Bradman Lake High-Speed Intelligent Motion Feeder

The latest-generation IMF Intelligent Motion Feeder, with Integrated Layer Collator, features the Bradman Lake’s latest product handling technology, using Rockwell Automation’s small frame iTRAK intelligent track system.

The IMF incorporates new servo-driven linear guided carriers that accept a randomly spaced stream of products, which are positioned and transferred into the infeed of the flow wrapper (or other packaging machines), negating the need for traditional feeders. This provides excellent access for the end user, the option of constant or indexing motion on the same machine and greater flexibility in handling a wide range of products and collations.

Features:

• High speed, up to 600 products per minute.
• Greater tolerance to product positioning, for higher packaging efficiency.
• Rapid changeover, no tools required, which increases productivity.
• Easy cleaning with no mechanisms below the product line for greater sanitation.
• Small footprint, new frame style, and full-height doors for ease of access.
• Common control architecture.

Watch video

Bradman Lake debuted the IMF at Interpack 2023 at Düsseldorf, Germany where visitors to the stand witnessed in action the new high-speed pressure-less IMF Intelligent Motion Feeder. The IMF fed products into the FT120 Flow Wrapper. The wrapped products then entered the DRT Dual Racetrack Robotic Toploader, which picked and placed products into cartons that were formed and glued on the HSS Servo Driven Carton Former. Filled cartons were transferred to the IL120 Carton Closer and sealed using hot melt adhesive, demonstrating a flexible and modular top load cartoning approach.

Bradman Lake packaging equipment sets the benchmark for primary, secondary and tertiary packaging. Features and benefits for all Bradman Lake’s equipment:

Experience

Bradman Lake has a large installed base; our customers benefit from over 75 years of knowledge in designing and building packaging equipment. Bradman Lake is an established brand with a high reputation for machine reliability and value for money worldwide. Its position as an innovative, progressive and forward-thinking global supplier of packaging solutions derives from vast industry experience, a consultative, customer driven approach, delivering commercially viable solutions with strong project management and a commendable health and safety record.

All Bradman Lake products are the result of thoroughgoing research and development and are developed from an undertaking that every project, no matter how small or technically challenging, will be a custom solution to meet exact customer requirements. This responsive, solutions-based approach has helped establish Bradman Lake as a leading global provider of future-proof packaging technology.

Flexibility, “Future Proof” Principal

The ergonomic modular design provides the ultimate flexibility to handle a wide range of products, carton formats and sizes that can be rapidly adapted to specific requirements enabling our customers to easily meet the demands of the fast-changing markets at any time in the future.

Sustainability

Environmental sustainability is an important focus for Bradman Lake, both in machine development and business operation. As well as promoting recycled packaging, it seeks to minimise packaging material waste through various equipment features. Ergonomic equipment design enables concurrent task completion in one compact frame, reducing spatial requirements, lowering energy and air consumption while ensuring no harmful emissions are produced.

Bradman Lake is proud to communicate its machinery helps to remove many millions of single use plastic trays year on year!

Safety and Hygiene

Robust and well-built to the latest safety and hygiene standards. Upgradable machine construction to handle wash-down applications that are required in the food and healthcare industries. Machine guarding has been designed to provide operator safety, maximum visibility of operation and excellent machine access.

From Process to Pallet

Bradman Lake provides true, single-source turnkey systems, with project management from initial concept to site acceptance and beyond. The benefits to customers include commonality of engineering standards and parts; a single servo motor size, common wiring patterns and identical HMI look-and-feel all contribute to ease of use and operation; a single point of contact for procurement; project manager and aftermarket; FAT for full system occurs in single location and systems are fully integrated and tested prior to delivery resulting in expedited start up.

Intuitive HMIs and a common control platform offer customers an easier method of extracting information from a single source, as well as seamless exchange of data upstream and downstream. A single network infrastructure offers unprecedented levels of visibility, flexibility and scalability to respond to market opportunities and operational threats.

Initial Capital Savings

The core competence of the equipment is its unique capability for seamless future integration with other Bradman Lake innovative equipment to achieve full automation and yet retain initial capital savings.

Smart Layout

Compact footprint which is available in several orientations to suit plant layout and incorporates narrow integral electrical cabinets with easy access. All machines are designed with minimum frame sizes and easy-access guard design.

Customer Service

Backed by readily available and award-winning customer support, commercial commitment, resources, and spare parts delivery.

This article was originally published by Bradman Lake.