Erhardt+Leimer

Delivering Total Control in Rubber and Tire Manufacturing

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Todd Guzzardo, President

A manufacturer’s ability to ensure timely delivery of high-quality products is continually tested by technological advancements and skyrocketing market demands. In the rubber and tire manufacturing sector, for instance, companies rely on next-gen automation and inspection hardware and software offerings to cope with the surge in their customer requirements. Consequently, these manufacturers are expected to steer away from data complexities and operational inefficiencies that eventually lead to subpar quality and delays in the delivery of end-products. Erhardt+Leimer —a pioneer of industrial automation—addresses the aforementioned challenges through a holistic approach to process control, customer engagement, and production automation within the rubber and tire manufacturing industry. “Unlike our contemporaries that offer products capable of enhancing a single manufacturing process, we provide a complete solution for all the manufacturing needs of our clients within the rubber and tire industry,” says Todd Guzzardo, President at Erhardt+Leimer.

Erhardt+Leimer’s portfolio can be categorized into two major sections, namely, automation and inspection. Under its wide range of offerings, Erhardt+Leimer has put together a web guiding system, supported by infrared, optical, and laser sensors that can detect even the smallest deformities in the manufacturing line and the end-product.

Unlike our contemporaries that offer products capable of enhancing a single manufacturing process, we provide a complete solution for all the manufacturing needs of our clients within the rubber and tire industry

Erhardt+Leimer also offers web width control systems that are backed by the same technology and Ethernet connectivity as its web guiding system. “Our ability to offer users web management capabilities through our Ethernet controller is what sets us apart from our contemporaries,” adds Guzzardo.

On the other hand, the company’s tension measurement and tension control systems enable users to measure the tension on load cells. Erhardt+Leimer’s tension-specific solutions support a variety of load cells, including flange, pillow block, and roller head types. Another core functionality offered by the company’s tension measurement and control systems is their ability to integrate with multiple amplifier variants—analog, PAD-controlled, and the combination of the two—to satisfy various client needs. Additionally, these offerings support a wide tension-measuring range (0.1 kN to 10 kN) and Ethernet connectivity to facilitate communication via programmable logic controllers (PLCs).

Founded in 1919, the company boasts unmatched expertise in providing process control equipment to multiple industry sectors such as tire and rubber, textile, converting, printing, corrugating, among others. And according to Maulik Desai, sales division manager of tire and rubber at Erhardt+Leimer, the company’s customer engagement methodology plays a massive role in its success. At the commencement of an engagement, Erhardt+Leimer’s sales team gathers necessary information pertaining to a client’s business prerequisites and provides critical insights on the same to the company’s highly competent development team. Following this, the development team chooses the product that is best-suited to the customer’s needs and builds complementary software geared to enhance the implementation of the said products.

With such unparalleled capabilities, Erhardt+Leimer has built a global operational footprint and partner network, which extends to 19 different countries and 100 offices across the world. “Our global footprint allows us to assist clients and ensure the timely delivery of our equipment regardless of their location,” states Guzzardo. With its comprehensive coverage and innovative approach to product development, Erhardt+Leimer has expanded its market share sevenfold in the last five years, consistently backed by its customer support team that serves clients 24/7. Moving ahead, the company is planning to launch its ELNET platform to assist manufacturers in connecting all the deployments within their production line and build a manufacturing environment that is in lockstep with the Industry 4.0. “Through ELNET, we aspire to empower clients in gaining total control of implementations beyond their inspection processes and ensure continuous delivery of superior products,” concludes Desai.

- Ava Gracia
May 27, 2020

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Erhardt+Leimer

Company
Erhardt+Leimer

Management
Todd Guzzardo, President

Description
Specializes in providing system solutions and process control equipment to web-based industries, including web guiding, web tension control, and vision systems

Erhardt+Leimer News

Erhardt+Leimer unveils latest tech advancements

New generation SmartScan and rotary actuating drives among the highlights

During the upcoming Labelexpo Europe event, scheduled to be held in Brussels from September 11 to 14, Erhardt+Leimer plans to showcase various innovative products. These include new rotary drives as well as the latest generation of their SmartScan print image inspection system. Visitors to the E+L stand will have the opportunity to explore a range of systems and equipment related to web guiding, web tension control, and print monitoring.

Erhardt+Leimer recently expanded their actuator product range by introducing rotary actuating drives. These drives, marketed under the EL.Motion brand as AD 11 and AD 12 motors, are characterized by their integrated controller and intelligent capabilities. They are designed to offer precise position control, speed control, and torque control, making them well-suited for applications that require quiet operation and long-lasting performance. The drives can be directly connected to two external limit switches, and their distributed intelligence and dedicated interface concept allow for decentralized drive topology, reducing wiring and space requirements in control cabinets. Erhardt+Leimer provides various communication standards to facilitate seamless integration of these drives.

The AD series is equipped with EL.Net technology, enabling control tasks without the need for an external controller. E+L offers a variety of sensors and input/output modules to support this functionality. All drives come with standard web-based management, allowing users to access and adjust motor settings or check its status via a PC browser when connected through Ethernet. Additionally, E+L prioritizes open connectivity and provides open access through Ethernet/UDP or certified standard protocols such as Ethernet/IP, Profinet, and Powerlink.

The new generation of SmartScan, known as the MIS2 model, retains its compatibility with printing machines and rewinders. This updated version boasts improved speed, compactness, and a fresh design. The 2K resolution variant achieves speeds of up to 600m/min, while the 4K variant reaches speeds of up to 400m/min. Enhanced LEDs and an optimized lighting concept contribute to enhanced image quality. The standard features now include a reflection module for displaying reflective materials, usually metal-coated or finishing foils (e.g., gold, silver), as well as an exchangeable background panel, particularly useful for transparent materials.

This comprehensive package instills confidence in various industries, including label and packaging printing. Despite the significant reduction in the camera units' height, standard functions such as integrated lighting on the rear panel and roller guidance remain uncompromised. An improved installation concept simplifies integration into printing machines or rewinders. In addition, the software has been enhanced and expanded, incorporating new defect detection algorithms that improve the reliability of spotting defects. The defect classification system has also been enhanced to categorize defects like missing labels, unremoved matrix, print errors, glue joints, and flags with even greater accuracy. Furthermore, additional defect classes including hole defects, barcodes, and incorrect length are available. These comprehensive defect and error capture options enable detailed evaluations, leading to better understanding and optimization of production processes.

The tried and tested 200 percent inspection technology continues to be utilized, with improvements made to the detection of hole defects and the illumination of fluorescent materials. The new features also benefit special applications such as the production of labels with integrated RFID antennas. Erhardt+Leimer's latest offerings provide enhanced capabilities and performance to meet the evolving needs of the industry.