⎪ Power transmission, bearings, bushes and seals ⎪
developed from the ground up, based on in-depth interaction between the customer and the Bonfiglioli team, to ensure that all required specifications and usage variations can be accommodated. Bonfiglioli’s BlueRoll AGV System’s Platform enables AGV solutions to be: • Co-engineered to satisfy a wide range of different requirements, duty cycles and differing application constraints. • The freely configurable modular ap- proach reduces complexity and makes various drive combinations and sizes available to match the performance requirements. • The platform can accommodate specific industry requirements, such as special operating temperature, surface IP protection, compliance with particular regulations, safety functionality, critical borderline application conditions and more. The system offers three variants – BlueRoll Basic, BlueRoll Advanced, and BlueRoll Compact – with three gearmotor sizes, ac- commodating loads of 360 kg, 720 kg, or 1,020 kg at operating speeds of up to 2.0 m/s.
The roller drive comprises two rollers, each powered by a Bonfiglioli TQW wheel- mounted precision planetary gearbox and a premium-efficiency permanent magnet synchronous motor. This combination delivers high torque density, high overload capacity, exceptional precision and low vibration. A wide range of feedback systems, in- cluding safety encoders, enables the motors to be accurately controlled, allowing these driverless vehicles to navigate autonomously between pickup and delivery points. AVG de- signs can be compact and are extensively cus-
tomisable to suit application requirements. With over 20 years of experience in cre- ating tailored and forward-thinking motion control systems, Bonfiglioli has proven to be a reliable partner for entire motion drive trains in Industry 4.0 applications. Bonfiglioli centres of excellence continuously develop breakthrough mechatronic innovations, including low-backlash planetary gearboxes, servomotors, open- and closed-loop inverters, servo drives and regenerative energy units. www.bonfiglioli.com/ south_africa/en
Bonfiglioli's modular AGV design solutions are increasingly being deployed in facilities such as vehicle assembly plants.
SKF and Sieb & Meyer partnership for magnetic bearings
SKF has announced a strategic partnership with Sieb & Meyer, a renowned expert in variable frequency drives (VFDs) and con- trol electronics. The collaboration marks a significant milestone in delivering integrated, high-efficiency inverter solutions tailored for demanding applications such as air compres- sors, turbo blowers and HVAC systems. Under the partnership, SKF will manu- facture variable frequency drives at its fa- cilities, leveraging Sieb & Meyer’s advanced design expertise and decades of experience in high-speed drive technology. Customers will benefit from a seamless, plug-and-play solution that simplifies integration, reduces engineering time, increases confidence in system performance, and enables long-term scalability into new applications. The collaboration will enhance SKF’s offer- ing by delivering an optimised package that combines SKF’s high-speed electric motors on magnetic bearings with VFDs precisely tuned for performance, reliability and energy efficiency. “By combining our magnetic mechatron- ics capabilities with Sieb & Meyer’s VFD technology, we’re creating a new standard for high-speed motor systems. This partner- ship allows us to offer a more complete and efficient solution to our customers,” says Frederic Ponson, Director of SKF Magnetic Mechatronics. “This partnership represents a powerful
In general, the sustainability benefits of SKF’s magnetic bearing systems include a reduction in energy use and the elimination of oil-related pollution in comparison with conventional solutions using rolling bear- ings. In energy-intensive applications such as wastewater treatment, compressed air, or HVAC, high-speed electrical motors levitated on magnetic bearings machines can reduce energy consumption by up to 30%, resulting in 10 to 15% savings for entire facilities and lowering greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation. www.skf.com
alignment of expertise. By integrating Sieb & Meyer’s advanced inverter technology into SKF’s high-speed motor systems, we deliver a smarter, more efficient solution that meets the evolving demands of HVAC, air compres- sor, and blower applications. Together, we’re setting a new benchmark for performance and reliability,” says Markus Meyer, CEO at Sieb & Meyer. Moving forward, the partnership will expand its scope to include boil-off gas com- pressors and spindle drive systems, further broadening the range of industries that can benefit from this integrated approach.
SKF magnetic bearing systems reduce energy use and eliminate oil-related pollution.
November-December 2025 • MechChem Africa ¦ 19
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