Rehabilitation of “Schmermond” Cigarette Packaging Machines

Rehabilitation of “Schmermond” Cigarette Packaging Machines

The Eastern Company called on MISC to breathe new life into their aging Schmermond packaging machines—equipment that had long relied on conventional controls using contactors, relays, and mechanical parts. Our mission: completely rehabilitate these machines and modernize them for reliable, high‐performance production.

Project Scope

• Full rehabilitation of the Schmermond machines, replacing dated controls with modern automation
• Supply and installation of sensors, motors, encoders, and Siemens Micromaster drives
• Automation based on Siemens SIMATIC S7‐300 PLC systems
• Human-Machine Interface (HMI) using Simatic Panels for better control, feedback, and operator experience

Project Implementation

•  15 machines successfully upgraded across three factories: Talbeya, Giza, and Alexandria
• Each machine transformed from old‐fashioned relay/contactors control to advanced PLC + drive + feedback systems, boosting precision, reliability, and maintainability
• Key Business & Operational Impacts
• Significant reduction in downtime and maintenance cost due to more reliable and standardized control components
• Faster setup and changeovers thanks to modern controls and better operator interfaces
• Improved consistency of packaging quality, increased throughput, and extended service life of existing machines rather than full replacement

Technology used:

• Siemens SIMATIC S7-300 PLC systems
• Siemens SIMATIC HMI Panels
• Siemens Drives