VAHLE conductor rail ensures reliable power supply in the new CLAAS warehouse

Kamen, February 27, 2020 - The VKS 10 conductor rail has been specially designed for applications where space is at a premium. For example, it can be clipped into a support profile and thus mounted directly on the shelf uprights, eliminating the need for complex and expensive auxiliary constructions. The system is also scalable and very robust.

"A reliable power supply is the be-all and end-all for automated warehouses. If the power supply does not function properly, this can result in malfunctions or even system failures. This can be expensive and should therefore be avoided," says Achim Dries, Managing Director of Paul Vahle GmbH & Co. Especially in the new CLAAS spare parts warehouse, where work is carried out in three shifts seven days a week, a reliable power supply around the clock is essential. To ensure this, the decision was made in favor of the compact VKS 10 conductor rail, as long-lasting carbon brushes make the solution very robust and thus form the basis for continuous operation of the warehouse.

CLAAS Service and Parts GmbH's new fully automated warehouse has been in operation since December 2019. The 11,700 square meter facility in Hamm-Uentrop was equipped with a nine-aisle, 30-metre-high high-bay warehouse and the associated storage and retrieval machines. The 58,000 storage locations for pallet cages and pallets form the logistical heart of the facility. The nine DAMBACH Mono storage and retrieval machines, each with two load handling devices, store and retrieve the spare parts and transfer them in pairs to the EMS vehicles, which in turn supply the picking stations.

The system therefore enables particularly dynamic handling of the transport units. Another advantage of this set-up is that aisles, levels and the number of storage and retrieval machines can be easily expanded as performance increases. An electric monorail system (EMS) was also installed as a pre-zone loop. The 350 meter long EMS is also powered by a VAHLE U10 conductor rail.

The connector technology enables quick and easy conversions and extensions. "The compact conductor rail is a multifunctional solution for continuous energy supply, which we can configure individually according to various requirements and even make "Industry 4.0 ready"," says Dries. The VKS10 can optionally be equipped with a positioning system and data communication without additional steel construction. Another advantage of the VKS 10 is its simple installation - all mounting options are possible. "This is a decisive factor in the ever faster growing logistics environment, where space is still limited," summarizes Dries.

Unitechnik System GmbH, which CLAAS had commissioned as general contractor, was responsible for the overall implementation of the new warehouse building.