Hall 7, Booth 7F80
Hard shell, core of high-tech: With around 1,000 tonnes of steel used in its construction, the high-bay warehouse at KEB Automation's headquarters in Barntrup is already an eye-catcher from the outside. And the interior of the warehouse is also something special. It houses fully automated high-tech storage and retrieval machines, in which an in-house system solution ensures that internal logistics processes are taken to a new level. But KEB solutions are also in demand in other areas – and users can experience them first-hand at LogiMAT 2026 in Hall 7, Booth 7F80.
Not all intralogistics are the same. This becomes clear when considering the sometimes widely differing requirements for suitable drive solutions. Storage and retrieval machines (SRMs), cranes, conveyor systems or automated guided vehicles (AGVs) require tailor-made drive and automation systems for the smooth movement of goods. This is where the coordinated components that KEB is presenting at LogiMAT in Stuttgart come into play. Inverters, motors, brakes and innovative IIoT solutions are combined to create a system that can handle demanding logistics tasks.
Solution for conveyor technology
This is the case in conveyor technology, for example. Designed for high efficiency, durability and optimum serviceability, synchronous and asynchronous systems ensure the perfect movement in dynamic lifting, turning, sorting and packing stations with connecting transport routes. Compact drive electronics across the entire power range and all variants of industrial gear motors complement the range for conveyor systems. Maximum safety is ensured by, among other things, the sealed COMBISTOP 28 spring-applied brake, which is designed for use in harsh environmental conditions. The COMBISTOP 38 is also in demand in conveyor technology. The spring-applied brake, which is activated by a quiescent current, can be used both as a service brake for dynamic applications and as a holding brake with emergency stop function for static applications.
Highly efficient in high-bay warehouses
How modern material handling applications are brought to life can also be seen directly at KEB's headquarters in Barntrup (North Rhine-Westphalia). All components and semi-finished products are stored in the newly built high-bay warehouse there. In addition to two SRMs in the automatic small parts warehouse, three SRMs are also in use in a second segment for 8,000 pallets – equipped with innovative IIoT solutions and the option for continuous DC technology. COMBIVERT S6 servo drives provide the appropriate drive, powering the telescopic gear motors on the load handling device of the pallet stacker crane. The lifting and travelling mechanisms are driven by classic KEB gear motors and COMBIVERT F6 drive controllers. In addition, energy recovery units from the company's own portfolio are used. In this way, braking energy is not wasted with the resistors that would otherwise be installed, but can be efficiently fed back into the grid via EMC and harmonic filters.
Brakes and IIoT for driverless transport systems
Driverless transport systems also benefit from KEB's automation solutions. For example, KEB relies on the open automation platform NOA in its in-house production. A total of three AGVs are in operation in the production halls to transport products and materials from A to B. If, for example, the connection to one of the vehicles is lost and it comes to a standstill as a result, the AGV switches to an error state. However, in a large production hall, it is not always immediately apparent when and where the AGVs have come to a standstill. Against this background, NOA was used to create a way of monitoring the condition of the vehicles. The aim was to display all relevant status information in a central location. The implementation of the NOA solution will make it possible in future to view the individual status of the AGVs in the cloud. In the event of anomalies or errors, a corresponding warning message is sent by email or MS Teams so that immediate action can be taken and the productivity of the vehicles increased.
Another exciting development is that KEB's portfolio includes the COMBISTOP S1 holding brake for driverless transport systems, among other applications, which does not require any rare earths. The highlight: the COMBISTOP S1 has a patented friction system that achieves a significantly higher braking torque compared to conventional spring-loaded brakes. Against this background, the brake offers performance comparable to permanent magnet brakes, but with greater material independence and predictability.
