Multi-aisle stacker crane (curve-going or transfer car)
One crane moves to other aisles on a curved rail or a transfer car, so several aisles share it: fewer cranes for stores with large capacity and modest movements.
One crane moves to other aisles on a curved rail or a transfer car, so several aisles share it: fewer cranes for stores with large capacity and modest movements.
A conventional AS/RS has one crane per aisle. A curve-going crane runs on a curved rail laid at the end of the aisles: it leaves one aisle, turns and enters the next, so a curve-going crane typically serves two aisles. In the transfer-car version a car at the end of the store shifts the crane sideways to another aisle, serving three or more. The number of aisles stays the same and fewer cranes are needed; the curve or transfer car costs extra, so total investment is calculated from throughput and the aisle-changing mechanism. The trade-off is that one crane's throughput is shared by its aisles and it slows down in the curve, so it suits stores with large capacity and modest movements, and phased projects that start with one crane and add more later.
Typical uses
- Raw-material and finished-goods stores with high capacity and few daily movements
- A first AS/RS for small and mid-sized companies on a limited budget
- Phased projects: start with one crane, add more as throughput grows
- Cold stores and other places where fewer machines help
How to choose
- Total movements per hour: one crane's capacity is shared by its aisles
- Number of aisles and their length
- Whether the end of the store has room for the curve or the transfer car
- Future expansion plans
When it is not the right choice
- Frequent movements and maximum throughput: one crane per aisle
- Not enough room at the end of the store for the curve or the transfer car
- If one crane failing must never stop several aisles at once
Key figures
| Aisles per crane | Curve type typically 2; transfer-car type 3 or more |
|---|---|
| Mast | Mostly single mast; twin mast available |
| Load | Pallet cranes typically up to 2 t, heavier per project; tote cranes about 100 kg |
| Height | Curve-going cranes mostly up to 15 m; transfer-car multi-aisle cranes up to about 36 m |
| Travel speed (straight) | About 100 m/min class for curve-going cranes, slower in the curve |
| Curve radius | Little published data: a patent example of about 1 m and a US case of about 3.7 m (12 ft), not a general range; designed per project by the manufacturer |
| Hoist speed | About 60–80 m/min |
| Positioning | Barcode positioning (BPS) or segmented laser measurement |
| Reference project | 400 kg load, about 9.8 m lift, about 89 m aisle; travel about 120 m/min, hoist about 30 m/min; positioning about ±3–5 mm; about 20 dual cycles per hour required per crane |
Figures are typical configuration ranges; exact specifications are set per project.
Options
- Curved rail or end-of-aisle transfer car
- Curved conductor rail for power
- Start with one crane, with rails and controls ready for a second
- Double-deep forks
- WCS that schedules tasks by aisle to reduce empty travel
Scope of supply
- Machine, drives and control cabinet, assembled and dry-run tested before shipping
- The equipment's own control and fleet software; interfaces to your existing WMS / ERP as the project requires
- Drawings: general arrangement, foundation and anchor plan, electrical schematics
- Conformity documents for the equipment and the whole line, the split of responsibilities and the acceptance criteria are set out in the contract according to the project scope
- Spare-parts list and wear-part recommendation; a first batch can ship with the equipment
- Factory acceptance (FAT): attend in person or follow by live video
- Installation, commissioning and operator training can be included in the offer
What we need for an offer
- Number of aisles, aisle length and rack height
- Pallet size and maximum weight
- Peak pallets in and out per hour
- Space available at the end of the store
- Phased expansion plan