Page 17 - Power & Data Connectivity Expand Electronic Capabilities eBook

Work Harder and Smarter: Four Electric Powertrain Considerations for Warehouse Automation Applications
Daniel Walldorf, Strategy and Business Development Manager, TE Connectivity
COVID-19 has altered every aspect of life, and the industrial space is no exception. The pandemic has rapidly accelerated the adoption of e-commerce, with demand for quick delivery skyrocketing as consumers increasingly prefer to shop online. This has placed pressure on warehouses to deliver on rising product demands without sacrificing quality of work.
Simultaneously, warehouses face severe labor shortages and high employee turnover. As labor-intensive fields, manufacturing and logistics are dependent upon a workforce to perform tasks ranging from picking line items to managing groceries in cold storage. Currently, there are not enough workers available to meet mounting pressures. A potential solution? Increasing automation by incorporating electric forklifts, autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs), mobile robots, or even fully automated storage and retrieval systems.
» As manual labor in the warehouse market decreases, incorporating more automated solutions is essential to meet productivity demands.
With this growing automation, the performance requirements for the system’s electric powertrain — consisting of a charging station, a battery and battery management system, a power distribution unit, a motor controller, and a motor — dramatically increase. The electric powertrain essentially acts as the lifeblood of the equipment, powering the automation systems. Therefore, it is essential to increase the powertrain’s efficiency and durability for long-term gains.
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