Reliable Power for Automated High-Bay Warehouses

Powering Automated Material Flow

Automated high-bay warehouses depend on the coordinated movement of storage & retrieval machines and transfer cars. Reliable power supply is essential to keep these systems moving and support the efficient handling of goods throughout the warehouse.

At Galliker Transport in Altishofen, Switzerland, Conductix-Wampfler supplied MultiLine 0831 conductor rail systems for automated pallet storage and transfer car applications. Implemented in 2015 and expanded in 2017, the installation provides power to the moving equipment across multiple warehouse aisles and transfer tracks.

The solution combines compact, multipole conductor rails with a ProShell support profile for the pallet storage & retrieval systems, providing an integrated approach to energy transmission in automated intralogistics.

The Challenge: Reliable Power Across Multiple Travel Paths

The project required a power supply for automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) and transfer cars operating along linear travel paths. The installation covered several aisles and tracks of different lengths, requiring an energy transmission solution suited to both applications.

For the pallet AS/RS installation, the system needed to supply three phases, neutral, and protective earth (PE). The transfer cars required an additional configuration incorporating three drive poles alongside the three phases, neutral, and PE.

Conductix-Wampfler was tasked with providing a suitable conductor rail system for these applications, including the integration of barcode technology for positioning and on-site installation.

The Solution: MultiLine 0831 Conductor Rails

Conductix-Wampfler implemented the MultiLine 0831 multipole conductor rail system to supply power to the automated warehouse equipment and transfer cars. The pallet storage and retrieval systems use the 0831 conductor rail in combination with the ProShell support profile, while the transfer cars are equipped with the 0831 conductor rail system.

The multipole design combines several conductors within a compact, insulated profile. Plug-in connectors and clamp-style rail hangers support straightforward installation, while the modular system allows different pole configurations to be assembled to meet application requirements.

The linear layout at Galliker is well suited to the MultiLine 0831 system, which is designed for straight travel paths. Barcode integration via ProShell supports the positioning system, and Conductix-Wampfler also provided on-site installation.

One Solution for Two Intralogistics Applications

The installation demonstrates how conductor rail technology can support different types of moving equipment within an automated warehouse.

Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems

The original pallet AS/RS installation, commissioned in 2015, comprises four aisles, each 60 meters long. The 0831 MultiLine conductor rail system, combined with the ProShell support profile (including barcode integration for positioning), supplies the electrical power required by the automated storage and retrieval equipment. 

The ProShell support profile not only provides a standardized, easy to install support-structure for the conductor rails and the barcode positioning system, but it also increases system availability by providing additional mechanical protection for the energy supply system. 

Warehouse Expansion

In 2017, the installation was extended with a further nine pallet storage aisles, each 74 meters long. The expansion added a substantial amount of conductor rail infrastructure while continuing to use the same product program.

Transfer Cars

The project also includes four transfer car tracks, with lengths ranging from 17 to 61 meters. The MultiLine 0831 system supplies power to the moving transfer equipment using a pole configuration that accommodates the three-phase power supply, neutral, protective earth, and three additional drive poles.

Together, these installations demonstrate the use of a common conductor rail product family across multiple linear travel paths and equipment types.

The Result: A Consistent Approach to Energy Transmission

The Galliker project illustrates how a modular conductor rail system can address the power supply requirements of both automated pallet storage and transfer car applications.

The MultiLine 0831 provides a compact solution for linear travel paths, while its multipole design supports different electrical configurations. The use of the same conductor rail program across the original installation and its subsequent expansion also demonstrates a consistent technical approach across multiple warehouse aisles.

 

With barcode integration for positioning and on-site installation by Conductix-Wampfler, the project combines energy transmission equipment with application-specific implementation.

For automated warehouses, where storage and transport equipment form an interconnected material flow system, reliable energy transmission is an essential part of the infrastructure that keeps goods moving.