PAC for beverage machines: when motion becomes process architecture

In beverage machines, the challenge is no longer to control an axis with precision, but to make motion, filling, pumps, valves, capping, labelling, and robotic handling work together. Stable synchronization must be guaranteed, parameterized across the various recipes, and managed independently of the line speed.

This is where a traditional PLC reaches the limits of its resources, and PACs come into play: a Programmable Automation Controller such as Robox RP-3 can manage motion cams and digital cams, which are useful for controlling valves or pulse-driven devices; it can manage complex master/slave systems and control everything at high frequency, even beyond 1 kHz.

From PLC to PAC: when beverage machines need more control

The PAC takes on the role of the machine’s central node, coordinating axes, I/O expansion modules, diagnostics, and field communications based on EtherCAT and Gigabit Ethernet. For the OEM, this means managing different modules, from transport to filling and up to robotics: interpolation of coordinated axes and direct and inverse conversions of kinematic models, from the most common ones such as SCARA and delta, through to custom user-defined models for special mechanisms; all with a common logic that is scalable and reusable across multiple machine variants.

Servo drives and motion control

The servo section, on the other hand, determines process repeatability. The Digitax M753 drive, in a centralized configuration, enables complex motion profiles, accelerations, and decelerations to be controlled without introducing vibrations during critical transfer and dosing phases. Where reduced wiring and minimal footprint are key, the distributed RMD (Robox Motor Drive) and RID20-E solutions bring control closer to the actuators, simplifying installation, the electrical cabinet, and commissioning.

Motion control in filling

In filling, motion becomes part of the process: container feeding must be synchronized with valve opening, pump control, flow rate, and pressure. More consistent control reduces foaming, overdosing, rejects, rework, and energy consumption, especially on lines subject to frequent format changes.

Software, simulation, and diagnostics to reduce time-to-market

Software completes the architecture. With the RDE (Robox Development Environment), application libraries, simulation, and diagnostics help validate kinematics and synchronization before start-up, reducing field interventions and time-to-market.

Robox motion controllers for beverage machines

Robox develops hardware and software solutions for motion control in automatic machines, with modular and scalable architectures for both simple and complex applications. In beverage systems, Robox PACs make it possible to coordinate motion, axes, I/O, diagnostics, servo drives, and field communications within a single control platform.

For OEMs designing filling, capping, labelling, transport, or robotic handling machines, the PAC represents a flexible solution for increasing the precision, repeatability, and integration of the entire machine system.