IMI has built a solid reputation over the past several years by bringing together legendary brands in the automation industry, including Bahr, Norgren, and Bimba. These products were on display at PACK EXPO in Las Vegas to highlight the rugged construction and the capable control systems that are necessary for the packaging industry.
Reliable Fluid Actuators
Tough situations require tough devices. And there is no better way to illustrate those devices than to subject them to real-world conditions right in front of the trade show visitors. IMI offers cylinders with IP ratings that are sufficient to protect them, even under full washdown conditions.
IMI cylinders operating with constant water ingress.
IMI offers a wide range of actuators to fit nearly any need, both linear and rotary, pneumatic and hydraulic, single and double acting, built for a wide range of safety and protection classes.
Fluid Control Systems
Electrical control is also a critical part of today’s manufacturing landscape. While fluids have an excellent power-to-weight ratio and are cost-effective, electrical control can be favorable in many situations. Especially when positional and force feedback are necessary. IMI demonstrated a full lineup of control components for fluid valves and for electric actuators.
Electrical control system demonstration.
From air preparation to valve banks, and even fieldbus devices for distributed I/O, IMI is equipped to work with new and existing systems and bring them up to modern IIoT specifications.
Control of airflow is also important for many process systems. Controlling flow and pressure is useful for robotic gripping and vacuum generators, and for any proportional processes that cannot work with simple discrete control.
Electrical Motion Axes
In addition to the fluid controls, IMI also offers linear motion in the form of an extensive electric servo axis catalog. Many of these motion devices were on display in the booth and incorporated into the demonstrations. In one interesting exhibit, loose cardboard dust was blown around a chamber that contained a moving axis; yet another example of reliable motion under harsh working conditions.
IMI offers electric control and motion devices.
IMI Brings Movement Into the Future
PACK EXPO was a demonstration of the best of the current packaging world, and a glimpse into future innovations. IMI, with its solid representation from IMI Norgren, IMI Bimba, and IMI Bahr, provided both of these perspectives.
The catalog of fluid controls and actuators will support both existing designs and cost-effective future projects for decades. At the same time, electric motion and IIoT-enabled control components can allow nearly any machine center to be integrated into a larger network that evaluates the performance of a system and optimizes the parameters. Through this catalog, IMI hopes to give the packaging industry an easy step into the future.
