Month: February 2022

Options for Discontinued Siemens Masterdrive Systems 

With the beginning of the planned phase-out of Siemens Masterdrive in October of 2010, replacement parts  and units that have been refurbished became increasingly difficult to obtain. Plus, those parts and units that  were available began to climb in both price and delivery times. For owners of this drive system,  understandable anxiety set in. 

What Does the Phase-Out Mean? 

Essentially, the phase-out means that the drive system has been discontinued by the manufacturer. For a  time, there were still replacement parts and reconditioned drives readily available, but as they were no  longer being manufactured, these stores would eventually run out.  

Options for Discontinued Drives 

After 2020, Siemens will no longer provide support for Masterdrive. One seemingly straightforward option  would be to change out the entire system, but this would likely mean upgrading the entire automation  system. This option comes with considerable expense and probably requires a great deal of time. 

However, because the drive system was so popular, there is a broad secondary market that will be self sustainable for many years beyond 2020. That means that there are plenty of opportunities to extend the  useful life for existing drives at a small percentage of the expense of a new system. 

Repair or Replace: Factors to Review 

Before arriving at a decision on whether to extend the life of a Siemens Masterdrive system or complete a  replacement and overhaul of your entire system, consider these key factors: 

• Performance. The age of the drive will not affect its performance. The drive’s speed and torque will  remain consistent with as-built levels.  
• Service Availability. Many service providers will travel to areas with no local providers available or  accept delivery of shipped drives for service.  
• Spare Part Availability. Certain IGBTs pose a risk for spare parts, particularly those with very large  frame sizes. Still, the risk is reduced by devices stocked by Siemens and local service providers.
• Reliability. This is arguably the most important factor to consider as it may not make sense to repair  an inverter that is already failing at rates greater than expected. 

Masterdrive Extension Programs 

Quad Plus has serviced well over 2000 Masterdrives throughout the years. Because of this extensive  experience, we have collected vast amounts of data regarding which components tend to fail first and which preemptive actions are most likely to maintain productivity. As a result, we are able to offer a proactive program that can help extend the life and preserve a high rate of reliability for these drives.

Some of these failure points include:  

• Cooling Systems. Water coolant should be cleaned and flushed, hoses and clamps upgraded, and  heatsinks cleaned. Fans also tend to wear out after about four years.  
• DC Bus Capacitors. These should be changed out after a maximum of 15 years, or sooner,  depending on the application and working environment. 
• Power Supplies. Small contactors and electrolytic caps should be inspected or replaced as needed.  
• Gate Drivers. Preemptive replacement of components including fiber optics (ivi, ipi, impi)
• IGBT. These should be assessed for proper functioning based on the application and the working  environment.  
• Internal Power Connections should be inspected.  

Through our own experience or that of others, most service providers have also discovered that using OEM  parts delivers the best outcomes. In the right environment, this kind of program can extend the working life  of the drive for ten years or more.  

Individual or Phased Replacement 

Another strategy to consider is a phased or planned replacement of one drive at a time over the course of a  few years. For example, many customers will have a displaced drive reconditioned and kept as a spare for  future use. This method will allow a complete system to undergo an upgrade over several fiscal years. That  

way, the customer can complete the overhaul during planned periods of downtime and from a planned  budget.  

The Right Choice for Your Operation 

Ultimately, the decision comes down to the reliability of your current drives, your budget for upgrades, and  the need for service or upgrades throughout your operation. If now is not the right time for replacement,  Quad Plus’s life-extending program for your discontinued Siemens Masterdrive systems can cost  approximately 70 percent of the total cost of a new system, including the cost of engineering and automation  costs associated with replacement. 

If you’d like additional information on our Masterdrive life-extension program or if you’d like assistance  developing a migration plan from your Masterdrives, please contact Jim Woulf at (920) 515-4155 or via  email at jwoulf@quadplus.com.

Quad Plus 

1001 West Kennedy Avenue Kimberly, WI 54136 

www.quadplus.com 

Sales Contact 

Jim Woulf 

(920) 515-4155 

jwoulf@quadplus.com 

ANNOUNCEMENT

We are pleased to announce that All About Packaging, LLC has purchased all assets of All About Packaging, Inc. (AAP, Inc.) headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin as of 1/1/2022.  

