B and H updates roll-fed labeller series

B and H Labeling Systems has added the Marathon XLA to the Marathon series of roll-fed labellers.

Based on the Marathon XL platform, the Marathon XLA includes design features that enhance ease of operation while maintaining part change compatibility with Marathon XL models.

Like the XL, the XLA offers fast size changeovers, low maintenance requirements, high operating efficiencies and the ability to handle containers from 240ml to 3 litres at speeds up to 650 containers per minute.

Marathon XLA features B and H's Smart drive, a multi-axis servomotor drive-train with automatic label registration and timing that achieves high positional accuracy over the life of the labeller.

Five independent servomotors communicate on a high-speed digital bus to synchronise label feeding, cutting, gluing and container transport, eliminating the gears, belts and chains found in traditional labellers.

The complete Allen-Bradley drive-train and controls platform consists of Allen-Bradley servo drives, servo motors, programmable logic controller (PLC) and human machine interface (HMI).

All electrical components reside in a single control cabinet, which can be mounted on the side of the labeller or placed remotely, up to 24m from the unit, making it ideal for plants with little floor space or wet or caustic environments.

This reconfigured control cabinet improves access to key machine components such as servo motors, while improving access to electrical components.

Marathon XLA features swing-open safety doors, which improve ergonomics and improve machine access.

All upper guarding safety doors are fully interlocked to assure safe operation of the labeller.

With its advanced digital design and recipe-driven repeatability, Marathon XLA achieves a fast changeover - less than 15 minutes from one full production speed to another, including the replacement of change parts - by eliminating time-consuming manual adjustments.

Production parameters for every container and label combination can be stored as recipes in the PLC, and downloaded to set all servo axes to the appropriate positions.

Lightweight, colour-coded RCO (rapid changeover) change parts further ease changeover.

The Marathon XLA uses the same change parts and key functional components as Marathon XL.

For customers using both labellers, this commonality eliminates the need to purchase additional change parts and spare parts associated with the cutter, glue system and vacuum drum.

Equipped with B and H's standard advanced registration control system and optional Invation cutter, Marathon XLA increases productivity by keeping the labeller in-registration, even with stretch-prone labels, labels with variable friction coefficients and labels with out-of-specification eyemarks.

The standard webtracker controls the horizontal tracking of the label, to ensure labels are precisely positioned on containers.

Redesigned valves and vacuum manifold achieve better vacuum control, allowing labels to travel more consistently through the labeller from the cutter to the container.

To ease operation, Marathon XLA features a 10-inch colour touchscreen operator interface with intuitive drop-down menus, graphics and navigation bars.

Security access levels for displays, data entry and system operations are configurable on a site-by-site basis by the system administrator.

Compared to complex rotary machines, the Marathon XLA simplifies operation and maintenance.

Fewer mechanical parts improve reliability, ease maintenance and increase uptime.

More automation features and built-in 24/7 self-checking diagnostics and troubleshooting aids also enhance reliability and uptime.

The key benefits to the customer will be higher machine productivity and low total cost of ownership over the life of the labeller.

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