Supplying motor parts to automotive dealers generally demands next day or even same day delivery, and for one manufacturer in particular, this involves the order picking of between 4 and 6 million items per annum on an uninterrupted basis. Any breakdown of the system would be commercially catastrophic, and therefore, when designing a suitable conveyor system for the distribution centre, it had to ensure utmost reliability.
The company incorporated HepcoMotion's linear guidance systems in its design, resulting from an already existing relationship between the pair.
The integrator adopts a modular construction approach to its internal transport systems. “In traditional designs, the track layout of conveyor belts often represents a weak point,” a spokesman explained. “The smallest installation fault can become the source of continual problems and malfunctions. We found a cure for this by literally going back to the drawing board.”
Everything in the transport concept is in standardised modules and always symmetrical, designed from the central axis. This eliminates right hand and left hand components, and therefore it is impossible to assemble anything incorrectly or the wrong way round. It is only after a stable design has been achieved that the necessary drives and guide components are added.
The resultant system for handling car motors and parts contains 850m of conveyors, providing 17 inbound and 5 outbound lanes. At all of the transfer stations where crates are re-routed, identical stainless steel DLS ‘Driven Linear Systems’ are employed with .37kW motors. The addition of intelligent frequency controllers extends system life and minimises any maintenance.