Servo solution for volumetric pumps in filling processes.

TetraPak is the World’s largest packager of liquid food products.

In the late 1980’s TetraPak were using cams to drive their volumetric pumps and wanted a servo solution to allow for flexibility in their filling processes. They tried ball screw actuators but found these only lasted a matter of days under the rigorous duty cycles required.

Exlar founders suggested their roller screw actuator concepts Tetra Pak liked the idea and requested that Exlar propose a design. Exlar proposed then built 8 all round SS units with integral pistons for the Tetra Pak pump. This was the first Exlar product, and was delivered in late 1992. Tetra Pak Was only customer for first 2 years.

In 1994 Bill Zerull was hired and tasked to develop an industrial grade product fro the Tetra Pak unti which was built for a dairy environment.  The first industrial product was the GS45.

A large machine tool OEM in NY state became 2^nd significant customer in 1995, and their needs drove the size of the GS30 in 1995.  At this time Exlar also added the FT (Forcetube) line to address longer strokes than were available from the GS, as well as much higher forces.

In 1999, three additional frame sizes were added to the product line. Traditional servo windings were still used until 1999.

In 2000, the T-LAM stator was designed to offer higher robustness. The nature of a linear actuator requires regularly going into a true stall condition which requires a robust stator because the entire power of the motor is put through only 2 of the motor phases.

The bi-product of a higher robustness stator, was that it also provided higher torque in smaller package.