Well-aligned rolls—that is, rolls which are parallel to each other—improve product quality and increase productivity through higher machine availability and production output.

The parallelism of rolls is critical when machines run at high speeds or when rolls are in close proximity.

Rolls should be parallel to ensure that the product being created is uniform and of good quality. Parallel rolls reduce or eliminate these issues: uneven bearing stresses, tracking, web breaks, uneven coating, wrinkling, delamination, warping, roller surface wear, tension irregularities, and more. Proper roller alignment minimizes waste, downtime, and maintenance costs.

The parallelism of rolls becomes even more important when machines are running at high speeds or when the rolls are close to each other.

It is the fastest roll measurement method on the market.

With a quick setup procedure and measuring process, entire machines can be measured during short maintenance outages. Results are instantaneously displayed, allowing necessary corrections to be made swiftly and adjusted rolls to be re-measured immediately.

The Peak RGA service can even measure rolls in enclosed sections or across multiple machine levels because, unlike optical measurement systems, the ParAlign does not require a line of sight. Also, no baseline is needed for the measurement because the offset is defined in relation to a reference roll.

Three ring laser gyroscopes enable the ParAlign to take measurements in three-dimensional space (roll, pitch, and yaw). No line of sight is required, which creates consistent, reproducible results.

In performing a measurement, the device is placed on a roll and swept a minimum of 20 degrees about the roll's circumference. The ParAlign can be positioned anywhere along the circumference of the roll as long as there is enough clearance to complete a proper measurement using the SWEEP method. This flexibility allows for rolls to be measured on the top, bottom, or sides, depending on which is most accessible.

The measurement takes about 30 seconds, and results are instantly transmitted wirelessly to a laptop.

The ParAlign does not drop in accuracy based on location, elevation, or proximity.

The graphical readout is displayed in the custom software as soon as each roll is measured. A full report, with initial and final alignment results, is provided to the customer upon completion of the service.

Peak RGA is a service combining the ParAlign with laser trackers to measure all roller assets in the shortest time possible—while producing accurate results and instant visual reports. No other roll alignment method combines gyroscopic and laser tracker technology.

The ParAlign does not require a visual line of sight to gather alignment data. This means it can measure enclosed oven rolls, tower rolls, or rolls located across multiple floors or levels. However, the software can incorporate optical data from a baseline if required.

The ring laser gyroscopes of the ParAlign keep their rotation axis unchanged—even when their base is shifted. This means that the ParAlign can identify its relative position in space at any time.

This same technology is commonly used in aerospace navigation systems. For example, the U.S. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter also features three ring laser gyroscopes for each axis. They measure how fast and how far the spacecraft turns and can even be used to estimate the spacecraft's orientation.