Dr. Hans Krattenmacher, Head of Electronics Development at Bruchsal-based SEW-Eurodrive, is convinced that the factory of the future will look completely different than it does today. The smart factory of tomorrow will be characterized by self-sufficient process and production modules that have everything they need to integrate flexibly and 'plug & play' into a production network, depending on the production order. For intralogistics, this means: "For the first time, we are talking about the fact that the application as we have known it for more than three decades - i.e. stationary conveyor technology - is largely disappearing in favor of mobile and autonomous assistance systems!"

In this context, the ability to network is the buzzword that neither automation technology providers nor machine manufacturers can afford to ignore, according to Krattenmacher. He uses an example from the consumer world to illustrate what can happen if you do: "Not so long ago, a company called Quelle was Europe's largest mail order company. Today it no longer exists! Why? At some point, someone from Silicon Valley came along who didn't do anything differently - apart from networking on the basis of a modern platform." In this respect, the Head of Development combines the Quelle case with an impressive warning to his own industry: "European and German mechanical engineering must be careful that the same thing doesn't happen to them!"

Dr. Hans Krattenmacher, SEW-Eurodrive: "We must not let other industries take the butter off our bread!"

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Along with the aforementioned ability to increasingly network automation solutions, Krattenmacher believes that mechanical engineering will be "condemned to shift its values and business models more and more towards software". Although hardware - and therefore drive electronics, among other things - is increasingly becoming a 'means to an end' in the face of this development, development must not stand still in this area either. Taking this into account, SEW is currently introducing a new generation of its current frequency inverter generation, which was introduced in 1996. The new technology platform, in which - how could it be otherwise - the aspects of software consistency and networking capability play a key role.

A central component of the so-called Movi-C generation is the new, intuitive 'Movisuite' engineering software. It combines commissioning, configuration and diagnostics across the board - whether standard or functionally safe components, individual inverters or entire machines and systems. In addition to classic programming, a large number of ready-made software application modules are designed to significantly reduce complexity by enabling sophisticated motion kinematics to be implemented through simple parameterization.

A great deal of emphasis has been placed on the consistency of Movi-C: "From the controller to the geared motor vertically and through all electronic products horizontally, the entire modular automation system is available - with just a single engineering software," says Claus Wieder, Head of Market Management at SEW-Eurodrive. With Movi-C, consistency also means optimum control of a wide variety of motor types such as asynchronous motors, synchronous motors, servomotors and LSPMs with just one inverter. Last but not least, SEW-Eurodrive also wants to set new standards in terms of performance with the new drive electronics. For example, the multi-axis system can control up to 32 interpolated axes in just 1 ms when using the Movi-C controller 'power'. Programming is carried out in IEC 61131 with the integration of standardized application modules for motion control (with graphical operation), peripheral components are connected via Ethercat. SEW-Eurodrive promises further advantages during installation thanks to the single-cable technology and double-axis modules used, as well as safety technology integrated as standard in all axes.

Visitors to the SPS IPC Drives trade fair in November last year were able to see the first components of the new technology platform, including the 'Movidrive modular' multi-axis inverter system. Further components followed at the Hannover Messe in April - including new safety option cards. The general sales release for Movi-C took place at the end of March.