Siemens Hardware/Software Controls Paper Line
- Published: February 27, 2017
ASHLAND, WI | C.G. Bretting Manufacturing Company has been in business for over 120 years, serving the OEM paper converting industry and providing contract manufacturing services for more than 60 years. OEM paper converting equipment converts rolls of paper into folded and rolled paper products such as napkins, interfolded napkins, singlefold facial tissue, multifold paper toweling, kitchen towel rolls, and bathroom tissue rolls. Bretting’s machines are designed, manufactured, assembled, and tested at the Ashland factory, prior to shipping to the customer’s site for set-up and commissioning.
Bretting recently delivered its first paper converting machine controlled entirely by hardware and software from Siemens. Dave Vedder, director of engineering, C.G. Bretting, says, “Planning and partnerships with our vendors were keys to our success on this first 41-axis Siemens-controlled machine. We planned for success and achieved it. The project started more than 24 months prior to delivery of the machine to the customer.”
He adds, “The project started with listening to our customers, who had been requesting Siemens automation on our equipment for some time. We realized it was time to act, so the Bretting Leadership Team commissioned an effort to provide an acceptable solution. That solution comprised Sinamics drives, Simatic PLC, and Simotion motion controllers.”
Vedder says the combined talents of Siemens, Standard Electric (distributor), and Bretting addressed and resolved any issues as they occurred. The machine was then disassembled and shipped to the customer’s site in Europe. The reassembly, startup, and final commissioning proceeded without issue. The machine is currently running successfully in the field, with no significant service issues reported, according to Vedder.
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