Technology Update: Intralogistics markets expand motion control use

Mark T. Hoske, Control EngineeringMark T. Hoske,

Intralogistics: Motion control use

Huge demand in warehousing, food and beverage, and other intralogistics uses expand VFD flexibility and features.

Prior to the pandemic, warehouse automation had been expanding at about 8% annual growth rate, but COVID-19’s demands for home deliveries increased that automation investment to 12% per year. 2020 was the largest year of shipments to date and the total market is expected to double in size from 2020 to 2026, said Craig Henry, Siemens intralogistics industry manager.

In response, automation vendors have made products more flexible, easier to install and use, faster and enabled with Industry 4.0 technologies, such as advanced variable frequency drive (VFD) systems. Intralogistics is the transportation of materials inside buildings or at a location. Modern technologies move and track products and deliver information along the way, Henry said. Henry made his comments with other experts in an April 7 press briefing in advance of the ProMatDX online digital show, April 12-16, organized by MHI, the material handling, logistics and supply chain association.

Motion control logistics applications

Generally, motion controls for interior logistics applications have a 10-year lifecycle and apply to conveyers, automatic storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), and vertical lifts: scissor lifts and other lifters. Market drivers for enabling automation include global markets, push for single source provider to decrease integration and inventory, shorten delivery times, apply to varied electrical grid conditions, include seamless hardware and software, easy use over the product’s lifetime and reliability in harsh conditions. Intralogistics market includes automated guided vehicles (AGV), ASRS, conveyors, picking, palletizing, and services, and key end users are Amazon logistics and fulfillment businesses, parcels (DHL, FedEx, UPS and USPS), food and beverage and consumer package goods (CPG) including Walmart, Target and Kroger. In addition to the e-commerce boom, there’s a shortage of transport space, rising energy prices, lack of qualified staff and the need for speed, Henry said. Intralogistics markets are accelerating

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INSIGHTS KEYWORDS: Intralogistics,

motion control, variable frequency drives, VFD

Intralogistics markets are accelerating automation investments. Automation vendors are making variable frequency drive systems easier to implement and use. ProMatDX online digital show was April 12-16 and organized by MHI, the material handling, logistics and supply chain association. CONSIDER THIS

How are motion control

investments accelerating your markets? ONLINE www.controleng.com/NPE www.controleng.com/ magazine

The Sinamics G115D variable frequency drive system is a distributed VFD for conveyor technology applications, and no enclosure is needed, according to Rafael Larcher, Sinamics drives product marketing manager. The VFD has simple setup and optimized user interface via Startdrive software and with the Sinamics Smart Access Module (SAM) to connect via mobile device via Wi-Fi access, over 150 ft. WAP-2 encryption supports HTTPS. It has Profinet and EtherNet/IP industrial Ethernet protocols and safety integrated safe torque off. It integrates with Totally Integrated Automation, device to cloud architecture. Applications include conveyors, turntables or corner turntables, traveling trolleys for intralogistics, airports, automotive and food and beverage markets. Courtesy: Siemens in a ProMatDX preview

automation investments more quickly than manufacturing, Henry said, which is making incremental improvements along the way. Logistics applications are ahead in digital twin use, he said.

Sandi Hirschlein, marketing manager, low voltage drives, gave a preview of the Siemens online booth at ProMatDX. John Meyer, Siemens marketing communication manager, served as moderator for the media preview event. ce

Mark T. Hoske is content manager, Control Engineering, CFE Media and Technology, mhoske@cfemedia.com.