11/19/2009
TGW Mechanics GmbH has nearly 30 years of experience in the construction of stacker cranes for automated storage and retrieval applications which has now been used to develop a completely new version of the Mustang single-mast device. With the Mustang evolution the Austrian market leader for automatic mini-load cranes created a new device that combines well-proven technologies with fundamentally new approaches of handling machine engineering.
Since the early 1980s TGW Mechanics, headquartered in Wels, Austria, has been engineering stacker cranes in lightweight design for automated storage and retrieval applications (AS/RS). The company has implemented more than 3,600 mini-load handling machines since 1996. Producing more than 300 mini-load cranes per year makes TGW a global market leader. “In the last 6 years we clearly noticed a trend towards absolute high performance applications”, says Christoph Wolkerstorfer, Director of Product Development at TGW Mechanics. “In this period of time we implemented more than 1,000 Mustang single-mast cranes which are particularly suitable for high performance applications worldwide.” In order to meet the increased performance requirements, TGW’ cranes had to be adapted to satisfy the highest demands on construction engineering and technical complexity.
Lightweight Design Reduces Weight by 25 %
Now TGW concentrated the long experience in the field of high performance applications on the further development of their stacker crane technology and are about to launch the new Mustang evolution. “The Mustang evolution still uses the same lightweight construction design as the former Mustang version, combined with newer technologies and engineering approaches that are totally new in stacker crane construction,” adds Wolkerstorfer. “This way we created a handling machine that offers considerable advantages, especially with respect to energy efficiency.” The Mustang evolution is a single-mast crane with a maximum payload of 100 kg (220 lbs) and an optimum height of 12 m (39 ft). These height and weight specifications meet the requirements of more than 70 % of all AS/RS solutions.”
The Mustang evolution uses aircraft construction concepts, reducing its overall weight by about 25 %. Much of this comes from the new construction design of the mast, where specially rolled profiles, consistently adapted material thickness and high-strength bolted connections make the new mast three times stiffer yet lighter than with the former Mustang version. The chassis, chassis frame, and lifting unit were reinforced and re-engineered using this weight-optimised design.
Improved Centre of Gravity for Better Distribution of Loads
“Further enhancements in the Mustang evolution come from improvements to the crane’s centre of gravity and better distribution of loads to the running wheels”, adds Christoph Wolkerstorfer. Positioning the drive units at the front end of the chassis and lowering the control cabinet helped to adjust the centre of gravity. The Mustang evolution is now a “front wheel drive and low-slung” crane so to speak.
The combination of the higher stiffness of the mast, the improved centre of gravity, and the friction wheel drive at the bottom rail allows the Mustang evolution to reach maximum speeds of 6 m/s (19.7 ft/s), even with a height of 12 m (39 ft). Combined with a lifting acceleration of 3 m/s2 (9.8 ft/s2) and a maximum lifting speed of 3 m/s (9.8 ft/s), the Mustang evolution is the new standard for high performance in the largest range of automated storage and retrieval applications.