Digitalized Conveyor Lines as a Success Factor in Machine Building and Intralogistics
Turck’s intralogistics specialist Frank Morassi on the trend towards digitalized conveyor lines
»Modularization and digitalization are among the top issues in mechanical and plant engineering, not least in intralogistics. The best way for today’s users to meet their customers’ rapidly changing requirements is with modular and flexibly scalable conveyor lines. For these to also offer high availability and work ideally with zero pressure accumulation, an efficient digitalization strategy is unavoidable. The trend is moving away from massive, centrally controlled and driven lines towards decentralized control modules and roller drives directly in the field.
The digitalization of the conveyor line and decentralized, cabinet-free control concepts offer a number of advantages. First of all, there is the benefit of simple scalability. If requirements change, digitalized conveyor modules can be quickly combined to create new route layouts, all with very little wiring effort. Smart I/O modules on the conveyor modules not only provide the control intelligence but also inputs and outputs for sensors and actuators, the latter primarily in the form of roller motors. All devices are supplied via robust IP67 power supply units on the modules for which the voltage is looped through via M12 power cables thanks to the line topology. The connected motors require a power supply of either 48 or 24 volts.
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