Quad Plus Solution
Quad Plus professionals provided the installation of the OEM equipment, the machine electrical package, and two gauging systems consisting of a scanning frame with beta emission measurement at each of the two calenders. Each beta emission source and detector measures the sheet thickness and profile for both machine direction (average thickness in the direction of the product flow) and the cross direction (thickness profile across the width of the web). This highprecision measurement data feeds an automatic profile control (APC) system that provides corrective adjustment to the extrusion die.
With this integration, the high precision measurement of the gauging system provides direct feedback to the manufacturing process to achieve superior product quality. Among the benefits are a reduction in startup scrap, closer-to-target runs, raw material savings, improved production efficiency, and ultimately, an increase in profitability. The gauging HMI screens present an operator view of the gauging results to identify trends and inform of issues, if encountered. The display example illustrates control of the thickness profile at a 0.2 standard deviation; significantly more precise than many competitive systems.
Both the OEM and customer personnel are pleased with the performance of the newly completed equipment installation and impressed with the performance of Quad Plus. While offering gauging solutions in several formats and sensors, this project marks our first installation of Quad Plus’s beta emissions equipped scanner systems in the United States. Following a two-year process of education, experience, and NRC licensure to install these products, receipt of our radioactive material license allows Quad Plus to join the Sealed Source Device Registry with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).