The Company and the Context
Valves Italia, headquartered in Modena, is a significant player in the national hydraulics scene. Founded in 2014, the company has experienced steady growth, reaching a turnover of 26 million euros and employing 130 people. Their production includes a full range of hydraulic components, from load control systems to pressure control valves, serving various industries in both the domestic and international markets.
The company stands out not only for the quality of its products, but also for its focus on employee welfare and corporate welfare policies, creating a positive work environment geared toward professional growth.
The Customer Challenge
With production volumes often exceeding 1,000 units per day, Valvole Italia needed an efficient system for tracking components. Direct marking was not always feasible for ergonomic reasons, leading to the need to use identification plates. The process required integration with existing management systems to manage numerous pieces of information: production data, technical parameters, quality control results and usage specifications.
The LASIT Solution
The TowerTag developed by LASIT represents a complete solution for automated tag marking in the industrial environment. The machine, designed and manufactured entirely in LASIT factories, is a compact and functional system in safety class 1, equipped with a modular structure that can accommodate from one to four loaders according to production needs. In the specific case of Valvole Italia, the configuration chosen includes two loaders to optimize workflow. The system is equipped with a 30W fiber laser that ensures accurate and durable markings, and includes an effective fume extraction system for operator safety.
The Loading and Handling System
At the heart of the TowerTag is its innovative nameplate management system. Each magazine has a height capacity of 200mm, allowing it to handle up to 400 0.5mm thick nameplates. The base of the loaders is fixed, while the top can be quickly removed and replaced to accommodate plates of different sizes, thus providing considerable operational flexibility.
The handling system is based on a motorized screw with integrated encoder (2,048 steps/revolution) that ensures extremely precise positioning. Two limit sensors are positioned on the end of the load accumulator to indicate when the plate is ready for picking. The pick and place system, made with Venturi vacuum technology, allows gentle but safe handling of the plates, completely eliminating the risk of damage during handling.
The Software Integration
The control system, based on the FlyCAD platform, is the brain of TowerTag. The software has been specifically configured to integrate with Valvole Italia’s MES-ERP systems, enabling fully automated management of the marking process. This integration allows the contents of the markings to be automatically populated with all the necessary information: production data, technical parameters, quality control results and usage specifications.
The software’s flexibility allows different operating sequences to be managed and marking parameters to be changed in real time according to the required specifications. The system also maintains a comprehensive database of all operations performed, ensuring total traceability of the production process.
Results and Customer Feedback
The implementation of TowerTag has enabled Valvole Italia to optimize the traceability process, ensuring efficient management of the required production volumes. The system has demonstrated particular effectiveness in the automated management of marking sequences and integration with existing business systems.
As Alfredo Paolillo, partner at Valvole Italia, tells us, “The collaboration with LASIT was very positive from the beginning. The team immediately understood our needs and proposed a solution that turned out to be perfect for our needs. TowerTag not only met our expectations in terms of performance, but also allowed us to significantly improve the efficiency of our production process. Especially appreciated was the ease of integration with our systems and the constant support provided by the LASIT team.”