Outlook 2017: Simple, highly efficient systems to gain acceptance

Optimism dominates the auxiliary sector with many players constantly developing innovative products to support  machinery manufacturers. According to Frank Kavanagh, Vice President of Sales of Maguire Products, Inc., the company has responded to the automation trend by launching a new breed of gravimetric blenders aimed at speeding up the transition toward an Industry 4.0 operation. 

 

“For our range of gravimetric blenders, we have just launched the new Maguire® 4088 controller, which operates with seven times the speed of the previous controller, eight times the memory, and 45 times the resolution of the load cells used to weigh batch ingredients. Because of its far greater data processing capability, the 4088 controller helps plastics processors speed the transition toward an “Industry 4.0” mode of operation by substantially enhancing communications with other devices.” In addition, by combining centralized control of both blending and loading, it addresses the need on the part of many processors for a greater degree of factory automation.

 

“I cannot discuss our range of gravimetric blenders, however, without pointing out that 2016 is a landmark year for us—the year in which we have shipped our 50,000th Maguire® blender,” Mr. Kavanagh added.  When Maguire company president Steve Maguire developed the gravimetric batch blender in 1989, it was the first affordable and easy to operate system for precisely controlling the composition of a raw material blend. Today the Maguire blender is the world’s most widely used gravimetric blender and has been installed in every type of plastics manufacturing operation, from compounding to extrusion to molding.

 

Another quite new product from Maguire is our LoPro™ vacuum loading system for conveying pellets and regrind from storage to single or multiple blenders. It is simpler to operate than standard systems and consists of autonomously controlled receivers that are fully 80% shorter than conventional material loaders and receivers.  

 

 

For 2017, Maguire is looking forward to a surge in European business.  “Industry-wide we see a move toward smarter, more intuitive equipment controls that integrate multiple features and functions to one simple interface. One example is the new 4088 blender controller, which, as I mentioned, provides centralized control of both blending and loading and facilitates communication with other devices in the factory setting,” Mr. Kavanagh explained.  Mr. Kavanagh also sees  a trend toward “seamless data,” where the push for simplicity and visualization is crucial. This allows managers to see in a moment how the process is running and that a plant is effectively controlling its raw material simply and efficiently.

 

“With the growing drive to the internet of things and being better connected, there is a sweeping movement in the industry to make operating systems simpler, easier, and faster, yet for that to be really true a huge amount of work and investment has to happen. With the speed of change in things like consumer apps, for example, what was great two years ago maybe completely superseded now. So a major challenge for us is to lay down a system “backbone” that looks both forward and backward. A key premise to equipment design for Maguire has always been the ability to have full compatibility from a system built today in relation to a system built in, say, 1990. We are committed to make sure this holds true with all our products.”

 

 

Maguire Products Asia Pte Ltd.

Tel: +65-6848-7117

E-mail: magasia@maguire-products.com.sg. 

Website: www.maguire.com.