The VarioMover is an AGV that has been specially developed for body painting applications.
Eisenmann has developed the VarioMover, an automated guided vehicle (AGV) system for special applications in body painting that is powered by Wiferion technology. It can be customized as a PaintMover for skidless transport of vehicle bodies through the paint shop processes, as a StoreMover for scalable surface storage, or as an AssemblyMover in final assembly.
Vehicle bodies are usually transported through the paint shop on a steel skid. The PaintMover transports the bodywork through the entire painting process without a driver and optionally without a skid. This eliminates the unnecessary heating and cooling of the steel skid, saving resources.
An important factor for Eisenmann's AGV is a sustainable battery concept for inductive energy transfer in a demanding atmosphere. This is why Wiferion's technology and its efficient etaLINK systems were chosen.
In addition to conveyor technology for pre-treatment (VBH) and cathodic dip painting (CDP), Eisenmann's portfolio includes versatile systems for paint drying and deposition as well as application technology for automated handling. In 2020, Eisenmann began the systematic further development of the skidless paint shop and thus the planning and design of a new AGV specifically for the painting process.
In addition to the special requirements of the paint shop, the AGV also had to fulfil other characteristics.
"We wanted to develop a system that was as compact as possible and could maneuver in the tightest of spaces," said Axel Eipper, Product Management for AGVs at Eisenmann.
The VarioMover has eight powered wheels that allow it to move omnidirectionally, i.e., in any direction and in any orientation. This enables it to realize even compact travel paths. The wheels can be used for driving and steering, allowing it to move heavy loads of up to 3.8 tons with high acceleration and precision. At the same time, the drive system protects the floor from high loads and the associated wear. The vehicle's control system comes entirely from Siemens.
With a basic construction height of 250 mm, which can be extended with additional components depending on the functionality of the AGV, the VarioMover is optimally designed for transport height of 500 mm, which is standard in the automotive industry.
The technology of the VarioMover AGV system is patented for the special application in body painting. It is equipped with various interfaces and can be adapted to the customer-specific application according to the modular principle.
All solutions can be fully integrated into existing production processes and can also be subsequently adapted to changing capacity and production requirements. The technology therefore offers a high level of flexibility and scalability in the modern paint shop.
The search for a suitable charging structure posed a particular challenge for Eisenmann.
"One of the most common energy transfer methods, contact charging, was out of the question for use in the paint shop," said Eipper. "In addition to the high cost of installing the charging contacts in easily accessible locations and ensuring the necessary contact pressure, the risk of flying sparks in such a sensitive area is unacceptable. That is why it was clear from the outset that the system we wanted to use had to be inductive. As we also wanted to retrofit the existing systems without a great deal of effort, we were looking for a minimally invasive solution. We wanted to avoid costly interventions in the floor structure, such as milling grooves or channels. That is why we opted for the solution from Wiferion."
As well as being easy to integrate into existing infrastructures, the etaLink system from Wiferion features a high level of efficiency. "A major concern of our customers is that the strong electromagnetic fields could have a negative impact on the health of their employees or on the steel construction of their production facilities," said Eipper. "With Wiferion's charging system, however, the energy is transmitted particularly efficiently, as a highly directional charging lobe is created at the interface between the active and passive antenna. This means that significantly less energy is released into the environment than with other charging systems."
etaLINK is designed for different battery formats and technologies. Whether LiFePo, lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt battery (lithium-NMC) or titanate, the inductive charging system is highly compatible.
For more information contact:
Wiferion-A PULS Business Unit
2640 White Oak Circle, Ste. A
Aurora, IL 60502
630-587-9780
www.wiferion.com
Charbel Sleiman, Managing Director
Eisenmann Inc.
508A Pennsylvania Ave.
Greer, SC 29650
864-494-5575
charbel.sleiman@eisenmann.com
www.eisenmann.com