Feature

KEB F6 drive controllers allow cost-effective upgrade of warehouse storage & retrieval machine

KEB Automation has helped a customer in Germany to convert its high-bay warehouse storage and retrieval machine from an old-generation frequency inverters to the new COMBIVERT F6 drive controller from KEB.

08/03/2021 13:10:34

The warehouse is owned and operated by a mail order business that was looking for a modern, cost-effective retrofit solution that would not require the existing motors to be replaced.

The high-bay warehouse currently comprises nine aisles. Each aisle has 106 positions along its length (on both sides of the aisle) and 28 positions in height (on both sides).

Jorg Buchwald-Hörnchen, PLC Technician at the warehouse, comments: "The main focus was on costs. Of course, other competitors also submitted bids for their products, but the statements from them were always the same: ‘we cannot work with your existing motors’. At KEB, this was not an issue at all from the start. They said it didn’t matter what kind of motor was there, we can run all motors with our COMBIVERT F6."

With the COMBIVERT F6, users can operate KEB’s own motors as well as a variety of other motor types from different manufacturers. "That’s how it turned out. It was very easy to get the existing motors working with the inverters, using automatic calibration. The aim was to replace only the frequency inverters, from the COMBIVERT F4 series to the F6," adds Jorg Buchwald-Hörnchen.

Read the full article in the March issue of DPA.

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.