Incorrect clamping force is one of the main causes of load and/or packaging damage in the white goods industry. Clamping force must be adjusted to suit the requirements of the logistic handling chain. In principle each load and each handling operation would require a specific clamping force setting. This is impossible without an automatic, intelligent clamping force control.

The Bolzoni Auramo solution to the excessive clamping problems is the Intelligent Carton & Appliances Clamp ETX-G3S Series. Designed for safe and damage-free handling, the most common application fields are in the white goods and high-volume carton boxes handling. The ETX intelligent system can be installed on almost all models of Bolzoni Auramo carton and appliance parallel clamps.

The Bolzoni Auramo "Intelligent" Carton Clamp ETX-G3S Series combines the technical features of the standard carton clamp such as:
• strong double T-profiles
• aluminium arm pads with rubber lining
• both arm pads oscillating
and the latest microprocessor technology to control the clamp operations.

The Bolzoni Auramo ETX-G3S is an intelligent automatic clamping force control system for carton and appliances clamps, using the latest hydraulics, electronics and microprocessor technology for effective and accurate clamp operation control. The system uses advanced sensors technology that identifies the number of units, the load dimensions and configuration and consequently selects the starting minimum working pressure. Any load movement is detected by slip sensors, which send the information to the Controller Unit. The Controller Unit instructs a proportional valve to increase the hydraulic pressure in the clamping cylinder and consequently the clamping force between the arms with an instantaneous reaction time. The system is fine tuned according to customer requirements: minimum and maximum clamping forces are predetermined according to load specifications.

The ETX-G3S Intelligent Cartons & Appliances Clamp Series operates in a similar way as a conventional carton clamp. The lift truck operator controls the opening and closing of the clamps and the load lifting during all handling conditions. Compared to a conventional clamp, the Intelligent Carton Clamp is able to control and automatically adjust the pressure in the clamping cylinders after the lift truck driver has clamped and lifted the load. A Control Light Unit indicates the operational status of the clamp

ETX-G3S Options:
• Display unit
• Memory Module
• Advanced Window-based diagnostic program
• CAN-bus interface to the lift truck

The Intelligent clamps can be equipped with a Display Unit, which is used for online diagnostic and for monitoring and adjusting the system configuration:
• allows online diagnostic testing
• displays the handling status
• displays the clamping force
• enables operational testing
• enables system configuration adjustments
• multi-language display

The Intelligent Carton clamp ETX-G3S can be equipped with a Memory Module, which automatically collects handling history data into a log file. The handling history data contains information about handling sequences. Up to 10,000 handling records can be stored into the Memory Module. The handling history data can be analysed with the Handling History Analyser (CHHA).
Each record shows the following data:
• day, month, year
• time
• maximum applied clamping force
• load movement

The Bolzoni Auramo ETX-G3S intelligent automatic clamping force control system uses an advanced sensors technology that identifies the number of units, the load dimensions and configuration and consequently selects the starting minimum working pressure.

Handling History Analyzer (CHHA) is a graphical Windows-based program that allows handling history data to be downloaded to an external computer for analysis and printing. The CHHA analyses the handling history data and displays it in a graphical format for easy detection of any abnormalities in the handling operations. The CHHA is supplied together with the optional Memory Module.

The Bolzoni Auramo Intelligent Cartons & Appliances Clamp ETZ-G3S Series is the solution to the white goods handling problems, avoiding all damages to the machines and the packaging and allowing a safe, quick and easy handling of the load in any case of applications.

The Intelligent Cartons & Appliances Clamp ETZ-G3S Series will be presented during the next Hannover Exhibition, October, 11-15, on the Bolzoni Auramo Stand C52 - Hall 15.

Click here to visit Bolzoni's special website for Hannover.