Kongsberg PCS Unveils Upgraded Feeder & Stacker at drupa 2024
Digital cutting solutions provider Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems (Kongsberg PCS) has revealed its newest automation innovation at drupa 2024, underlining the company’s commitment to developing digital solutions that maximize productivity.
Boasting a significantly larger vacuum plenum plate and several new features that minimize setup and the need for manual adjustments, the upgraded Kongsberg Feeder & Stacker v1.2 helps substantially reduce downtime and enable quicker turnaround to significantly boost throughput.
Hall 8A of the Messe Düsseldorf was a hive of activity when Nimil David, Kongberg PCS Product Manager – Robotics and Automation, unveiled the updated machine, describing it as “one of the most advanced automated sheet handling solutions for large format digital finishing.”
“The Feeder & Stacker was developed specifically as a pallet-to-pallet solution to seamlessly increase productivity,” says David. “Its combined automatic loading and unloading significantly speeds up short-run production by eliminating one of the most common bottlenecks in the process, removing the need for operators to manually handle materials and enabling continuous production. With this updated version we have maximized the plenum plate size and reduced other components to deliver optimum efficiency during loading and unloading.
“An active coverage area of more than 95% eliminates the need for the plenum plate to be adjusted for each job, improving setup to further supercharge production and deliver even more speed – and value – throughout the entire job cycle.”
Visitors to drupa 2024 can see all the new features of the Kongsberg Feeder & Stacker firsthand, including the new advanced vacuum system that delivers superior material handling capabilities, ease of use with minimal manual adjustments, optimum pick-up power, improved productivity with reduced setup time, and enhanced reliability.
“As customers look to the future of their own businesses, they are focusing on automation to maximize their own potential. The removal of any manual handling between steps not only increases speed and accuracy of locating and removing materials, but also eliminates any chance of human error that can lead to damage and costly errors. These latest advances in our Feeder & Stacker technology serve to deliver an automation solution specifically designed to address these pain points and empower converters to maximize throughput,” explains David.
Able to handle sheet sizes of up to 3200 mm x 1600 mm – as well as all typical packaging and display material – incorporating the Kongsberg Feeder & Stacker into the production workflow means fewer pallet changes and continuous handling of materials.
“The automated Feeder & Stacker is specifically designed to ensure no damage to the board or the print as it moves to the cutting table. The Kongsberg table then quickly registers cuts and delivers the material to the pallet with perfect stack alignment to ensure consistent production with the next step in the workflow,” says David.
The launch of this upgraded Feeder & Stacker was just the latest innovative solution from Kongsberg PCS to underline its commitment to developing advances in automation, with the company also giving drupa visitors a preview of its new seven-axis, rail-mounted Robotic Material Handler system.
“We are hugely excited to be at drupa and to showcase how our cutting-edge technology is empowering businesses in unlocking their full potential, maximizing productivity, and optimizing return on investment,” adds David.
To see the latest Kongsberg automated Feeder & Stacker in action, or to see other new innovations, visit Kongsberg PCS in Hall 8A / B43 at drupa 2024.
