Space saving energy chain for indoor crane

• What was needed: autoglide 5 energy chain
• Requirements: A particularly space-saving energy supply solution had to be found for supplying a trolley
• Area of application: Cranes
• Success for the customer: The autoglide 5 energy chain completely dispenses with the guide trough and relies on a space-saving steel cable guide. Despite a well-filled energy chain, the safety distance to the travelling trolley could be maintained - to the satisfaction of the customer.

It was actually supposed to be a "completely normal" energy chain that BANG had requested from us. The BANG engineers had planned two identical cranes for sheet metal handling for ZSB Zwickauer Sonderstahlbau GmbH. The 22.5 metre long bridges, each with two 12.5 tonne hoists, were to be equipped with component kits (drives, wire rope hoist, energy supply) from a German manufacturer.
However, the energy supply included in the standard package could not be used for one of the two cranes. This crane can also use an electromagnet instead of the hook if required. For this reason, a more powerful power supply is required up to the load handling attachment and therefore also a larger energy chain. Five individual wires with a cross section of four square millimetres are required for the main power supply to the trolley alone. At the same time, this created a space problem: for example, a safe distance from the travelling trolley had to be maintained on the upper belt and crushing edges had to be avoided.
This was precisely the challenge that BANG had asked us about. At that time, our industry manager for cranes had a conversation with BANG and mentioned a new development: the autogilde 5-energy chain. Just two days later, a change to the enquiry came from BANG saying: "Please offer autoglide 5 - we need every centimetre of space."

The autoglide 5 energy chain was developed for such applications. To save as much space as possible, the guide trough is replaced by a cable that is tensioned on the substructure. The cable engages in additional guide elements on the chain, ensuring that the chain is reliably guided.
The autoglide 5 was developed for indoor cranes and storage and retrieval machines with travel lengths of up to 80 metres. Users of this system save space, installation time and costs. This is why the new energy supply immediately met with interest not only at BANG, but also among users looking for a low-wear alternative to the busbar system.
In order to be able to use the autoglide 5 for this project, however, a special solution had to be realised: With the autoglide 5, an end-fixed is standard. However, as two separately travelling trolleys had to be supplied with power and signals, two reverse chains with a common guidance were required. This small challenge was solved with a customised fixed point bridge that we manufactured using 3D printing - the first autoglide 5 with twin-opposing.
The two cranes have now been installed in the new building of ZSB Zwickauer Sonderstahlbau GmbH and the customer is happy. Peter Knösel, conductor project management and sales: "We are very satisfied with both the cranes and the project process, and the new channel-free energy chain is also proving its worth."