After a massive investment, Universal Converting Equipment
has launched its revolutionary Universal X9 slitter and rewinder machine.
The machine is designed to take slitting and rewinding to a new level.
The machine allows film and paper converters to take total control
of all the process parameters that are critical to obtaining high
quality reels of material. Reliance on the operators “black book”
is removed. Control is returned to the operations and quality manager.
The standard machine incorporates a shaft-less unwind,
digital guider, automatic knife setting, Total Tension Control System,
differential rewinds, automatic core alignment and the latest digital
AC drive and control system. A set up wizard ensures the optimum conditions
are used for all materials. Closed loop measurement of all the key
parameters provides total quality control with actual tension profiles
of all the rolls wound stored or printed at the end of each run providing
traceability for you and your customers.
Key Operational Features
and Benefits
1. The Universal X9 has
been designed as a fully integrated slitter rewinder requiring the
minimum of operator input. All operations of the
machine have been integrated together to maximise productivity and
ensure that a consistent quality of product can be produced day in
day out with total traceability of the conditions under which that
product has been produced.
2. The UNIVERSAL X9 incorporates Universal’s
Total Tension Control System (TCCS). Closed loop control of both unwind
and rewind tensions, using load cells for
tension feedback, ensures the highest quality rolls can be produced
at high speed.
3. Safety has been designed into all aspects of the machine. The UNIVERSAL
X9 uses a combination of light barriers and physical
guards to prevent access to the moving parts of the machine. Automation
of the edge guide system, knife positioning and the use of vision
systems eliminates the need for the operator to have access to the
machine whilst it is running.
4. All the operating parameters of the machine are set through the
operator interface. These setting can be saved in the machine recipe
system and they can also be saved remotely via the Ethernet connection.
In addition, the actual winding
tension profiles of all the rolls produced can be saved both on the
machine and
remotely giving total traceability of production conditions. These
parameters can
then be loaded into other UNIVERSAL X9’s
anywhere in the world to replicate the
production conditions.
5. The industrial PC, fitted as standard, incorporates the latest
networking technology using an OPC server to allow all the data to
be transferred to widely used software packages such as Microsoft
Access and Excel. It is then easy to archive the information for traceability
and also easy to produce reports on all aspects of the machines operation.
6. The UNIVERSAL X9 uses the latest digital
drives with digital communication between the drives and the PLC.
As a result, the drive system can be factory set with no need for
any future calibration.
7. A simple wizard allows the correct winding settings to be determined
either on the machine or remotely if required. Answering a few basic
questions allows the necessary data file to be created and eliminates
the need for the machine operator to have detailed knowledge of winding
parameters.
8. Handling and lifting regulations restrict the weight that the machine
operator can lift. The standard machine incorporates floor pick up
of the roll. If the preference is to use a shafted unwind, the special
design and the use of carbon fibre unwind shafts minimises the shaft
weight to a level which one person can comfortably handle.
9. The UNIVERSAL X9 offers high speed with
high control. Running speeds up to 700m/min can be achieved with rewind
diameters up to 800mm.
10. We believe the UNIVERSAL X9 is the most
integrated slitter in production. Through total integration, the level
of operator input has been drastically reduced, removing scope for
errors and so increasing product quality and consistency.
11. The UNIVERSAL X9
does not use hydraulics, eliminating the potential for contamination
of materials with hydraulic oil. No more drip trays!
12. The UNIVERSAL X9 returns control of
the machine that processes the highest value product to the Operation
Manager and the Quality Manager. Traceability, Total Tension Control
System, network capability and remote parameter setting provide the
ultimate in slitting machine control.
for
tension feedback, ensures the highest quality rolls can be produced
at high speed.