All About Packaging, Inc. was founded by Tom and April Schein in Appleton, Wisconsin in 1997. The Schein’s have served as the leaders of AAP, Inc, while manufacturing and serving the Fox Valley Community for 25 plus years. AAP, Inc specializes in thermoformed packaging, including clamshells, blisters, trays and custom packaging solutions. At AAP, Inc. no job is too small and the mission is “Concept to Completion.”

The new owners, Chad Abel and TJ Thibert have spent the last 30 years innovating and leading companies in the paper, plastic and metal manufacturing industries. Per Thibert, “Chad and I couldn’t be happier with the acquisition of All About Packaging, Inc. The Schein’s have built a solid company that has stood the test of time for 25 years. We have a phenomenal group of employees and an excellent management team that strives to innovate and continuously improve each and every day. The future is incredible bright at AAP, Inc. as we look to continually partner with our existing customer base while identifying new products and markets.”

We look forward to meeting all our valuable customers, suppliers and vendors soon, please feel free to contact us with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Sincerely and Best Regards,

GBIG NEWS Bretting Company

GBIG NEWS C. G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., Inc. tour on January 20, 2022 at their Ashland, WI facility.

I recently had the opportunity to take a tour of C. G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., Inc. (Bretting) and have dinner with a few company representatives. I met with three members of the Sales Department – Randy DeMars, Troy O’Bey and Blake Bretting – at the 280,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Ashland, WI and had an interesting discussion regarding the Bretting company as well as manufacturing in general. Bretting is a well-positioned and diversified OEM in the design and manufacture of converting equipment (www.bretting.com). Bretting’s OEM business serves the Tissue, Towel, Napkin, Non-woven, Wax, Foil and Paper Bag (www.absolutmfg.com) markets; Supplying full converting lines from unwind stand to a variety of poly or paper packaging. Bretting also offers Contract Manufacturing Services (CMS) to a wide range of businesses including industries such as Oil & Gas, Mining, Logging & Wood Process and Food Processing Industries.

Bretting has served the converting and contract manufacturing industry since 1890. Bretting’s commitment to quality and dedication to service allows them to provide customers with the ability to operate some of the most reliable, durable, and innovative equipment in the industry.

The entire Bretting team strives to exceed customer expectations and to provide outstanding customer service.  One of their latest developments is the addition of Digital Printing capabilities to their converting lines, providing continuous high-speed production on a variety of napkin, tissue and towel substrates. This technology allows for variable data content and is the ultimate performer for low case count, customized print runs (Digital Printer On C.G. Bretting Manufacturing Co. Inc.). 

In addition to digital print Bretting offers a full line of LCi, Premium, and G-class (Gearless) Flexographic Printers which can be sold independently or as part of a complete converting line. The Green Bay Innovation Group will be covering a wide variety of Converters in the upcoming issues of the www.GBIGNEWS.com.  Wisconsin has over 200 Converters and is called the Converters Corridor of the United States.

Green Bay In Person Event Feb 23rd 2022

The Green Bay Innovation Group and the Greater Green Bay Chamber will be hosting an IN-PERSON event on Wednesday, February 23, from 2-4 p.m. at the Urban Hub 340 N. Broadway Ste. 200 downtown Green Bay.

A powerful new wave of transformational innovation is about to sweep across the pulp, paper, packaging, plastics, and printing (5P) Industry.  Given Wisconsin’s uniquely high concentration of 5P companies, we should expect disproportionately high positive impact from this disruptive wave of innovation. A dramatic shift away from conventional plastics in paper coatings and eventually in inks by the next generation of “bioplastics” will transform the paper converting, printing, and packaging industries, propelling product competitiveness into the next century and beyond.

