CONVERSION AND INTEGRATION OF AN EXISTING SYSTEM

The existing production line at the Recticel facility in Stoke (UK) needed to be retrofitted and expanded. This involved a stretch hood installation similar to the one at the Recticel facility in Wevelgem, with an additional retrofit of the existing line, namely

• integration of a palletizing unit capable of feeding wooden pallets in such a way that the packages containing insulation panels can be placed on them;
• integration of a block feeder for the panels that are packaged on Styrofoam blocks;
• integration of a stretch hood machine;
• reprogram the entire system so that all features work together.

An additional challenge was the need to minimize the interruption to ongoing production. To address this, a team from IMA was dispatched to the site. They completed this major task in a short period of time!

IMA is not only a machine manufacturer but also a systems integrator. It’s more advantageous to purchase off-the-shelf products. What we build is always unique and custom-made, and we can integrate it seamlessly into the overall system.

IMA as a contractor/architect

For this project, Recticel purchased a new stretch hood packaging machine and also developed the pallet stacker and block feeder in-house. IMA is also supplying the necessary conveyor belts and a control cabinet that monitors the entire line and keeps it operational.

All of this was integrated into the existing line.

This provided the following additional features:

• Slide blocks under stacks;
• Supply of wooden pallets;
• Integration of a stretch hood applicator;
• Create additional outlet and inlet positions;

Parts of the old line were reused and relocated to accommodate the new machines.

Central operating system

Of course, there’s more to it than just hardware. Integration isn’t complete until all the programs are synchronized. IMA also integrates the control software. Our programmer ensures that all components can communicate with each other and that all process steps are executed correctly—starting and acting at the right times, and so on.

Smooth international cooperation

The fact that this integration went so smoothly is also thanks to the Recticel team, which—under IMA’s supervision—helped dismantle, relocate, and rebuild the system down to the millimeter. Project Manager Dirk: “It was during the pandemic, but thanks to perfect preparation, we were able to complete everything in a minimum amount of time and travel to the UK with a small team to carry out the work. First, five mechanical engineers, then the programmers. Everything was planned down to the hour, including testing.”

"A successful international collaboration!"