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Description
PRACCIS (Plastic Resin Automatic Central Conveying Intelligent System) is an investment project, that will secure the automation of the remaining parts of the production process that are still manually operated. The project will optimize raw material storage and distribution with real-time tracking of the available stock, eliminate machine downtime, optimize quality control, decrease labor intensity, and increase free working and storage space. The Project Promoter, Plastics K-Kotronis, manufactures exclusively plastic containers and lids suitable for food packaging (yogurt, feta, salads, etc.) using injection molding machines.
Through the project, approximately 2 new jobs will be created. The company will also increase its revenues and competitiveness.
Summary of project results
PRACCIS (Plastic Resin Automatic Central Conveying Intelligent System) is an investment project, that concerns the automation of the handling, storage, transportation and loading of raw material in a plastics manufacturing line that produces food containers. Before the project was implemented, the raw material for each machine and product produced was manually selected, transported within the production facility and loaded to the injection molding machine. This lead to delays, complications, mistakes as well as an increased workload for production staff on the shop floor.
The project covers the full cycle of raw material in the company''s production facility, from storage (primary and secondary), transportation via vacuum lines (pipes that connect the storage units with the machines), and loading the injection molding machines with the appropriate raw material.
Specifically, the project included the following activities:
- Open tender process to select the main suppliers (storage units (outdoor and indoor silos), sack opening and emptying system, central conveying system (vacuum pipes for the transportation of raw material)
- Geotechnical study for the outdoor silos'' foundation
- Installation of a metal platform in the shop floor, incl. stands for the pipe system
- Material lines and vacuum lines (piping connection system from storage area to central distribution stations and finally to the machines)
- Installation of the central automatic distribution stations
- Installation of the hopper loaders and dosing units
- Construction of the metal cabin for the protection of the Debagging machines
- Outdoor silo foundation and silos construction/placement (storage area)
- Sack opening and emptying system (debagging)
- Control system
The automation and optimization of raw material storage and distribution with real-time tracking of the available stock will contribute to the reduction of the machine downtime, the optimisation of quality control, the decrease of labor intensity, and the increase of free working and storage space. The project will contribute to increased revenues and increased net operating profit for the company. Through the project, 2 new jobs were also created.