Greater efficiency in warehouse automation

Warehouses require flexible storage systems that demand intelligent, sustainable drive concepts. Drive specialist Nord Drivesystems understands the industry's needs and offers a wide range of dynamic drive solutions.

Nord offers innovative drive concepts for a wide range of applications and requirements in warehouse logistics, from conveyor, palletizing, and winding technology to overhead conveyors, transfer cars, and racking systems. “Drive concepts with integrated Ethernet interfaces for integration into modern automation systems are particularly in demand,” explains Gernot Zarp, Managing Director of Nord Drivesystems. ”We offer service-friendly plug-and-play solutions that also feature predictive maintenance and condition monitoring concepts to increase system availability and avoid downtime.”

Efficient even in partial load and partial speed ranges

Nord's customized drive solutions for warehouse logistics offer an optimal compromise between investment, operating, and maintenance costs. The drive units with IE4 motor efficiency class and IES2 system efficiency class achieve excellent efficiency levels, especially in partial load and partial speed ranges. With the IE5+ permanent magnet synchronous motor, even higher energy efficiency can be achieved and energy consumption significantly reduced. Its constant torque over a wide speed range also enables a targeted reduction in variants. This minimizes administrative effort and streamlines manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, and service processes.

By exploiting the high overload capacity of the motors and the wide adjustment range, the drives can be individually tailored to the respective load profile of the system. The IE5+ synchronous motors can also be combined in a modular fashion with all gear units and drive electronics from Nord Drivesystems. They thus combine the advantages of a modular design and higher efficiency with the possibility of reducing the number of variants, meaning that the purchase costs are amortized within a short period of time.

Energy-efficient and powerful

The IE5+ motor achieves its high efficiency over a wide torque range, making it ideal for economical operation in the partial load range. It offers high power density in a compact design. For example, a size 71 motor saves up to 40 percent space compared to a conventional asynchronous motor.

The size 71 delivers 0.35 to 1.1 kW with a continuous torque of 1.6 to 4.8 Nm, size 90 up to 4.0 kW with a continuous torque of up to 18.2 Nm. The IE5+ synchronous motor is available in both ventilated and smooth, unventilated versions. Together with the decentralized NORDAC ON frequency inverter, the IE5+ forms an optimal system solution from a single source, with all parts seamlessly matched to each other.

The decentralized NORDAC ON frequency inverter

The decentralized NORDAC ON frequency inverter was developed specifically for the requirements of horizontal conveyor technology in warehouses. In the NORDAC ON+ version, it is specially optimized for use with the IE5+ synchronous motor. NORDAC ON frequency inverters feature an integrated Ethernet interface, are easy to maintain thanks to their fully pluggable design, and are extremely compact – making them an economical and intelligent plug-and-play solution for IIoT environments. They can be mounted directly on the gear motor and offer an energy-saving function in the partial load range.

Via its flexible Ethernet interface, the NORDAC ON is capable of mapping different protocols such as EtherCAT, PROFINET, or EtherNet/IP. This eliminates the need for different hardware variants, and protocol adaptations can be easily implemented via parameter settings in the Ethernet stack. Updates can also be carried out quickly and easily via Ethernet, eliminating the need for manual on-site firmware installation on each individual drive. This significantly reduces maintenance costs, especially in large systems. Thanks to the stack, additional microcontrollers can be eliminated, less waste heat is generated, and the size of the inverter is reduced. The more compact the unit consisting of inverter and motor, the easier it is to integrate into a conveyor belt unit. This is a clear competitive advantage for small and medium-sized product and packaging units.

Inverters for power ratings up to 22 kW

The NORDAC FLEX SK 205E is recommended for a larger power range up to 22 kW. The compact, flexible, and energy-efficient frequency inverter enables energy savings, especially in partial load operation. The inverter can be used to control standard asynchronous motors, highly efficient synchronous motors, and brake motors. It can be installed close to the drive in the field or mounted on the motor. The power and data lines can be connected via plugs. The decentralized system enables short motor and encoder cables as well as short supply lines to sensors. Encoder feedback can be implemented, for example, for position-controlled transport systems. Its high overload capacity also enables dynamic movements with short start and stop times or cyclical operation. The integrated POSICON control ensures high accuracy in synchronous and positioning applications.

The NORDAC FLEX can be expanded with optional modules for communication with common fieldbus systems and the industrial Ethernet protocols Profinet, EtherCAT, EtherNet IP, and POWERLINK, making it easy to integrate into control systems. Functional safety can be achieved using STO. The PROFIsafe extension also supplements STO control via Industrial Ethernet with extended functions such as Safe Direction or Safe Limited Speed.

Digital support tools

Nord offers various tools for controlling and diagnosing frequency inverters. The NORDCON APP can communicate wirelessly with the inverter via Bluetooth. A Bluetooth module is integrated into the serial interface for this purpose. Alternatively, control boxes with a numeric display or plain text in twelve languages can be integrated, enabling diagnosis, parameterization, and control of the frequency inverter.

Nord goes one step further with the NORDCON software solution, a free program for PCs or laptops. In addition to the usual diagnostic and control functions, the tool also enables simple project data management and programming of the device-internal PLC, which can take over drive-related functions independently.

User-friendly system solution

Nord offers comprehensive system solutions for the warehouse industry that combine motors, gear units, and drive electronics with the LogiDrive solution space. Developed specifically for the requirements of warehouse logistics, the various versions are optimized for different factors.

LogiDrive Advanced is optimized for energy efficiency and combines an IE5+ synchronous motor, the NORDAC ON+ frequency inverter, and a gear unit of your choice from the Nord portfolio. LogiDrive Basic, with an IE3 asynchronous motor, NORDAC ON frequency inverter, and a gear unit from the Nord portfolio, focuses on cost efficiency.

Images: NORD DRIVESYSTEMS

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