Erhardt+Leimer has launched its new flagship product from the area of actuating drives. The AG 9 is the first actuating drive that E+L has developed entirely internally, with production taking place on the Augsburg site. The device has been primarily designed for web guiding systems, however in principle it can be used in all applications that require a maintenance-free, highly dynamic linear drive with a large actuating force.

In combination with the command station DO 3001, the AG 9 is used for web guiding on unwinders, rewinders and in large pivoting frames. Ethernet networking with response times of 1 ms and an actuating speed of up to 60 mm/s ensure maximum actuating dynamics. Even at high reel weight, that allows optimal compensation of tumbling errors, for example. Control frequencies up to 4 Hz are possible, as well.

The company says that the AG 9 is the only fully integrated actuating drive on the market with a brushless and therefore wear-free motor. The position is acquired via an integrated absolute encoder – this is also a proprietary feature. That means that no reference run is required on commissioning, and the current position of the actuating drive is not lost even if the power fails. The controller is also integrated in the actuating drive.

As the AG 9 is a direct drive without gearbox, it is almost play-free in the axial direction. The device itself is highly compact, allowing it to be mounted even in tight spaces.

The management at Erhardt+Leimer have high hopes for the new actuating drive: “In almost the 100 years of the history of E+L, the AG 9 represents our biggest development project yet,” says CEO Michael Proeller. “None of our competitors offer a comparable product, as such we are convinced the effort has been worthwhile.”

Extensive steps for quality assurance have also been undertaken. Among other measures, the drive was comprehensively tested in field tests at selected customers as early as one year before the sales launch.

The actuating drive is available in two variants: the AG 91 offers an actuating force of 1000 N at an actuating speed of 60 mm/s, the AG 93 provides 3000 N at 30 mm/s. Actuating speed, actuating force and actuating travel can be adjusted as required.