Platform for the food and beverage industry
Schneider Electric, leader in the digital transformation of energy management and industrial automation, launches the Lexium MC12 multi-carrier for moving, grouping and positioning products in industrial operations. The new multi-carrier is designed in conjunction with digital twin technology. Thus, Schneider Electric is responding to the increasing need for greater flexibility, higher productivity and faster time-to-market of machines for automating individual processes.
The digital twin software offers benefits throughout the machine life cycle. The software improves the quality of the design and testing processes. It also minimizes commissioning costs. OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) can design, test and optimize the system without having to make modifications to the existing plant. A digital multi-carrier model created for simulation is more flexible and efficient for operations and maintenance. New products are tested virtually, reducing time to market exponentially.
"By using EcoStruxure Machine from Schneider Electric, including the Lexium MC12 multi-carrier system, our operations are much easier to integrate," said Federico Scornaienchi, Export Manager at Livetech. "Our machines are faster, more modular and have a smaller footprint. This saves us 30-40% in costs and it speeds up changeover time by 50%. Also, this powerful digital solution makes maintenance much easier. This allows us to better serve our international customers in the food industry."
"Multi-carrier solutions contribute to innovative machine designs that reduce footprint, increase flexibility and integrate modern diagnostics into efficient machines," said Ali Haj Fraj, SVP Digital Plant and Machine Solutions at Schneider Electric. "The Lexium MC12 multi-carrier is a new generation of linear conveyor systems and is part of EcoStruxureTM Machine - Schneider Electric's interoperable IoT system architecture. Thus, machine builders need to use only one tool for engineering and lifecycle management for: logic, motion, safety, variable speed drives, digital load management, robotics and now multi-carrier transportation solutions, among others."
Installation of the Lexium MC12 is performed without special tools. While making the rails, segments are joined and fixed on a flat surface. No stands or holders are required. Power and fieldbus are connected with interconnection elements without additional cables. In the inner loop, there are no cover plates or structural elements. This allows mechatronic elements such as robots or process stations to be easily mounted in or adjacent to the multi-carrier. To optimize maintenance and reduce unnecessary downtime, linear motion technology also provides more diagnostic capabilities. By centralizing diagnostics, the components of each machine are easily analyzed. Abnormalities are quickly detected before problems arise, and machine builders and operators can remotely track, monitor and repair their machines. Also, the combination of the Lexium MC12 and the EcoStruxure Machine Advisor, a digital cloud-based service platform.
Industrial machinery becomes more durable, flexible, serviceable and simple thanks to the Lexium MC12. It offers, among other things:
