Intelligent transport shuttles with a unique all-around view


At the leading international logistics trade fair LogiMAT 2020 (March 10 to 12, in Stuttgart), montratec GmbH with headquarters in Niedereschach, Germany, is showcasing the efficiency and process reliability increasing possibilities of the intelligent digitization technology of their monorail and transport shuttle system montrac®. In addition to the intelligent real-time monitoring and control technology, the exclusively enhanced autonomous sensor technology of the new montrac® Shuttle MSH5 generation, as well as the process automation of warehouse connection and warehouse logistics will be presented.

"By using the digital, decentralized control technology of montrac®, production and logistics processes can be networked with maximum availability. Thanks to the real-time availability of all system data, which we visualize via mobile devices, the current status of the entire montrac® transport system can be permanently monitored, proactively controlled and sustainably optimized," explains Sven Worm, CEO of montratec GmbH. "With our concept of comprehensive digitization, we not only significantly increase process reliability, but also enable our customers to produce more efficiently, faster and thus more cost-effectively.”

At booth D37, in hall 3, montratec will inform about the many possible applications of montrac® with a complete montrac® loop, which is flexibly interrupted and thus passable by TracDoors in the monorail, and various types of transport shuttles. The future-oriented implementation of digital logistics automation will be shown, for example by means of networked workstations as well as sensor-controlled and sensor-monitored reverse driving of the montrac® shuttle MSH5. As a highlight at the booth visitors can for the first time interactively convince themselves of the possibilities of warehouse connection and warehouse logistics.

With the sensor technology exclusively developed for the new montrac® Shuttle MSH5, the high-tech company montratec is setting new standards in terms of safety: The unique sensor modules issue information on the distance and intensity along and on the transport route by means of five individual sensors in a semicircular, geometrical arrangement. With a 5-beam sensor integrated at the front and rear of the transport shuttle, the montrac® Shuttle MSH5 has an additional peripheral all-round field of view. This not only monitors a wider detection area for shuttles in front on straight routes and in curve situations, but also detects interfering objects on and off the route at all times. "In this way, we significantly increase the safety of the employees, as the shuttle automatically stops when people or objects approach, thanks to the optimized collision avoidance", confirms Worm. 

The modular and therefore flexible montrac® transport system consists of an aluminum monorail system and various, autonomously controlled transport shuttle types that communicate independently with each other and with the route. All shuttles are always in the right place at the right time. The decentralized system control regulates the interaction between transport shuttles, monorail and PLC control and ensures that all transport shuttles find their individual transport destination by means of networked intelligence. Thus, the intelligent, higher-level high-tech control system of montrac® not only enables the integration of the transport system into external process plants, but also the connection to an ERP system. Through the exchange of all system data in real time and the resulting permanent transparency of the montrac® system status, it is possible to flexibly react to changes and make adjustments promptly. "The optimized digitization technology of montrac® maximizes system availability for the customer and minimizes their risk of production downtime," says Worm. In addition, each shuttle can be removed manually from the running system or replaced without stopping the entire system.

"Our goal is maximum availability, flexibility and customer-specific intralogistics 4.0 solutions for process automation and networked production in all industrial areas," emphasizes Worm, looking ahead to the various montrac® application possibilities presented by montratec at the LogiMAT 2020 in Stuttgart.

Hall 3, Booth D37