New energy chain guide for RBG from igus

SIVAplan GmbH & Co KG is known throughout the food industry as a specialist in automated storage and conveyor technology. When companies are faced with the challenge of storing 12,000 pallets of frozen goods or the production of a large-scale pizza bakery, they turn to the Troisdorf-based company. SIVAplan started out over 40 years ago as a pioneer in the field of channel storage systems, but its range of expertise now includes all common types of storage systems.

Storage and retrieval machines from our own development and production

In addition to new buildings, SIVAplan also plans warehouse expansions and modernizations and can also act as a general contractor on request. Central components such as the rack steel construction, roof and walls come from renowned suppliers. However, the control technology, conveyor technology and storage and retrieval machines (SRMs) are generally developed and manufactured in-house.

Managing energy under difficult conditions

In every SRM project, one of the tasks of electrical design is to design the energy supply to the load handling device. In addition to the electrical energy for drives, this also includes signal transmission, network connection and bus communication. This is a challenge because the SRMs are highly dynamic. The suspended chain must therefore be guided in such a way that, on the one hand, it can move freely vertically and, on the other hand, it remains on track even during high acceleration or braking in two axes.

No unwanted swinging or rocking

This can be guaranteed by the guidelok slimline guide system. An automatically actuated rocker ensures safe positioning of the energy chain and prevents unwanted swinging, rocking and beating of the chain. When the chain passes through the segment in the radius, the rocker is pushed outwards and unlocked so that the energy chain can move freely. When the chain leaves the radius of the segment, the rocker moves inwards again and secures the energy chain once more.

Lighter, quieter and easier to install: the new guidelok slimline P guide system for suspended energy chains.

Dipl.-Ing. Michael Huse, Head of Electrical Engineering: "We use the guidelok system for our storage and retrieval machines, as it covers the system-related requirements perfectly." The SIVAplan designers have been using energy chains and chainflex cables from igus for more than fifteen years. The close proximity of the two companies promotes close cooperation and has already led to various joint developments.

Quiet and easy to install: guidelok slimline P

The special design features of the new guidelok slimline-P (GLSL-P) guide system include plastic rocker holders and plug-in guide rails. The advantages: On the one hand, the use of plastic for the holders makes the entire system lighter and cheaper, and on the other hand, the plug-in GRP guide rails drastically reduce the assembly time.

Another advantage of the plastic innovation is that vibrations and noise are absorbed even better. Christian Strauch, igus Industry Manager Material Handling: "The GRP guide rails are simply inserted into the guidelok plastic segments instead of being screwed into place as with the previous version. This allows simple and very quick assembly with almost no tools." The GRP brackets are very dimensionally stable and cold-resistant. Impacts against the rails have no effect compared to metal channels, which would immediately show dents or other deformations. Even in deep-freeze warehouses at temperatures as low as -35 °C, the guide rails are tough enough to withstand shocks or impacts.

First tests with rapid prototyping parts

After igus had produced the first parts using the "rapid prototyping" process, SIVAplan installed the new GLSL-P on a new storage and retrieval machine with a height of 24 meters. Three months later, the components were replaced by series products manufactured using the injection molding process. The advantage of fast assembly was already apparent. Michael Huse: "We replaced all 28 brackets with series components on site in just three hours."

SIVAplan is very satisfied with the modular system consisting of the GLSL P plastic guide and pre-assembled energy chain with chainflex cables. "The chain accommodates cables for power and signals as well as bus systems, plus equipotential bonding and, in most cases, data cables for video or image processing systems," explains Michael Huse. The fact that igus supplies the energy chain pre-assembled as a 'readychain', i.e. virtually ready for installation, has proven its worth. "When we still supplied the chain 'unready', i.e. with separate and unassembled chainflex cables, we always had to laboriously pull the cables into the chain and test them. We can now completely dispense with this. The fully assembled chain has become an article number."

High abrasion resistance

Before the series launch, igus extensively tested the new guidelok slimline P in the laboratory. Even after 1.5 million cycles on a vertical axis, there was no wear on the GRP material of the guide. Christian Strauch: "There is great interest in this innovation in the industry. Storage and retrieval machines must become ever more energy-efficient and lighter, and this is precisely where we can offer the right solutions with our plastic solutions."

Contact:SIVAplan GmbH & Co KG 53842 Troisdorf Tel.: 0 22 41 / 87 94 50 E-Mail:[email protected] www.sivaplan.de

igus GmbH 51147 Cologne Phone: 0 22 03 / 96 49-0 E-mail:[email protected] www.igus.de