B & H Labeling Systems Introduces New Marathon® XLA

B & H Labeling Systems introduces the new Marathon® XLA, the latest addition to the successful Marathon series of roll-fed labelers. Based on the field proven Marathon XL platform, the Marathon XLA includes new design features that enhance the ease of operation while maintaining change part compatibility with Marathon XL models. Like the XL, the XLA offers fast size changeovers, low maintenance requirements, high operating efficiencies and the ability to handle containers from 8 oz. to 3 liters at speeds up to 650 containers per minute.

Marathon XLA features B & H's SMARTdrive™, a multi-axis servomotor drive-train with automatic label registration and timing that achieves extreme positional accuracy over the life of the labeler. Five independent servomotors communicate on a high-speed digital bus to synchronize label feeding, cutting, gluing and container transport, eliminating the gears, belts and chains found in traditional labelers. The complete Allen-Bradley drive-train and controls platform consists of Allen-Bradley servo drives, servo motors, programmable logic controller (PLC) and human machine interface (HMI).

All electrical components reside in a single control cabinet, which can be mounted to the side of the labeler or placed remotely, up to 80 feet (24 meters) from the unit, making it ideal for plants with little floor space or wet or caustic environments. This reconfigured control cabinet improves access to key machine components such as servo motors while enhancing access to the electrical components.

Marathon XLA features swing-open safety doors, which improve ergonomics and enhance machine access. All upper guarding safety doors are fully interlocked to assure safe operation of the labeler.

With its advanced digital design and recipe-driven repeatability, Marathon XLA achieves the fastest changeover in the industry - less than 15 minutes from one full production speed to another, including the replacement of change parts - by eliminating tedious, time-consuming manual adjustments. Production parameters for every container and label combination can be stored as recipes in the PLC and downloaded to set all servo axis to the appropriate positions. Lightweight, color-coded RCO (Rapid Changeover) change parts further ease changeover.

The new Marathon XLA uses the same change parts and key functional components as Marathon XL, which was introduced in 2004. For customers using both labelers, this commonality eliminates the need to purchase and inventory additional change parts and spare parts associated with the cutter, glue system and vacuum drum.

Equipped with B & H's standard Advanced Registration Control System and optional Invation™ cutter, Marathon XLA increases productivity by keeping the labeler in-registration, even with stretch-prone labels, labels with variable coefficients of friction and labels with out-of-specification eyemarks. The standard webtracker controls the horizontal tracking of the label to ensure labels are precisely positioned on containers. Redesigned valves and vacuum manifold achieve better vacuum control, allowing labels to travel more consistently through the labeler from the cutter to the container.

To ease operation, Marathon XLA features a ten-inch color touchscreen operator interface with intuitive drop-down menus, graphics and navigation bars. Security access levels for displays, data entry and system operations are configurable on a site-by-site basis by the system administrator.

Compared to complex rotary machines, the Marathon XLA simplifies operation and maintenance. Fewer mechanical parts improve reliability, ease maintenance and increase uptime. More automation features and built-in 24/7 self-checking diagnostics and troubleshooting aids also enhance reliability and uptime. The key benefits to the customer will be higher machine productivity and low total cost of ownership over the life of the labeler.