Condition monitoring saves serious money for logistics operator

Schaeffler's European Distribution Centre (EDC Central) in Kitzingen, Germany, is one of Europe's most modern logistics centres with several thousand shipping units rolling off the lines every day. Standard products can be delivered to customers within 24 to 48 hours after receipt of order. Opened in June 2018, EDC Central covers a total area of 148,000 square metres and employs around 200 people. The site has two storage racks with a height of 38.5m, which provides space for 28,000 Euro pallets and 95,000 containers. Equipped with an in-floor, 2km-long conveyor system and state-of-the-art conveying technology, the centre also provides 20 ramps for up to 85 trucks per day.

Inside the EDC Central are seven automated storage and retrieval systems, which continuously handle loads in various directions from storage racks with a height of around 38.5m. The bearings in the drives of these storage and retrieval systems are subjected to severe loads during operation. Any unplanned downtime of the storage and retrieval systems due to bearing damage can affect the entire supply chain. In the worst-case scenario, this may result in delayed deliveries of customer orders. The logistics centre was therefore looking for a Predictive Maintenance solution.

Schaeffler SmartCheck condition monitoring solution

The EDC Central relies on intelligent maintenance systems developed in-house for monitoring the automated storage and retrieval systems. Of the approximately 3000 drives at Kitzingen, 58 of the most critical are monitored using the Schaeffler SmartCheck condition monitoring solution.

Fifty-one of the SmartChecks are installed on spiral conveyors and lifting stations, where they monitor vibration, temperature and speed of the bearings. The SmartChecks are connected to the Schaeffler network, allowing local visualisation in the control room at Kitzingen.

Seven SmartChecks are installed on the drives of the storage and retrieval systems. After an operating period of around 18 months, one of the SmartChecks detected an irregular upward trend. The subsequent visual inspection carried out by local maintenance staff confirmed that grease had escaped from the track roller bearing. Due to the early detection of this irregularity, the site was able to schedule and perform the bearing replacement in good time and therefore prevent any unplanned downtime.

Customer benefits

The online monitoring system is an important tool for Kitzingen in eliminating unplanned downtime and malfunctions during operation. Other advantages include:

• Prevention of costs resulting from production downtime
• Prevention of subsequent damage to the drive
• Low purchasing costs for the monitoring system
• Reduced maintenance costs
• Increased machine availability
• Enhanced reliability through a self-reporting system

Oliver Massa, Intralogistics Portfolio Manager at Schaeffler summarises the benefits of the monitoring solution: "Bearing damage was detected at an early stage thanks to the SmartCheck. The team was able to carry out the four-hour maintenance work outside of our regular operating hours. Production was therefore safeguarded and subsequent damage to the drive was prevented. With predictive maintenance, we can save costs of up to 70,000 euros every year".

This holistic approach can also be applied and extended to other machines and equipment in almost every plant. To ensure optimum lubrication of the chain and roller conveyors, the EDC Central also uses the centrally controlled CONCEPT8 automatic lubrication system from Schaeffler with specially developed lubricating pinions for continuous and precise relubrication during operation.

For more information about Schaeffler's SmartCheck condition monitoring system, please visit www.schaeffler.co.uk.