How an Italian manufacturer of Extrusion Blow Molding machines embarked on a path of digitalization, sustainability, and operational efficiency.
Who is Techne Packaging and what does it produce?
Techne is an Italian company specializing in the design and assembly of Extrusion Blow Molding machines to the highest quality standards.
Since its founding, Techne Packaging has delivered reliable and technologically advanced solutions, driven by innovation, craft expertise, and a constant pursuit of excellence. For most Techne machine models, the software and interface are developed on both platforms — B&R and Siemens — in order to meet the operational preferences of each customer.
In an article published in the trade journal MACPLAS on the occasion of the PLAST 2026 trade fair in Milan, Techne describes the journey of digitalization, sustainability, and operational efficiency recently undertaken in collaboration with Siemens, aimed at developing a generation of machines capable of meeting the most complex production requirements.
SIEMENS ARCHITECTURE
What is the core of the machine control system in the Siemens architecture?
The controller is the SIMATIC S7-1516T CPU, featuring dedicated technological functions for motion control, enabling precise and repeatable cycles.
This processor reliably manages the high-precision cycles typical of blow molding machines, ensuring process stability and production repeatability even under the most demanding operating conditions. This CPU offers high memory capacity and the ability to execute even the most complex functions.
How does the interaction between the operator and the machine work?
A 21″ Full HD panel developed with WinCC Unified provides smooth navigation, modern graphics, and immediate diagnostics for the operator.
The human-machine interaction is handled by a next-generation panel. The interface offers smooth navigation, modern graphics, and immediate diagnostic tools, enhancing the operator’s user experience. Navigation is structured across three levels, allowing easy access to machine parameters. The interface also includes the main machine manuals for direct on-screen reference.
What motion control solution is used?
SINAMICS S120 booksize drives paired with 1FK7 synchronous motors enable extremely accurate control of the mechanical axes.
These drives allow energy regeneration between movements and back into the grid, and are extremely precise. All motors are brushless with absolute encoders, which retain their stored position even after the machine is switched off, enabling faster restart.
How do Techne machines recover energy?
The Active Interface Module recovers braking energy from the axes, redistributing it to other axes or feeding it back into the grid to reduce energy consumption.
A distinctive feature of the solution is the use of the regenerative power supply unit (Active Interface Module), which allows the machine to optimize energy usage. During the braking phases of movements, the recovered energy is either used by other axes or fed directly back into the grid, helping to reduce overall energy consumption and increase the efficiency of the entire system. The machine panel displays real-time energy consumption data along with an indication of the amount of energy regenerated by the machine’s axes.
What network infrastructure supports the architecture?
The Profinet fieldbus with Managed Scalance switches ensures robust, secure, and high-performance networks.
The Profinet fieldbus, integrated with Managed Scalance switches, provides robust, secure, and high-performance communication networks to support the entire automation architecture. Being a widely adopted fieldbus, it also allows for the potential integration of devices from other manufacturers.
DIGITALIZATION
How is production data collected and analysed?
Siemens Industrial Edge collects real-time data from PLCs and drives and processes KPIs that are directly available to the end user.
Thanks to the Siemens Industrial Edge platform, Techne Extrusion Blow Molding machines can collect real-time data from PLCs and drives. The data is processed via Edge Computing to generate indicators immediately available to the end user. The enabled features include:
- production performance analysis and OEE calculation
- energy consumption monitoring in accordance with the ISO 50001 standard
- advanced maintenance management
- automatic notifications in the event of alarms or critical events.
What is the next step in Techne’s digital roadmap?
The Siemens Drivetrain Analyzer uses AI models to predict mechanical anomalies and reduce unplanned downtime.
Techne’s roadmap includes the introduction of the Siemens Drivetrain Analyzer tool, based on AI models that analyse motor data — current, torque, and speed — to predict possible mechanical anomalies on the axes. The goal is to reduce unplanned machine downtime, with a direct impact on the customer’s production continuity.
CONCLUSION
What does the collaboration between Techne and Siemens demonstrate?
Integrated automation and digitalization produce higher-performing, more sustainable machines that are ready for the challenges of the industry of the future.
The collaboration between Techne and Siemens demonstrates how a vision that combines automation and digitalization can give rise to machines that are more efficient, more sustainable, and ready to meet the challenges of the industry of the future.
