CeMAT 2008: Economical battery chargers and environmentally-friendly drives from Fronius

The CeMAT in Hanover is the most important intralogistics exhibition, and Fronius was right at the forefront with its innovative products. The motto for the exhibition: "Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. Always ahead of its time" highlighted 60 years of experience and at the same time demonstrated forward-looking intralogistics solutions.

What some competitors consider to be innovative already belongs to the "yesterday" category as far as Fronius is concerned. More than 20 years ago Fronius started producing 50 Hz battery chargers using modern inverter technology. The technological gulf was demonstrated with one of the last 50 Hz traction chargers to be produced, the EL 90 from 1988, and a modern 1 kW Selectiva with Active Inverter Technology.

The intelligent Active Inverter Technology and its energy saving potential shows that "today" cost-saving logistics solutions are a key topic for all companies. The energy cell developed by Fronius, a fuel cell system based around solar-generated hydrogen, presented the alternative drive of "tomorrow" in a Linde tractor.

As well as the existing Selectiva range, a current On Board Selectiva rated at 1.5 kW was also on show on the Fronius stand. This integrated charger increases mobility, eliminates charging stations and reduces the number of errors when in use.

A newly-developed cost calculator made it clear to visitors that running costs must also be taken into account when purchasing an internal transport system. The fact that Fronius battery chargers offer an enormous savings potential with regard to energy, battery acquisition and maintenance was the clincher for many visitors.

The future was demonstrated by HyLOG, the zero-emission internal transport system, which won the world's most important energy prize, the Energy Globe World Award, in Brussels the day before the exhibition started. The greatest interest was shown by manufacturers of ground conveyor systems, who in times of rising raw material and energy costs are increasingly working on alternative drive forms.

Fronius can look back with satisfaction on the most important exhibition in the intralogistics sector. In addition to new market trends and many new contacts, the first sales were also notched up at the exhibition.