Cama’s newest machine showcased its development of Industry 4.0, helping it to gain several awards and draw a record breaking attendance at the trade fair interpack in Düsseldorf/Germany this year. The IF318 machine, Cama’s new innovative “pitch-less” monoblock platform for the robotic forming, loading and closing of cartons from corrugated or paperboard materials, won the Rockwell Automation “Best Future Machine Award 2017”.

The awards – created to recognize and reward the high levels of innovation in the packaging industry – were split into five categories: modular machines, smart machines, ease of use, sustainability and traceability & product safety. They recognize and reward innovative deployment of contemporary technology in the packaging industry. The finalists were chosen by a prestigious judging panel, comprising representatives from four leading manufacturers (Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, Kimberly Clark and Nestlé) and two major European trade associations (UCIMA and GEPPIA).

Cama was nominated in every category, winning the “ease of use” category and rated highly in others. According to the jury members, the Cama machine ticked a lot of boxes and showed how an integrated, modular design concept can be incredibly flexible and suit multiple applications. Cama’s development of a Digital Twin for the machine, together with a Pack ML compliant user interface incorporating both condition based maintenance and predictive maintenance capability, showed Cama’s vision of the Industry 4.0 concept. The IF318 has attracted considerable interest from a number of world leading packer fillers and big brand owners.