Flower Pot Edge Rolling Machine
Project summary
MWES provided this firm with a new custom-designed machine to improve its plastic blow-molded flower pot manufacturing process.
The Challenge
Manufacturing blow-molded plastic products is a relatively simple process. However, once the molds have been formed any additional rolls or folds performed by manual labor have to be formed while the product is still soft, otherwise it requires too much force for a typical person to perform accurately. This firm approached MWES in search of an automated machine that would perform one of the final steps in manufacturing plastic blow-molded flower pots. The machine had to roll the pot’s top edge/lip inward and accommodate four different-sized pots.
The Solution
MWES designed and built a completely custom turn-key automated machine that would take a blow-molded flower pot and rotate it around on a turntable. As the pot rotates, clamps would press the top edge of the pot forcing it inward to create a rounded lip. An operator would be required to perform part changeovers and to manually swap out the pots once completed.
The machine operator starts by swapping out the central support nest if a product changeover is necessary. After the support nest has been installed for the proper flower pot type, the operator places the flower pot into the support nest and clamps it down with a hand crank. From there, the worker would activate the lip rolling cycle via the HMI interface panel. Forming clamps would force the pot’s lip into the desired rounded shape as it rotates on a turntable 360 degrees. Once the lip rolling process is complete, the operator removes the completed flower pot from the machine and places it on a rack.
Impact to the Customer
The custom turn-key flower pot edge rolling machine MWES integrated for this customer has an average lip rolling cycle time of 10 seconds from start to finish and drastically simplifies a relatively difficult operation when performed manually.
Midwest Engineered Systems has extensive experience in building custom turn-key automation cells. If you want to improve your manufacturing throughput, we have the knowledge and experience to make the project successful.
Contact us to learn how Midwest Engineered Systems can automate even your most complex and challenging operations today!
Innovation Through Automation
Client Details
A leading US-based designer, manufacturer and distributor of high-quality resin products located in Chicago.