MTEX, a leading manufacturer of digital print solutions for printing graphics and images on textiles and other mediums, has enhanced its broad portfolio of products with the assistance of Delta, a provider of professional system integration services
With a concise idea on how it wanted to upgrade its printers, the MTEX sought to move away from the rigid legacy control system architecture in favour of a scalable, more flexible solution. As such, it targeted a system that worked faster and more precisely and that would allow users to select between incremental and absolute encoders. In addition, MTEX wanted it to have a reliable safe torque off (STO) function, support EtherCAT connectivity and make it easier for clients to programme the machine using control system.
Therefore, the company began a project with Delta focusing on two pigment printers. The MTEX NS MULTI 800 is an entry-level model for creating professional packaging and paper bags, while the modular MTEX NS MULTI 1300 can be used to apply pigment inks to coated and untreated materials, transfer films and fabric textiles, in addition to card and paper. Both models are equipped with numerous servo drives and motors for precise control to deliver a perfect finish every time.
According to Delta, the component knowledge of its experts supported MTEX in the project and helped provide consistent end-to-end solutions for industrial automation including consulting, design and implementation services. MTEX also benefitted from the company’s ability to quickly supply a wide range of powerful components, all of which proved crucial in upgrading and configuring the first prototype within an initial six-month period.
During the course of the project, Delta components were selected to upgrade the printers including three servo drives of the ASD-B3A-E series and three servo motors of the ECM-B3M series for the MTEX NS MULTI 800. All the devices are connected via EtherCAT to each other, a MS 300 invertor and an R1-EC gateway. An AX308ET motion controller manages the solution and communicates via OPC UA with the PC and the UI, which is installed on it.
The MTEX NS MULTI 1300 system, meanwhile was equipped with new components including six ASD-B3A-E servo drives, six ECM-B3M servo motors and two MS 300 inverters. The Codesys automation software was also introduced in order to control the ASDB3A-E, AX-308E, MS300 and R1-EC components effectively. It is programmed through the Delta DIADesigner platform with DIADesigner AX based on Codesys to serve as a development environment for PLCs and can be used with axes, drives and slaves from a broad range of manufacturers.
According to Delta, all the requirements specified by MTEX were fulfilled and its upgraded digital printers were able to function faster and more precisely while also being more easily integrated into existing Industry 4.0 environment. As such, MTEX has opted to fit a total of 250 NS MULTI 800 and 100 NS MULTI 1300 printers with the new technology and harbours plans to upgrade the even larger NS MULTI+ models.
Enric Tamarit, field application manager, industrial automation business group at Delta EMEA, remarked, “The success of this upgrade project is largely due to the fact that we at Delta have not only supplied the required components but also offered an entire service package, which, in addition to planning and implementation, also included consulting, and a well-designed software training. We have given MTEX a complete solution for industrial automation and are looking forward to contributing our expertise to the projects that the business has already planned for the future.”
