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MHI

MHI is an international trade association that has represented the material handling, supply chain, and logistics industry since 1945. MHI members include material handling and logistics equipment and systems manufacturers, integrators, consultants, publishers, and third party logistics providers. Member companies come from all areas of material handling and various parts of the world, making MHI a strong national and international representative for the material handling and logistics industry. Much of the work of the industry is done within its product specific Industry Groups. The association sponsors trade events, such as ProMat and MODEX to showcase the products and services of the industry and to educate manufacturing, distribution and supply chain professionals on the productivity solutions provided through material handling, logistics and related activity.

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Innovation Awards

Summary of Innovation

The era of cabinet-free machines and equipment has arrived with the MX-System from Beckhoff. This flexible, space-saving and intelligent automation hardware system provides IP67 protection for direct machine mounting in harsh environments. The MX-System can completely eliminate conventional control cabinets, creating entirely new levels of efficiency in warehouse and distribution center automation. With a fully connectorized and modular design, control system installation processes that normally took 24 hours or more can now be completed in just one hour. The MX System provides modularity making it easy for installation at the customer site as well as a significant reduction in footprint of a machine. Customers will be able to fit more machines in existing facilities.
Individual components are bundled together into function modules which all communicate over the ultra-fast, open, EtherCAT communication technology. This means the MX-System can be flexibly customized to fit specific application needs while requiring far fewer components to provide the same performance. Each system includes Bluetooth® communication such that any module can be scanned with a phone or other Bluetooth® device to instantly receive rich diagnostic information and even scope traces relating to the condition of the device.

Innovation Statement

The MX-System provides the same functionality as a control cabinet while taking up less space, needing fewer individual components, and being flexible for changing requirements at any stage of the system life-cycle. The EtherCAT communication serving as the basis for the system provides almost unlimited possibilities for distributing further MX baseplates and modules, as well as almost unlimited other devices of any open fieldbus protocol. The modules are even hot- swappable and can be plugged in and unplugged during operation.

Applicability

The MX-System eliminates numerous mechanical work steps, eliminates all discrete wiring and wiring errors, slashes installation time, and provides comprehensive system diagnostics for the entire automation system. It can also reduce electrical documentation by as much as 75% and decrease control system components by a factor of 10.

 

Posted Date1/10/24
ContactLauren Harrington
Contact Email
CategoryBest New Innovation

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