Month: January 2020

In cooperation with Schoeller Allibert, Germany’s leading optician chain Apollo has developed a returnable container for delivery to its branches. The empty load carrier can be returned easily and cost-effectively, it says.

The highlight of the new carrier is its new folding mechanism. The company says it will save up to 100 tons of cardboard waste and reduce its CO2 emissions by 96 percent in the long run.

Previously, Apollo delivered only cardboard boxes to its 1000 branches. As a result, more than 100 tons of cardboard packaging was accumulated as disposable waste. The optician and hearing aid specialist wanted to bring about a change – waste prevention instead of waste disposal. In collaboration with the returnable plastics specialist Schoeller Allibert, the company developed a machine-processable, returnable container, which makes the shipping carton unnecessary, saves up to 96 percent of CO2-emissions and can be completely recycled at the end of its service life.

The basis for the new container is the Schoeller Allibert classic Clever Move Box (CMB). The CMB with closed sides measures 400 x 300 x 240 millimetres and can be folded to only 52 millimetres when empty. It has two handles on the narrow sides and can be sealed to prevent access from outside. The key feature of this excellent load carrier, however, is the option to clip it to other containers and to return it cost – effectively and without any additional expense. Thus, a positive-fit unit is developed for the KEP-service provider, which is subsequently counted as one packet.

NORD DRIVESYSTEMS will be presenting intelligent drive systems and innovative solutions for intralogistics at LogiMAT in March. The latest energy efficient IE5+ synchronous motors, condition monitoring concepts and a mobile service tool for NORD drive systems are the most important topics, according to the company spokesperson.

The standardised geared motor variants of the LogiDrive systems from NORD are specially designed for intralogistics, parcel logistics and airport technology and are particularly suitable for reducing the number of versions. The compact design saves space and the lightweight aluminium housing enables weight savings of up to 25%. LogiDrive drive units comprise an IE4 synchronous motor with rated powers of up to 5.5 kW, a 2-stage helical bevel gear unit and a NORDAC LINK frequency inverter to be installed close to the motor. With class IE4 motor efficiency and system efficiency to class IES2, the drive units achieve excellent overall efficiencies – especially in the partial load and speed range. At the LogiMAT, NORD will be presenting the LogiDrive concept, also in combination with an energy-efficient latest generation IE5+ permanent magnet synchronous motor (above) that has considerably lower losses than the current IE4 series. The compact and unventilated smooth surfaced motor achieves its high efficiency, which at times is significantly above efficiency class IE5 over a wide torque range, making it optimally suitable for intralogistics applications and operation in the partial load range.

Condition monitoring for predictive maintenance
The frequency inverters from NORD DRIVESYSTEMS regularly or permanently record drive and status data in order to optimise the operational safety and efficiency of machines and plants. Based on this information, concepts for predictive maintenance can also be developed. Fast, efficient and comprehensive evaluation of analogue and digital data (measurements, signals and operating parameters) by the intelligent PLC in the drive electronics forms the basis. The objective of predictive maintenance is to maintain machines and plants proactively and to detect changes at an early stage, to reduce downtimes and to increase the efficiency of the entire plant. NORD DRIVESYSTEMS uses a drive-based approach where intelligent algorithms and virtual sensors transfer information from condition monitoring to predictive maintenance. An example is the sensorless determination of the optimum oil change time based on the oil temperature.

A solution for mobile use
With the NORDCON APP and the mobile Bluetooth connection device NORDAC ACCESS BT, NORD has created a mobile commissioning and service solution for all NORD electronic components. It is used for analysing, monitoring and parameterisation of NORD drive systems. The dashboard-based visualisation can be used for drive monitoring and fault diagnosis. With a help function and rapid access to parameters, parameterisation of drive units is simple and easy.

You can find NORD in Hall 3 on Stand C17 at LogiMAT (Stuttgart, 10-12 March).

Automation specialist BÖWE SYSTEC is celebrating the award of a ‘Quality – Made in Augsburg’ certificate by its home city.

The award is presented to recipients who have contributed to the economic future of Augsburg through their creativity and innovation. Head of Human Resources at BÖWE SYSTEC, Stefan Kooss, accepted the award at a ceremony in the Prince’s Chamber at the City Hall from the Lord Mayor Dr Kurt Gribl and the Mayor Eva Weber.

The awards are targeted at companies involved in specialist industries that are perhaps only known to relatively small groups. “It’s not important whether the company is a start-up or has a long tradition; for us, when deciding who to present awards to, it is quality that is the key”, explains Dr Kurt Gribl, the Lord Mayor.

BÖWE SYSTEC is a global automation specialist involved in several industries. It employs some 1,000 people in three European development and production facilities and over 20- subsidiaries all around the world. However, the centre of all this global activity lies at the Augsburg HQ. Some 300 work at the site and each day they and their colleagues all over the world dedicate their commitment and enthusiasm to ensuring the success of their customers. As Stefan Kooss, the Head of Human Resources, explains: “It is this that is being honoured as ‘Quality – Made in Augsburg’. It is the service provided by the team as a whole, in Augsburg and around the world.”

The ‘Quality – Made in Augsburg’ awards have been presented since 2014. When choosing which companies to present them to, a number of criteria are assessed. These include the attractiveness of a company’s products or services, its innovative power, its profile beyond the region or its uniqueness or that of its products.