Festo compact round cylinders assist Portuguese system for packaging corks

In Portugal, loading bottle corks for export is made more efficient with Festo technology. Here, packaging corks in neat rows saves 30 per cent of space in shipping containers, allowing larger volumes to be transported in each box.

Manufacturers around the world find unique applications for solutions by The Festo Group. For example, the company’s DSNU compact round cylinder has come in handy in a system for packaging wine corks, developed by Engenharia, Soluções e Inovação (ESI) in Portugal. This partnership between ESI and Festo has existed since 2007.

With the DSNU’s help, this packaging system lowers packaging volume by 30 per cent and eliminates the need for plastic bags.

With lower carbon-dioxide emissions

Corks tend to take up a lot of space when shipped in bulk to wineries internationally. So ESI developed its packaging system to save both energy and carbon-dioxide emissions during transport. Sealing wine with oak corks traditionally creates a leak-proof barrier while still allowing the wine to breathe; just enough ambient air can permeate the cork to ensure the wine matures without spoiling. But the typical means of shipping corks (packing them in plastic bags and stacking them on pallets) proves inefficient, as the instability of the filled bags can complicate logistics and cause damage.

ESI’s innovative robotic system packages corks in an orderly, space-saving manner in cartons. This results in a high reduction in logistics expenses, which directly affects the final cost of the product while substantially lowering the environmental footprint of transport. The system reinforces the cork manufacturers’ dedication to environmentally friendly processes.

This patented solution consists of an autonomous cell and palletizing system with an articulated robot and pneumatic components. This is where Festo comes in: as the production environment is filled with small cork dust particles, ESI requires components with high abrasion resistance. DSNU units are sufficiently rugged for the work environment and perfect for compressing corks as they are sucked in by vacuum cups and placed in cartons. A compact VTUG valve terminal, with short reaction times, high flow rates, and high energy efficiency, controls 20 cylinders in the system.

Festo provides technical support for component selection, material for tests, and help in validating concepts to ESI. Its solutions help to create innovative products that enable ESI customers to boost their competitiveness and productivity.

For more information, contact Festo.

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