TPT July 2024

ADVANCES IN TUBE MEASURING & MARKING

Sikora presents system for the measurement of corrugated pipes

In order to minimise the duration in which start-up scrap is produced, the manufacturers’ goal is to implement a permanent wall thickness and eccentricity measurement as early as possible in the extrusion process and to use these measuring values to control the process and enable a fast centring. Due to its hill-valley outer pipe contour, the measurement of corrugated pipes is quite challenging. The X-Ray 6000 Pro C-Pipeai enables precise measurement of the hill-valley outer contour of corrugated pipes in the extrusion process. By measuring the wall thickness and eccentricity at an early stage, fast centring is ensured and start-up scrap is reduced. In addition to reliable Leibinger’s IQJET is manufactured using durable, high-quality components and a product design that minimises wear and tear, allowing it to be maintenance free for five years, removing this cost altogether. Maintenance and spare parts policies should be a primary question, as they can constitute a significant long term cost factor. Labour: given current labour shortages, it is important to consider the time cost of people – how long operators spend setting up or cleaning printers, or re-programming them between jobs. Printers that are easy to install, manage and configure, with remote control options, for example, will cost less in the long run. Such features are included in Leibinger printers. The IQJET’s drag and-drop interface and simple print-job creation process are intuitive, requiring no extensive employee training. Purchase price: the obvious cost of printing is the cost of equipment, although this is less than 30 per cent of the total costs. A high quality, reliable brand will cost more. Higher speeds and more features also add to the cost, so the best way to economise is to not pay for things you do not need.

WITH the X-Ray 6000 Pro C-Pipeai, Sikora presents a system for the reliable measurement of layer transitions in the production of corrugated pipes. By combining newly developed software, based on artificial intelligence, with an X-ray based system, a precise evaluation of the X-ray data of corrugated pipes is possible. There are two crucial phases during the production of corrugated pipes. In the beginning of manufacturing, it must be ensured that the different layers of the pipes are concentric. This evaluation can take several minutes, even hours, where only scrap is produced. After the start-up phase, the products must be evaluated in order to comply with predefined specifications at a certain line speed. CODING and marking specialist Leibinger is often asked how customers can reduce printing costs. The response can be surprising, as it includes costs that may not have been considered. The company has detailed six ways that printers cost money, and how to reduce total cost. Downtime: the cost that is most often overlooked when talking about coding and marking. Downtime can be created by poor print quality as well as by poor printer performance. Some conventional printers need cleaning between pauses in production, meaning the production line sits idle: some printers can take up to 20 minutes to stabilise before they are ready to print again. Leibinger’s printer technology keeps unused ink in a 100 per cent airtight system, so it does not dry out or clog, and production is not held up for cleaning. Maintenance: keeping machines serviced and in good working order can be a significant part of the overall cost. The approach of some printing solution providers revolves around the wholesale replacement of ink core modules – the entire hydraulic system – at predetermined time intervals. However,

process control during production, this continuous quality control enables maximum cost savings. Sikora offers the X-Ray 6000 Pro C-Pipeai for measuring corrugated pipes

Sikora AG www.sikora.net

The hidden costs of industrial tube printing and marking

Consumables: reducing the amount of ink and solvent used will reduce costs. Leibinger states that its latest printers have one of the lowest consumption ratings on the market, at 2.7ml of solvent per hour for MEK inks (competing products consume between 6 and 10ml per hour). The company’s ink cartridges are emptied down to the last drop and do not require separate disposal. Power: energy prices remain high, so the power required to run printers is importantr. Costs can be reduced by choosing equipment with a low wattage rating, such as the new IQJET. Leibinger’s Total Cost of Ownership Calculator can provide the numbers to show exactly how much could be saved. Go to: https://leibinger-group.com/ intelligent-inkjet/tco Leibinger Total Cost of Ownership Calculator can identify hidden costs and calculate individual savings

Paul Leibinger GmbH & Co KG www.leibinger-group.com

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JULY 2024