Spectro 4.0 Smart Technologies Designed for plastic injection molding, blow molding and extrusion processes, Ampacet’s technologies include the inline color measurement system and Spectrometric color measurement and correction system. To keep tabs on color data from anywhere, users have the option of cloud services.
What’s new? Optional integration with solutions from artificial intelligence software and machine vision specialist Eigen Innovations, which also has partners among various other hardware companies in the areas of thermal imaging for surface defect detection, heat sensing and optical camera technologies. The Ampacet/Eigen integration correlates part records with color metrics captured by sensors, giving users even more insights into color performance. The Eigen system works with processing machines and PLCs, so parts can be removed or production shut down if the system spots issues. The system can automate a signal to the masterbatch feeder to adjust dosing automatically in real time.
Benefits The ability to perform inline quality monitoring and management with a high degree of accuracy, allowing users to make color corrections quickly, resulting in reductions of downtime, masterbatch consumption, product rejects and scrap. The integrated Eigen/Ampacet system can learn, prevent and correct quality issues as they occur, and it suggests possible fixes for problems. As it makes these corrections, it shares information across connected equipment, keeping other lines and plants up to date. This frees personnel from having to perform manual monitoring and testing.
Ampacet Corp., Tarrytown, N.Y., 914-631-6600, www.ampacet.com
Eigen Innovations, Fredericton, New Brunswick, 506-999-1821, www.eigen.io
Karen Hanna | Senior Staff Reporter
Senior Staff Reporter Karen Hanna covers injection molding, molds and tooling, processors, workforce and other topics, and writes features including In Other Words and Problem Solved for Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing, Plastics Recycling and The Journal of Blow Molding. She has more than 15 years of experience in daily and magazine journalism.
