The use of automated guided vehicles is booming. The reasons are obvious: companies can use AGVs to increase the efficiency of their material flow, make work easier for employees and counteract the shortage of skilled workers. However, it is important for their use that the automation technology is reliable and economical. For automated guided vehicles, this means that the autonomous electric speedsters must not allow themselves any downtime in everyday use. They have to work around the clock, seven days a week, 365 days a year. This is a challenge for AGV manufacturers that can be overcome by combining reliable and cost-efficient components.

Tribo-polymer bearings reduce maintenance costs

The reliability and energy efficiency of an AGV can be significantly increased with Motion Plastics from igus. "Lubrication-free and maintenance-free iglidur Tribo polymer bearings, which are used in tilting devices and scissor lifts of AGVs, are up to 60 percent lighter than metal bearings. This saves vehicle weight and increases performance," emphasizes Christian Strauch, Industry Manager Material Handling at igus. The bearings are also extremely durable. "Fibers and fillers reinforce the bearings to absorb high forces and edge loads. And integrated solid lubricants ensure maintenance-free dry running." In addition to tribo-polymer plain bearings, the igus range of plain bearings also includes linear, rotary table, joint and ball bearings.

Knapp Industry Solutions equips AGVs with igus screw jack tables

The AGV range from igus also includes electrically driven spindle lift tables. Users include Knapp Industry Solutions, which produces the "Open Shuttle" - a vehicle that drives autonomously through factory halls and transports boxes back and forth between roller conveyors. The shuttle is more flexible than intralogistics automation solutions of the past and can be quickly adapted to changing process sequences. The roller storage of the vehicle must be correspondingly flexible. It must be able to permanently adapt to different transfer heights. It is moved by two lightweight and robust drylin SLW spindle lifting tables, which are equipped with maintenance-free polymer sliding foils and spindle nuts and score points for their high reliability and long service life.

igus e-chains and cables increase the operating times of AGVs

The installation spaces in AGVs are often very limited. To ensure that cables can still be routed safely, igus offers energy chains with particularly tight bending radii. These include the E2 micro, which is designed for particularly tight spaces. It is lightweight, has a small bending radius and an internal height of just five millimetres. igus also has the matching e-chain cables in its range, with or without connectors, including those that can be used at temperatures as low as -35 °C, for example for AGVs in refrigerated warehouses. So that customers can be sure that the data and power supply of their AGVs will function reliably even under these adverse conditions, the company operates a cold chamber in Cologne in which the cables are tested under real conditions. The chamber is part of the 3,800 square meter test laboratory, in which two billion test cycles are completed every year. According to igus, this makes it the only provider able to offer a unique 36-month guarantee on its cables.