Slewing ring bearing in the turntable of a floor conveyor

Innovative turntable design allows for compact, efficient floor conveyors in material handling

The logistics industry is increasingly facing the challenge of making internal product flows more efficient, reliable and space-saving - especially in highly dynamic warehouses. Solutions such as the electric floor conveyors from GPI GmbH significantly improve material transport and set new standards in the optimisation of high-bay warehouses and order picking. A decisive factor for the efficiency of these systems lies in the choice of warehouse technology. Using iglidur PRT slewing ring bearings instead of classic ball or roller slewing rings improved the design considerably. The heavy-duty, low-wear and cost-efficient bearings not only offer technical advantages, but also provide a space-saving solution thanks to their low installation height - perfectly tailored to the requirements of modern logistics systems.

Profile

What was needed: Bearing for the turntable of electric suspension tracks and rail-guided floor conveyor systems

Requirements: Suitable for high axial loads and minimal installation height. High wear resistance and resistance to tilting moments due to drive and braking forces.

Industry: Material handling

Success for the customer: Space-saving and heavy-duty bearing design optimises the equipment of electric floor conveyors - with maximum efficiency and reliability.

Products used

Slewing ring

PRT slewing ring bearing

Problem

GPI GmbH, a manufacturer of conveyor systems, faced a major challenge when designing its rail-guided floor conveyors. The integrated vehicles require turntables with minimal installation height that are also capable of bearing high loads due to the weight of the vehicle and its load. Additional forces such as tilting moments due to the drive force of the geared motor as well as acceleration and braking forces complicate the design. Traditional ball or roller slewing rings proved unsuitable as they were too high and could not fulfil the requirements.

Solution

By using PRT slewing ring bearings, the customer was able to realise a convincing solution for their requirements. These bearings are a low-wear, quiet and compact alternative to conventional slewing rings. They can withstand extreme axial loads and, thanks to their low installation height, allow for the construction of space-saving and efficient electric floor conveyors. The bearings are also insensitive to influences such as tilting moments and dynamic forces, which makes them perfect for the requirements of closed warehouses. In addition to the slewing ring bearings, plain bearing bushings are also used for the steering and swivelling movements of the electric suspension tracks and flanged bearings for driving the release rails. They ensure long-lasting, precise movement without additional maintenance.