LIMAB has delivered more than one hundred and twenty GMS1100 systems for continuous measurement of thickness, width, edge profile and edge angle in the gypsum wallboard industry. We are pleased with this strong position established over the years and would like to take this opportunity to thank all existing customers for their confidence in LIMAB. This strong market position has ensured a continuous development of the GMS1100 within LIMAB and we now have upgrades that can be added to existing systems and options for new systems. These consist of new products as well as new applications for existing products. In addition, LIMAB now offers an off-line system for inspection of surface defects. For further information about these new products and applications, please refer to the descriptions that follow.

LIMAB GMS 1100 Dimensional Measurement System

A complete turn-key system for dimensional measurement of gypsum boards!

It is important to know and control all dimensions when producing gypsum boards. In a continuous production it is very important that all produced boards are within given tolerance limits and if not to be able to correct any errors immediately. Especially today when we are producing gypsum boards at faster and faster speeds.  An in-line dimensional system gives 100% control and the ability to make instant corrections.

LIMAB has a system that gives in-line measurement of the complete thickness profile over a board, width, edge profile and edge angle with the measurement normally being done in the knife area. The laser based sensors use optical triangulation as the measurement principle. Both thickness and width sensors have no moving parts which require no maintenance.

Width, edge profile and edge angle

LIMAB has a unique 2D sensor for measurement of width, edge profile and edge angle. A laser line is projected on the edge of the board, continuously measuring the edge profile.  The measurement speed is 300 Hz. The All-New ProfiCura LR sensors are normally placed 10-15 meters before the knife, between 2 rollers.  However, it is also possible to place the sensors by the wet belt where earlier feedback of edge profile detection is required.  The sensors have a long measurement range of 600mm for each side, which gives a total measurement range of 1000mm.  It is possible to produce boards between 400-1600mm without having to reposition or recalibrate the sensors, saving valuable time.
   
Thickness measurement

The thickness measurement can be done in the area before the knife with a traversing measurement frame or in the transfer table area where the boards are traversing with a fixed mounting. One of the benefits with a traversing measurement frame placed before the knife is that out of tolerance boards can be removed from the process prior to the first run in the dryer. Benefits of the fixed mounted sensors, placed in the transfer table area, are that the total system price more cost effective and, in the long term, this system needs less maintenance due to the fact that there are no moving parts. The PreciCura digital sensors are 100% synchronised while they do the thickness measurement therefore giving more accurate measurements even when the boards are vibrating. The measurement speed is a constant 2000 Hz independent of exposure time; this means that if the traversing speed is 60 meter/minute the sensors are taking approx. one measurement each half mm across the board for presentation of the thickness profile providing a very accurate profile of the board. 
   

Short Return of Investment (ROI)!

Example: Speed of the wet belt is 80 meter/minute (260 feet/minute), width of the gypsum board is 1250mm (49"), and this gives a production of 6000 m2/hour.  The price to the customer is estimated to 1.30 Euro/m2  (1.20 USD), one hours production of scrap is a loss of 7.830 Euro (7.070 USD) profit. Pay back is in months rather than years.

Other important benefits of using an in-line measuring system instead of manual callipers is the saving of man hours and of course material costs as it is possible to produce boards closer to lower tolerance limits.

Production report and statistics!

With an on-line measurement system, every produced board is measured, the data saved and used as a basis for a Production Report: - Total Number of Boards Produced; Percentage of Boards "Within Tolerance", "To Thin" or "To Thick" and the same thing for "Width", "Edge Profile" and "Edge Angle". This Production Report is a totally new tool to increase knowledge of how to produce a higher percentage of boards within tolerance, increase profitability per board and yield. The data is saved in a database format such as sql server and Mysql.

Production data, alarms, actual dimensions and much more information can be sent between the production system and dimensional system.

Click on the pictures for a larger view
                                    
   
A standard LIMAB GMS 1100 System consists of:

2 PreciCura SR sensors for thickness measurement

Fan and filter system for below thickness sensor

2 ProfiCura LR Gypsum sensors for width, edge angle and edge profile measurement

PC including cabinet

CAN-Bus card and digital card in PC

Windows XP TCP/IP based software allows the measurement results to be seen on computers which are connected to the plant network

All sensors and rest of the hardware are connected to a CAN-Bus loop.

For more information and technical specification, please download the brochure!