Application | Factory Storage

INTERNATIONAL NETWORK LAPP’s complete system solutions business is growing fast. Under the name of ÖLFLEX ® CONNECT, the company is now bundling all global pre-assembly activities for customers, including consultation. A key element of this strategy is ÖLFLEX ® CONNECT CHAIN, a range of complete energy chain systems. The company has further expanded its international network for the production of pre-assembled cable solutions. At the plant in Otrokovice in the Czech Republic, LAPP produces connection systems for customers from all over Europe, from simple solutions to complete cable chains. The facility is another piece of LAPP’s international production network, which includes plants in Europe, Asia and the USA. Alongside its production facilities, LAPP set up three competence centers in order to support its system solutions activities on all continents. These are located at LAPP Asia Pacific in Singapore, LAPP USA in New Jersey, and the European competence center based in Stuttgart. Alongside these competence centers and the production facility in Otrokovice, LAPP also has sites in Desio (Italy), Nyköping (Sweden), Shanghai (China) and Bangalore (India) that serve national markets. All LAPP national subsidiaries also act as direct points of contact for customers. Customers benefit from customized solutions with maximum quality thanks to the optimum interaction of all components and expert on- site consultation from LAPP engineers. “Nobody knows LAPP products as well as we do”, explains Georg Stawowy, Member of the Board and CTO of LAPP Holding AG. “And we do this on a global level, with local contacts boasting local market knowledge.”

As it happens, LAPP is not only a supplier to SSI Schäfer, but also a customer. The factory in Otrokovice purchased a Logimat tower for its own storage needs. “We bought our own tower to store loose material, so that we can offer our customers even better and faster service. This investment has helped us save up to 70% of our warehouse space”, says Sedlák. FOR MILLIONS OF MOVEMENT CYCLES The chains used in the Logimat contain ÖLFLEX ® servo cables and UNITRONIC ® data cables. A total of five cable types are installed, all in the highly flexible versions for moving applications. These are specially designed for the millions of movement cycles inside a cable chain. The largest Logimat towers measure nearly 80 feet (24 m) high. Here, the power chain covers a distance of around twelve metres. Before delivery, LAPP puts the chain through its paces to ensure consistently high quality. End users who do not have special expertise in connection technology cannot guarantee the same level of testing. “We visit SSI Schäfer almost every week and work well together with their technical division”, says Pavla Borovianova, Product Manager at LAPP in the Czech Republic. One important customer requirement and an argument in favor of LAPP is the need for all components to be UL certified. The Logimat towers are delivered all over the world, including to North America where there are different norms and standards. As a manufacturer of cables and connection solutions, LAPP’s strategy is to certify as many of its components as possible for all markets. This reduces complexity and the number of parts, as a system’s destination no longer matters when it comes to fitting components. For power chains in particular, there are significant differences between Europe and North America. In the American market, for example, every cable in a chain must be enclosed in a separate section to minimize electrostatic charge and prevent fires.

A LOOK AT LOGIMAT Schäfer’s Logimat system is based on storage lifts measuring up to 80 feet (24 m) high for order picking, which means the enclosed cable chain must cover a distance of about 40 feet (12 m). Their height and width can be adjusted according to customer needs. Inside the towers are row upon row of drawers that can be removed and lowered to ground level using electric motors. This means that the drawer with the required component can be delivered to the dispense hatch in just a few seconds.

www.lappusa.com www.lappcanada.com

LAPP 29 Hanover Road, Florham Park, NJ 07932 T. 800 774 3539