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conducted as an end-of-line test on one or a few appreciate the technical support and assistance
samples from each batch. This means that if a single offered, which helps to deliver the type of advanced
canister is defective, the entire batch may be tailor-made solutions we specialise in.”
scrapped, resulting in high wastage, cost and poor The innovative, automated leak detection system
efficiency. On the other hand, if the sample examined developed by Mitsubishi Electric and Optimal consists
passes the quality control test, this doesn’t exclude of a carousel conveyor running at constant speed and
the possibility of off spec items remaining in the composed by 86 cavity holders, known as ‘pucks’.
batch, which may enter the market. These hold the individual canisters and transport
These benefits were particularly appealing to a them through a tunnel, designed to help concentrate
forward-looking manufacturer of pressurised MDI any gas leakage by sealing the top and bottom of the
(pMDI) canisters, that wanted to drive performance in pucks. A sensitive laser gas analyser is used to test
its quality control strategies. To implement a reliable, the air surrounding the canisters. If an item is found
advanced system, the pharmaceutical company to be defective and leaking even a tiny amount of
contacted Optimal, an expert in process control and propellant gas it is discarded. Operators can monitor
system integration. the process in real-time via Mitsubishi Electric’s
Nigel Penny, project manager at Optimal MAPS SCADA platform, which shares information
Industrial Automation, comments: “We knew that the with the gas analysers.
application would require a high level of accuracy and
repeatability in position control to effectively move Fully synchronised robots
and monitor the pMDI canisters. Mitsubishi Electric The system uses two Mitsubishi Electric FR-Series
offers very reliable and accomplished small robots four-axis SCARA robots, which position the canisters
which are easy to synchronise and control, using correctly into the moving puck as well as place all
powerful controllers and intuitive software. We also items that pass through the leak testing onto an

April 2020 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY EXTRA! • p9