PHAXTEC, a start-up in biopolymers with proprietary technology, is leading the way.  PHAXTEC plans to offer PHA materials and coatings as a solution to the growing global plastics waste crisis.  Trademarked PHAX®, these products would be competitive to plastics, compostable, and recyclable, and would biodegrade when left in landfills or leak to the environment. We will introduce Anindya Mukherjee, Founder and CEO of PHAXTEC, Inc. (www.phaxtec.com).  PHAXTEC is looking for collaborations with strategic partners interested in these new generation of coatings!  After the presentation, we will follow up with networking for all attendees!

Please confirm your reservations to:  Marty Ochs – martinpochs@gmail.com or text to 608-698-3333 or email Kelly Armstrong Greater Green Bay Chamber at KArmstrong@greatergbc.org.  You can also register online by going to: www.greenbayinnovationgroup.com – EVENTS and sign up.

We look forward to your participation.

Thank you,

Marty Ochs, Executive Director, Green Bay Innovation Group

Kelly Armstrong, Vice President Economic Development, Greater Green Bay Chamber

Paper Council leader optimistic about federal grant proposal

The head of the Wisconsin Paper Council says he’s “very optimistic” about securing an up to $100 million federal grant after Gov. Tony Evers announced the state would provide matching funds for the effort.

Wisconsin will be pitching in up to $8.2 million in matching funds to support the federal grant application spearheaded by the Paper Council, Evers said yesterday in a release.

“This is one piece of the puzzle for our application,” Wisconsin Paper Council President Scott Suder told WisBusiness.com.

The proposal from state paper and forestry industry stakeholders was among 60 around the country to get a $500,000 planning grant last year through the federal Build Back Better Challenge Grant program. The release shows applicants were asked to show they can provide at least $20 million in matching funds to qualify for the next round of $100 million grants.

“We asked the governor to assist us in that effort,” Suder (pictured here) said yesterday in an interview. “We’re very pleased that he has accepted that challenge and is going to provide some measure of matching funds should we receive that grant.”

Evers and WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes wrote a letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo expressing support for the proposal. They noted the coalition has already raised more than $11.8 million from other sources, including businesses, individuals, nonprofits, and tribal and local governments.

“We want to assure you that the State of Wisconsin remains resolutely committed to ensuring the success of this project as well,” they wrote in the letter.

The Wisconsin coalition’s initial proposal, titled “A Wisconsin Forest Products Cluster: A Catalyst for Sustainable, Enduring Transformation,” highlighted the 35-county region of northern Wisconsin. It referenced proposed projects including a new research and development facility for the industry, training programs and efforts to create new markets for forestry products.

By implementing these and other projects in the proposal, the coalition estimates 2,500 new jobs and $2 billion in new economic output will be created over the next decade. The release from the guv’s office shows the state’s paper and forestry industry employs nearly 63,000 workers and makes up nearly $18 billion of Wisconsin’s manufacturing output.

Suder emphasized the bipartisan support for the application, calling the state pledge “part of a much larger effort from our diverse coalition.” He noted Republicans and Democrats are backing the application, and said a related legislative resolution is expected from both the Assembly and Senate “very soon.”

“This is really all hands on deck, and it is a really great example of bipartisan cooperation toward a goal of making certain that we’re ready for the future, to focus on innovation, and future markets, and research and development, diversification and diversity for Wisconsin’s forest products industries,” he said.

The application for the $100 million grant is due March 15, Suder said. He added coalition members will “work right up to the application deadline to make sure that we have every resource available to qualify for this.”

The Paper Council-led coalition also includes Mid-State Technical College, the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association, the Sustainable Resource Institute, UW-Stevens Point’s Institute for Sustainable Technology, Menominee Nation Tribal Enterprises, and the Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry.

See the letter: https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/WIGOV/2022/02/01/file_attachments/2064201/BBBRC%20Award%20LoS%201.28.22.pdf

See the coalition’s proposal overview: https://eda.gov/files/arpa/build-back-better/finalists/concept-proposal-narrative/Wisconsin%20Paper%20Council.pdf

See the release: https://www.wispolitics.com/2022/gov-evers-pledges-state-support-for-wisconsin-paper-forest-production-industrys-federal-grant-application/

–By Alex Moe