Improve automation acceptance by conveying bulk solids with Piab’s new product series

Only the broader adaptation of automation can lead to higher productivity levels in manufacturing - but the leap has to be aligned with the users to be successful. Vacuum conveying solutions for powders, granules, and small particles must be easy to adapt, efficient, and sustainable. Piab continues to evolve manufacturing workplaces with the piFLOW® Batch Volume Optimization, a new vacuum conveyor product series.

The automation level in the Food, Pharmaceuticals, and Chemicals markets is developing rapidly due to the adaptation of new solutions globally. The acceptance is increasing thanks to the obvious benefits of automation, such as improved product hygiene and employee safety. Heightened consumers' expectations and legislative agency regulations also force manufacturers to re-evaluate their processes, but there are still some reasons why they choose not to invest. Currently, manufacturing plants often consist of separate silos of automation where process steps are not entirely connected.

One of the main concerns against the adaptation is the organisation's lack of acceptance of new technologies. A high fluctuation rate and the scarcity of trained, competent operators or technicians makes it difficult to take the leap. Therefore, all new equipment introduced must be as user-friendly as possible in order to decrease employee onboarding time and to reduce the possibility of human error.

Piab has taken all the above requirements into account when they developed their new product series, called the piFLOW® Batch Volume Optimization, besides their standard piFLOW® vacuum conveyor range. The Batch Volume Optimization functionality is easy to maintain, compliant with industry standards, and enhances productivity dramatically.

The conveyor takes solids from a pickup point and releases them into a receiving vessel or a piece of equipment in batches. Batch Volume Optimization features a level sensor. Once the conveyor is filled up by each cycle, the sensor automatically triggers the release process. This way, operators can set the conveyor up quickly, and the automatic level sensing adds an extra layer of safety, which protects the equipment from unplanned maintenance.

"Even robust industrial equipment is used by humans – we can't expect people to adopt automation techniques if they have a hard time understanding it. It works the same way as adopting new mobile technology or other personal devices. If we manage to make it accessible, it will be easy to adapt for the users." – says Laura Katinaite, Director of Product Management Vacuum Conveying. She adds: "Piab is a true pioneer in finding easy-to-use solutions. We are a Swedish company, having a long experience of evolving industrial processes – it is in our DNA. We believe this new product series will be easy to adapt first and foremost for those who switch from manual handling or some forms of mechanical conveying and will enhance the experience of using vacuum conveying for powder handling.”

Batch Volume Optimization represents a medium level of automation in the piFLOW® range. The full range spans from the well-known and reliable standard product series to Auto-tuning, a fully automated vacuum conveying solution. No matter the application, there is a piFLOW® tailored to it.

More information

For more information, please contact:

Klara Stumpf, Product Marketing Specialist Vacuum Conveying
Tel: +46 70 294 22 04
E-mail: klara.stumpf@piab.com

About Piab

At Piab we evolve automation, creating sustainable solutions for a safer and more efficient workplace in an automated world. We provide gripping skills to robots, intelligent flow to materials, and lifting power to humans. We want to improve today’s world for the better. This ambition is embedded into everything we do. It is in every idea, every interaction, every product, and solution we provide. Our customers are in just every sector, including the food & beverage, automotive, packaging, logistics & warehousing, e-commerce, electronics, chemicals, and pharmaceutical industries, and general manufacturing.
With sales of c. 1.9 BSEK, more than 900 employees and 4 divisions, Piab is a global organization, serving customers in more than 100 countries from a network of subsidiaries and distributors. Since 2018, Piab is owned by Patricia Industries, part of Investor AB.

Evolving ourselves.
Evolving you.
Evolving automation.