Additive manufacturing is playing an expanded role across packaging machinery. Once used primarily to validate concepts, 3D printing is now being applied to tooling, machine components, and production-ready parts.
In this edition of On the Line, we look at how additive manufacturing is changing engineering and production in packaging. We also explore programmable product movement and cable management designed to give robotic systems more flexibility.
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3D Printing in Packaging: Rethinking Engineering, Tooling, and Production
Additive manufacturing is evolving into a viable solution for engineering, machine design, and production. OEMs are using the technology to reduce lead times, validate concepts before production, and help maintain uptime with 3D-printed machine components.
Our latest Packaging OEM report explores how 3D printing is moving beyond prototyping and where it fits across the packaging industry.
Inside the report:
- PBC Linear discusses the opportunity for large-format 3D printing in packaging tooling.
- Stratasys explores moving from design to production without traditional tooling.
- Econocorp shares how printing ideas before production can reduce engineering risk.
- Delkor Systems explains how 3D-printed parts can help protect equipment uptime.
“In many cases, tooling and fixtures that previously required weeks to manufacture can be produced in days,” said Jason Patrick Bartells, application engineer at PBC Linear. “This allows OEMs to accelerate development cycles, reduce inventory requirements, and respond more quickly to customer demands.”
→ Download the report
Provisur Connects Slicing and Packaging with Free-Movement System
Moving sliced products into packaging requires speed, precise placement, and careful handling.
Provisur Technologies’ Formax Free Movement System uses programmable, free-floating movers to automate product handling from slicing through packaging. The system combines several handling functions on one electromagnetic surface, allowing processors to adjust product movement for different food applications.
“Groundbreaking technology is about more than doing the same job faster. It is about simplifying the process,” said Brian Sandberg, director of technology at Provisur, in a statement. “By combining multiple product-handling functions into a single programmable platform, the FMS gives processors flexibility they’ve never had with other systems.”
→ Read more
igus Supports More Than 600° of Robot Cable Rotation
Compact and palletizing robots require cable-management systems that can follow fast rotational movements without interfering with the robot or tooling.
igus’ self-supporting twisterchain energy chain provides more than 600° of rotation without a guide trough. It’s designed to support cable movement around the base of compact robots and along the fifth axis of palletizing robots.
→ Read more
Final Takeaway
3D printing, programmable movement, and cable management address different parts of packaging equipment. But each gives OEMs more flexibility in how machines are designed, built, and operated on the production floor.
