Guarantors for dynamic intralogistics

The FAB chain conveyors made of aluminum are designed according to the modular principle. Photo: FAB

FAB chain conveyors are custom-made and their design is based exclusively on the customer's operating conditions. For example, 1" chains and steel profiles are used for transporting heavy loads, inverted tooth chains achieve higher friction values and the conveyors comply with the applicable guidelines for applications in explosion-protected areas.

FAB roller conveyors are also designed according to the modular principle. Similar to the chain conveyors, special versions are available, for example for floor-level feeding, heavy loads or explosion-protected areas. In addition to transport units such as Euro pallets, mesh boxes or trays, various customer-specific goods carriers can also be transported.

Fast and scalable container conveyor technology

In the outgoing goods sorting department at the Edeka meat plant in Rheinstetten, containers and trays are discharged to 27 destinations. Photo: Vanderlande

At the heart of the logistics center of hahn+Kolb Werkzeuge GmbH in Ludwigsburg is the high-performance semi-automatic picking and storage system OSR Shuttle from Knapp, which efficiently organizes the logistics for more than 60,000 different articles on around 540,000 storage locations from goods receipt to goods issue.

In the 11,000 m² warehouse, 13,000 picks are made per day and up to 4,000 orders are processed. The Streamline conveyor technology makes an important contribution to the intralogistics processes. The new conveyor technology from Knapp is based on proven technologies and "is characterized above all by its particularly quiet transport, strong performance, energy efficiency, safety and easy maintenance," says the company.

Streamline is a complete conveyor system consisting of mechatronics and controls and can be designed as a roller conveyor or belt conveyor system, depending on requirements. It transports 180 x 180 to 850 x 850 millimetre containers, trays, cartons or soft packaging weighing up to 50 kg at a rate of up to 3,500 items per hour.

Hybrid drive concept for optimum performance

Knapp's Streamline container conveyor technology is used in the new logistics center. Photo: Knapp

Streamline is a modular system based on the principle of common parts. One or more components are available for each logistical function, such as roller and belt conveyor technology, transfer elements or elements for handling conveyed goods. The modular system enables a maximum degree of scalability, allowing Streamline to be adapted precisely in terms of size and investment.

A hybrid drive concept with three-phase asynchronous and motorized roller drive ensures optimum performance. A tried-and-tested AS-i bus system is used for control, which enables the simple and economical connection of components and at the same time forms the basis for intuitive full visualization with KiSoft Scada.

"The number of active vehicles can be adjusted automatically during operation."

Thomas Frank Beumer Group

Maintenance of the Streamline is "simple and time-saving; components can be replaced quickly thanks to access from above," as Knapp reports. Clip-on rollers and completely replaceable modules make maintenance even easier.

High-throughput line and loop sorters

Automated sorting systems can be used to increase productivity, throughput and delivery accuracy. The systems are proving beneficial in several areas of the supply chain. For example, for the efficient unloading of incoming containers, fast distribution to retail stores through cross-docking, cost-effective picking and fast and accurate dispatch sorting.

Vanderlande offers a range of sorting systems that are precisely tailored to individual business processes, products, required throughput, volume and type of sorting outputs. These systems include line sorters - and therefore sliding shoe, pusher and pop-up sorters - as well as loop sorters such as crossbelt and tilt-tray sorters. Vanderlande has implemented automated sorting systems for many well-known companies, including Amazon, Nike, Urban Outfitters and Edeka.

Up to 18,000 load carriers per hour

Vanderlande's automated sortation solutions include the Crossorter, the Posisorter and the Traysorter. The Crossorter is a cross-belt sorter for a variety of products such as containers, cartons, trays, bags and envelopes, as well as loose items such as clothing and accessories.

The intelligent "Beumer autoca" can now also transport bulky baggage up to 2.5 meters long on the rails of the autover baggage handling system. Photo: Beumer Group

Versatile baggage handling system

The Beumer autover high-speed baggage handling system enables reliable and fast baggage handling. The system consists of a rail system and individual vehicles, the so-called Beumer autoca. A central unit, equipped with the BeSS (Beumer Sortation System) logistics software, supplies each of the vehicles with orders. They transport goods weighing up to 50 kilograms at a speed of up to ten kilometers per hour, including bulky items such as surfboards, skis, parasols and baby carriages. The Beumer autoca is equipped with a belt or a container for these special loads. The rail system can be easily extended by connecting new segments.

Since curves and switches with small radii of 1.25 meters can be used, the baggage conveyor system requires little space. The number of active vehicles can be automatically adjusted to the number of pieces of luggage to be transported during operation in order to reduce energy and maintenance costs to a minimum.

It is used in particular for batch picking processes and cross-docking systems as well as for dispatch sorting. It has a capacity of up to 18,000 load carriers per hour.

The Posisorter is a sliding shoe sorter that combines modern conveyor technology with gentle product handling. It enables high-performance sorting of a wide range of products, with a capacity of more than 10,000 cartons per hour.

The shoes glide over the load carriers and push the products gently into the sorting outlets by means of a diagonal movement. The system is available for sorting to one or two sides. It is suitable for containers, trays, cartons and bags and, like the Crossorter, is mainly used in batch picking processes, cross-docking systems and for dispatch sorting.

Comprehensive conveyor technology composition for highly efficient intralogistics

Interroll and Rema Tec are supporting Wenko-Wenselaar GmbH & Co KG with a complete automation solution for interim storage and order picking. With a range of more than 5,000 branded articles, the company is one of Europe's leading providers of innovative product solutions for the bathroom, kitchen, laundry and home and is the number one in Europe in the field of fastening systems without drilling for bathroom accessories and laundry bins. The solution is currently being implemented in the company's new goods distribution center in Hückelhoven-Baal.

Intra says: Return on investment, baby!

Efficiency and return on investment are the two things that count, ladies and gentlemen. Especially if you are thinking about purchasing an automation solution with conveyor technology. Because you can't just throw it out of the warehouse when your requirements change. So test or, better, flexibilize, whoever binds himself forever! It has to be profitable, and the easiest way to achieve this is with efficiency. On the other hand, the solutions and innovations presented here offer so many advantages that the end of conveyor lines in the warehouse is far from in sight. If at all! Strong performance, safety and easy maintenance are further key features. Do you agree?

The automation solution, which is designed for the dynamic temporary storage and picking of pallets and cartons, will enable a throughput of up to 4,000 units per hour. The goods are stored and picked on four levels, in each of which five picking tunnels with highly efficient pick-to-belt conveyor technology have been installed.

This flexible system solution, which supports the high innovation cycles in Wenko's product range, uses a variety of Interroll products whose seamless interaction ensures the performance and reliability of the application. These include picking channels for the pallets and carton flow levels, drum motors in almost the entire conveyor system and belt curves. In the 19 sorter end points of the Interroll Crossbelt Sorter, several MSC50 magnetic speed controllers ensure safe and controlled transport of the packages - from a height of more than 3.5 meters to the packing stations at ground level.

As Jörg Mandelatz, Managing Director of Interroll Fördertechnik GmbH, emphasizes, "the unique interaction of our products and services - from dynamic storage and sorting to intelligent 24-volt drive technology - offers Wenke significant added value in achieving its business objectives. Our high quality standards and the scalability of the solution will also allow for future growth". "We have been working successfully with Interroll for years in the interests of our customers," says Peter Dippel, owner and Managing Director of Rema Tec GmbH. "The future-oriented automation solution that we have jointly developed for Wenko sets standards in terms of cost efficiency and return on investment."

Reinhard Irrgang