SPN Schwaben Präzision has manufactured a drive and steering system for an AGV solution for the Grenzebach Group based in Hamlar, a globally renowned automation company. With over 60 years of experience in various industries and markets, the company has already made a name for itself in several countries around the world with its existing AGV models. Grenzebach's solutions take a holistic approach and include hardware, software and service. A detailed analysis of the logistics processes results in an intralogistics solution that is tailored to the customer's needs - high-quality, technologically innovative and digitally integrated. SPN shares these values and manufactures precise, customer-specific and reliable drive systems.

Intralogistics requirements are met

Grenzebach and SPN are working together on a travel and steering drive solution for the OL1200S AGV, with which Grenzebach is presenting the next generation of driverless transport vehicles for payloads of up to 1,500 kilograms. It drives omnidirectionally in any direction without restriction and is equipped with intelligent sensor technology. This enables the OL1200S to autonomously recognize large components in the smallest of spaces and transport them safely. In close cooperation with Grenzebach, SPN has developed a customer-specific gearbox that has been tailored to the special and future requirements of logistics. The top priority was a small, compact drive design because the AGV already had an existing optimized wheel and the installation position of the motors was planned to be vertical. The space for the gearbox was therefore limited.

The AGV is used 24/7, has a quick-charging function for a maximum of 30 minutes and travels at a speed of six kilometers per hour. The drive must be easy to install with direct mounting on the existing chassis design. Self-locking is required for steering. The steering and drive unit must be able to cope with a maximum gradient of five percent per ten meters in halls and unevenness of five millimeters per meter without any problems. These requirements had to be taken into account when designing the transmission.

AGV drives and rotates omnidirectionally

SPN has implemented a maintenance-free drive thanks to lifetime lubrication and long battery life thanks to an optimized breakaway torque with low friction losses. The drive solution is advantageous because the travel and steering drive can perform various movements in a very small space. In this way, the desired independent, omnidirectional design of driving and turning is achieved. The AGV can turn or steer while stationary, but can also drive and turn at the same time. Interfaces for the steering and drive motor with tangential clamping as well as brakes, encoders and sensors for safe operation are integrated.

SPN realizes customer-specific requirements with various technologies. These are based on gearbox solutions such as planetary gearboxes, bevel gearboxes, spur gearboxes and worm gearboxes - each optimized and technologically open for the respective requirement. The OL1200S AGV completely eliminates the need for stations and transfer stations.

In initial customer projects, the space required by the docking stations was demonstrably reduced by up to 75 percent compared to a manual tugger train or an AGV solution with a differential drive.

The article appeared in materialfluss 8-9/22.