Reaching new heights
WEG and distributor Technidrive supply equipment for elevator application in extreme conditions
An automated warehouse is a breathtaking sight , as reams of pallets are automatically scanned and retrieved for delivery . But not all automation systems are made to endure extreme environments . Here ’ s how Technidrive Ltd and WEG partnered to help Moffett , an automated storage firm , design a vertical lift for extreme temperatures .
Industrial elevators are usually propelled by electric motors , with the aid of a counterweight system . However , when these industrial systems are in environments of varying temperatures , the equipment must also withstand extreme temperatures as well as heavy loads .
This was the case for Moffett , an automated storage firm in Ireland , taking on its first international project in Dubai . The project involved building a system for a three-storey 30-metre-high building with a throughput of 85 pallets per hour . Moffett required an automated storage system to lift and lower pallets , which could operate in temperatures of minus 25 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius .
In addition , Moffett wanted to manoeuvre pallets , which weigh over 1500kg , at a rate of one metre per second , between a height of six metres to 30 metres . To put this into perspective , the average building is around ten metres tall .
Moffett got in touch with Technidrive , who turned to WEG for the supply a 11kw electric motor , and a variable speed drive ( VSD ), along with the relevant programming software . The VSD , also known as an inverter , plays a significant role in this application . 18 FDPP - www . fdpp . co . uk