Sorter manufacturers are increasingly relying on inductive energy transfer from VAHLE
Paul Vahle GmbH & Co. KG is increasingly relying on inductive solutions for the energy supply of sorter systems, whether cross-belt or tipping container systems. The flexible systems are the backbone of many distribution centers and reduce the error rate during sorting and increase the efficiency of the flow of goods in incoming goods, batch picking or tour compilation in shipping. The hard-working helpers are in operation around the clock. In order to keep wear and maintenance costs as low as possible, crossbelts and tilt tray sorting systems are increasingly being supplied with energy without contact. Renowned manufacturers rely on the market-leading inductive solution from the Kamen-based system provider.
The eCommerce business is running at full speed, and due to the coronavirus pandemic, more people did their shopping online last year and are likely to do so again this year. To manage the volume of shipments, many dispatch centers are using automated sorting systems. "Their carriers have one or more crossbelts or a tilt tray function, which feeds the transported goods in and out with a high degree of accuracy or tips them into the next transport container. Each conveyor segment has its own motor for this purpose, which is then supplied with power by the compact vPOWER Pick Up," says Marc Detweiler, Head of Product Management at Paul Vahle GmbH & Co KG.
The Kamen-based system provider recommends the use of inductive technology: "The faster and the longer a system runs, the more the carbon brushes wear out with conventional solutions," explains Detweiler. Loops several hundred meters long, speeds of up to three meters per second and almost 100 percent system availability are no longer a rarity.
Systems with a contactless power supply for the crossbelts or the tipping container system may be more expensive to purchase, but they have a decisive advantage: "The inductive power supply means that the vPOWER system is wear-free. This reduces the so-called Total Costs of Ownership (TCO) or overall operating costs. As a result, a purchase usually pays for itself within a few years," says Detweiler.
The demand for crossbelt sorters remains high, especially in the eCommerce sector. "The figures from the major mail order companies show that the end of the line is far from being reached," says Detweiler, describing the outlook and adds: "Our solutions enable fast and practically continuous system operation for accurate and error-free sorting. This means we are precisely meeting the needs of the industry." The expert therefore assumes that VAHLE will continue to make a decisive contribution to the growth of the market.
