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The Vectura chassis is manufactured to the highest standards from cold bended steel which is heat treated after welding to eliminate stresses in the material. We have such confidence in the accuracy of the chassis that there is no lateral wheel adjustment available on the crane. This, combined with the heat treatment of the chassis, eliminates any risk of misalignment. Perfectly parallel wheel axles minimize wear, reduce maintenance costs and ensure long life. The front wheel, however, is adjustable in height so that the verticality of the mast can be fine-tuned.
The guidance wheels feature eccentric bearings which allow adjustment of the play and spread forces evenly. For applications where a low noise level is particularly important, the smaller SRMs can be delivered with vulcollan wheels.
The Vectura is equipped with standard PLC for reliable electrical control. The cranes are also fitted with a distributed bus I/O system for simplified maintenance and lower costs. A fixed maintenance platform and safety cage ensure the protection of the engineer when servicing the cabinet.
The crane system has a host of safety features to ensure complete security in operation. Safety braking by hydraulic buffer is standard, with the option of the Safety Brake Systems (SBS), which enforces a predetermined speed curve for safe, fast travel in the aisle. A fall brake ensures total protection in the event of a lift cable failure.
Our utomated storage and retrieval systems are supported by design tools that ensure functionality. Using the Configurator, the application engineer can automatically check interdependencies between modules - both mechanical and electrical - knowing that only workable designs are produced. Although the Vectura range of cranes is based on five main chassis sizes, it is more correctly viewed as a continuous design spectrum from the smallest to the largest crane. Using the Configurator, the optimum design is specified, taking into account the height of the store, the load handled, and the performance required.
The chassis straddles the bottom rail, allowing the forks to reach lower positions. In addition, the Vectura is designed to minimize distances between stored goods and the warehouse end walls in order to maximize total storage capacity. The position of the chassis - slightly offset from the center of the aisle - allows the drive motor to be fixed in a low position on the side of the chassis, lowering the crane's center of gravity and facilitating maintenance. Frequency-controlled AC Servo motors, offering superior efficiency, longer life and lower operational costs, are standard.
Absolute encoding using laser or tooth belt is used for all positioning, vertical and horizontal. It is a robust system which is easy to re-start after any stoppage.
Offsetting the mast from the dead center of the aisle allows improves safety for personnel passing the crane during commissioning and maintenance. This arrangement also offers easy access to the maintenance ladder and space for an optional operator's cab.
These material handling cranes feature a patented system of automatic compensation for the distortions that occur when pallet rack is unevenly loaded (rack lean). The accuracy of this system allows the spacing between pallets in the racking bay to be reduced below standard FEM tolerances, providing greater space utilization.
The crane concept consists of four modules that are combined to make masts of various heights, with only the top module customized in length. The tapered design of the mast is a unique feature, which reduces flexing during positioning and provides a lower center of gravity and lower overall weight, improving acceleration and energy efficiency. For further flexibility, the equipment can be fitted with an auxiliary mast system, adding a support mast for applications with greater load weights or sizes.
Masts are fabricated in sections and mast ends are machined to ensure straightness when assembled. The lengths of the sections allow shipment on standard trailers or in 40-foot containers. On site, the mast is simply off-loaded and assembled. The mast sections are bolted, avoiding distortional stresses associated with welding.