High-performance solutions - the shuttle as an alternative to storage and retrieval machines | Specialist article | Technical logistics - hoists conveyors

With the "Stingray" shuttle system from TGW, containers and cartons as well as trays can be stored and retrieved - up to a weight of 50 kilograms and dimensions of 860 x 660 x 600 mm ( L x W x H). The maximum achievable height is 30 meters. According to TGW, the standard all-wheel drive of the shuttles ensures the highest positioning accuracy with maximum dynamics - and an acceleration of 2 m/s^². An advanced access and maintenance concept enables easy access to all essential system components. A high level of energy efficiency is also achieved through the use of state-of-the-art energy recovery systems.

Highly modular portfolio

Basically, TGW has the shuttle versions N (for normal) and V (variable). Variant N has a fixed telescopic light and is typically used in container storage. The wheelbase is configured according to the dimension of the loading aids (LHM) and the alignment and the system is equipped with the appropriate sensors. According to TGW, most of the project requirements in intralogistics can be covered with this model. However, the "Stingray N" would reach its limits, especially in warehouses with a large variety of boxes. This is where the Stingray V comes into play. The V stands for variable: this version can adjust the telescopic lights fully automatically and place loading aids of different dimensions flexibly on the shelf. In this way, a maximum delta of 560 millimeters between the largest and smallest loading aid can be covered. The WA (Wide Aisle) version is also available - for both the "Stingray N" and the "Stingray V". With its larger aisle clearance, it enables a greater storage depth for the LHM in the rack, increases storage density and reduces operating costs. This option should be particularly suitable for storage space-driven applications - and depending on the requirements even represent an alternative to the classic storage and retrieval device. With the WA, LHMs that are 680 millimeters long can be stored three deep lengthwise on the shelf – storage six deep is also possible for smaller dimensions. With its little brother, LHMs of 680 millimeters can be stored twice deep.

Shuttle for hanging goods

In the clothing industry, there are not only flat goods (e.g. T-shirts, accessories) but also hanging goods such as suits, dresses, coats, jackets, which are also transported to logistics centers Need to become.

With the "Stingray HG" (hanging garments), conventional clothes hangers serve as a hanging device. Storage and retrieval takes place in blocks. The storage process is identical to container storage. In contrast to the conventional container version, however, the hanging goods shuttle transports the load below the shuttle. The "Stingray HG" is equipped with a master-slave four-wheel drive in order to be able to deliver the highest performance. The maximum load capacity is 60 kilograms.

Energy recovery systems

Shuttle systems can be either fully or partially equipped. In the last variant, a shuttle lifter helps transport the shuttles back and forth between the individual levels. Every lifter has a feedback module as standard, which can be used to recover around 40 percent of the energy required. Depending on requirements, this energy is immediately reused in the lifting network or fed back into the supply network.

The "Stingray" shuttle has a smart "Powercap" solution for energy recovery and to reduce the connected loads. A unit with a small transformer and "powercap" is installed for each maintenance level. Depending on the load, the "Powercap" covers 25 to 40 percent of the required total power, the rest is provided by the transformer. By using the “power cap”, the transformer can be dimensioned around 35 percent smaller. This also makes it possible to recover the braking energy of the shuttles.

In the event of power failures due to overloaded networks or natural disasters, the "Stingray" shuttle uses the "powercaps" to bring the shuttles to a controlled standstill in the event of a power failure.

Access concept and software

During development, TGW placed a special focus on maximizing system availability. When accessing a maintenance level, only the shuttles in the affected level are sent to stand-by mode. In the event of access, the voltage is reduced from 60 to 24 volts: the CPU and sensors remain active, the system can be started up again quickly and thus the availability can be kept particularly high.

The individual modules of the logistics software are available in the material flow computer on a modular basis and can be variably configured depending on customer requirements. The different variants of container lifters, each with a different number of load handling devices, can be combined with the shuttle block.