TLM packaging machines and their components

The story of how the TLM packaging machine series evolved goes back to one day in 1959 when Gerhard Schubert first mooted to an older colleague the idea of inventing a modular system for packaging machines. Despite being met with no more than a derisory smile, the idea continued to haunt him. When he founded his own company in 1966, he lost no time in putting his project into practice. His first approach was to create mechanical modules in large numbers which were used to configure top-loading machines. This led him to the realization at the end of the seventies that the only real way forward was through robot technology. By 1984 a decisive milestone was reached: His first packaging robot functioned like clockwork, heralding a whole new era in packaging machine technology. Even the very first packaging robot models were equipped with a control system, confirming that true flexibility could only be achieved by underpinning mechanics with intelligent controls. The end of the nineties saw the emergence of a new philosophical direction in which machines began to be designed to emulate human characteristics. Simple mechanisms, intelligent control systems and exchangeable tools were used, and the TLM packaging machine system was born.

 TLM packaging machines were launched in January 2002, since then their career has been characterized by what must be an unprecedented level of development investment. The TLM machine system today comprises an incredible seven modules. The number seven should be chewed over well and digested slowly. The TLM packaging machine system comprises just seven modules – a transfer unit, a grouping chain, the TLM-F2 packaging robot, the TLM-F44 packaging robot, a vision system, a vacuum conveyor, a machine frame and an operator guidance system. Incidentally the three letters TLM stand for Top Loading Machine.