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Packaging Equipment Gets to Market Quicker with 3D Software |
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 As a recognized leader in the development and manufacture of specialized polyolefin plastic and paper packaging products and complementary packaging systems, Intertape Polymer Group (intertapepolymer.com) designs a wide range of automated machinery.
The Interpack Machinery Division, based in Lachine, QC, is responsible for the development of a complete line of machines that are used for sealing boxes and cartons.
Recently, competitive pressures and the need to shorten its design cycles and accelerate product time-to-market resulted in a decision to upgrade the group's 2D design software to a 3D parametric solid modeler, according to Christian Beaudry, engineering and production manager. "We wanted to be able to create standard parametric models for all of our systems, from which we could quickly produce customer machinery when necessary. Although we have a central product line, we design a number of custom-designed machines to satisfy unique customer needs."
 According to Pierre Bergeron, a designer at Intertape Polymer Group, "the final assembly of our machines is about 1500 parts. With SolidWorks (3D mechanical CAD software), we design subassemblies using a modular approach, such as the column assembly (10 to 15 parts) or the base assembly (50 parts).
"Most of our products are symmetrical so the mirror-imaging feature is a big plus." Before the 3D software implementation, initial assembly design and design changes took a lot more time, Beaudry said.
"Because the program is parametric and provides associativity among assemblies, parts and drawings, everything updates automatically." Intertape has shortened its design cycle by 35% since switching to 3D MCAD software, as well as seen the number of errors it encounters drop by 50%.
Much of the productivity gains the company has realized can be attributed to using the software's configurations to design a range of assemblies. Configurations allow Intertape to take a single design and automatically create different sizes, capacities, and features.
 "Configurations is a key assembly feature for us because of our modular design approach. The base frame for all of our carton sealers is pretty much the same. Our machines can have two or four columns, which are fairly standard but are sometimes stretched to custom lengths. Other design variables that can change are the material used, the motion produced, the box/carton size that can be accommodated, the tape/sealer utilized, and the height of the machine from the floor," Bergeron said.
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