New filling plant for Menz & Gasser to increase production capacity and user-friendliness.
CFT Group, Italy - Ensuring safety at all times
New filling plant for Menz & Gasser to increase production capacity and user-friendliness.
Machine Building
CFT Group
Parma Italy
CFT Group manufactures processing and packaging machines for the food, liquid food, and beverage industry. On its rotary filling systems, the company faced two primary challenges:
Interface complexity: Previous machine generations relied on components from multiple different suppliers for individual subsections, complicating engineering, development, and customer service.
Balancing safety and productivity: High-speed moving parts and pressurized liquids posed hazards during troubleshooting and maintenance. Operators needed safe access to the machine interior without requiring complete shutdowns that result in lengthy restart times.
Siemens replaced the customer's multi-vendor setup with a single-source automation, motion control, and safety architecture engineered within the TIA Portal framework:
Motion Control & Safety Logic: Coordinated control combining the SIMOTION D425 motion controller with a fail-safe SIMATIC S7-1500 (CPU 1513F) and SIMATIC ET 200SP fail-safe distributed I/O.
Safe Maintenance via Safe Operating Stop (SOS): Integrated safety function on SIMOTION D425 allows operators to safely enter the enclosure or run the machine at reduced speed during maintenance while the drives safely retain their torque, enabling instant restart without re-homing.
Drives & Integrated Technology: SINAMICS G120 frequency converters, SIMATIC S7-1200 controllers, and SIWAREX WP251 weighing modules for precise filling control.
Operation & Digital Safety Communication: SIMATIC HMI KTP700F Mobile panel with integrated safety controls, SIRIUS ACT command devices, and PROFINET/PROFIsafe fieldbus communication.
Thanks to the TIA Portal with its associated software solutions and diagnostic tools, we have succeeded in reducing the work hours for the planning and commissioning of each individual machine by approx. 30%.
Filippo Tedeschi, Filler & Seamer Automation Manager at CFT Group
Standardizing on a unified Siemens motion control and safety platform delivered significant engineering and operational benefits:
Approx. 30% reduction in work hours: Planning and commissioning time per machine was cut by approximately 30% using TIA Portal software and integrated diagnostic tools.
Lower wiring costs and effort: PROFINET and PROFIsafe minimize physical wiring, reduce interface complexity, and enable modular machine extensions.
Faster restart and higher productivity: Retaining motor torque during servicing via the Safe Operating Stop (SOS) function eliminates homing delays after interventions.
Simplified servicing and diagnostics: Single-source architecture and expanded TIA Portal diagnostics streamline regular maintenance and after-sales customer service.
CFT Group, headquartered in Parma, Italy, is a leading global supplier of processing and packaging machinery and turnkey systems for the food, liquid food, and beverage industry.
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