Energy chains and cables where space is scarce in chemist picking systems

• What was needed: easy chain® energy chain; chainflex® cable
• Requirements: extremely flexible and reliable cable and cable guides that can withstand 15 years and an average of 15 million movements; tight bend radius; quick and easy assembly
• Industry: vending machinery
• Success for the customer: Preliminary tests of the chains and cables confirmed their reliability and durability; a guarantee of 4 years, or up to 40 million double strokes, gives the customer additional planning security; by using chains with different bend radii, the customer saves a four-figure sum in cable costs per year; costs and installation time have been greatly reduced by the E065 series energy chain

Gollmann Kommissioniersysteme GmbH manufactures particularly compact picking systems in which the pharmacist can simply request the required medication at the touch of a button.
While other systems work with fixed aisles in which a handling system moves, Gollmann relies on mobile cabinets that always open an aisle where goods are currently being picked or stored.
Each cabinet moves with a stepper motor, which must be supplied with energy and, above all, signals. For example, the end position is queried via a proximity switch. This means that there are many moving cables and correspondingly various energy chains, especially as the arm of the storage and retrieval machine and the gripper at the end of the arm also require energy.
It is precisely because of this complex technology that the chains and cables must guarantee a particularly high level of flexibility and reliability. Gollmann also offers its customers an "all-round carefree package" in which the manufacturer assumes full responsibility - and the costs - for the service, including unplanned downtime, for a full 15 years. There is also an additional expense allowance and a Germany-wide three-hour on-site service. Accordingly, the components must be durable and fail-safe. And that with approx. 15 million movements of the systems in 15 years of pharmacy life.
Due to the compact systems, the company was also looking for chains with a particularly low bend radius. The assembly effort also played an important role in the selection of components. For example, the chains had to be quick and easy to fill.

Gollmann decided in favour of our easy chain® energy chain, including the E065 series, at an early stage in 2007 and has stuck with it ever since. Somewhat later, the decision was made to also purchase the cables from us. As the Gollmann order picking systems communicate via CAN bus, the focus here is on the bus cables from the chainflex® programme. Last year, the company purchased almost 30 km of cable from the chainflex® CF211 series alone. A specially developed measuring system cable based on the CF211 series has provided many advantages in the workability of the cable. 
We also offer a 4-year guarantee on durability, or up to 40 million double strokes (e.g. for the chainflex® CF298).
Since Gollmann was looking for durable and fail-safe components,
endurance tests of the energy chain and chainflex® cable were carried out in advance at Gollmann's test facility.
Originally, the energy chain and cable were designed with a particularly small bend radius in mind, so that they could be used universally in the manufacturer's systems. Two years ago, however, the design engineers worked with us to examine the possibility of using two qualities and using less demanding series if the bend radius is larger. This proved to make sense - as a comparative service life calculation showed, among other things - and Gollmann has been saving a four-figure sum in cable costs every year ever since.
Another optimisation project concerns the chainflex® special cables, e.g. for measurement technology. They have been improved in terms of connector installation, which saves costs and installation time. In general, the E065 series energy chain is easy to install, as the cables are simply pressed into the chain via the outer radius.