This robot piggybacks 600kg shelves

GENTING LANE, Singapore - April 24, 2025 - PRLog -- SCALLOG's autonomous robot "Boby" can transport 600kg shelves in logistics warehouses. It uses lubrication-free iglidur plain bearings from igus, which are wear-resistant and lighter than metal. "Boby" helps order pickers by transporting shelves to the picking station, managing up to 600 picks per hour. Multiple robots can work together, increasing productivity by 40%. This solution is used in e-commerce and industries like Decathlon, Farmy, Bricolux, and the Blondel Group.

Polymer plain bearings withstand high loads
Engineers faced a challenge in developing "Boby" to find robust, low-maintenance, cost-effective, and compact plain bearings for the lifting table's scissor joints. They chose iglidur G slide bearings from igus, made from high-performance polymers optimized for friction and wear. These bearings are durable and reliable, even with a 600kg load. Tested in the igus lab, their wear results help users calculate product service life online.

The self-lubricating effect reduces operating costs and improves the environmental footprint
Polymer bearings don't need additional lubricants due to built-in solid lubricants, ensuring low-friction dry operation. They are maintenance-free, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly, reducing costs for maintenance, labor, and lubricants. An RWTH Aachen University study shows they lower environmental impact and energy consumption, resulting in a smaller CO2 footprint and more sustainable production.

Order picking like at a drive-in counter
iglidur plain bearings require no lubrication or maintenance, ensuring reliable operation in SCALLOG's "Boby" robot. When an order is started, the 1m-long robots travel to storage locations, lift shelves using an integrated scissor system, and move to the picking station at up to 1.5km/h. Equipped with optical sensors, they follow floor markings and pass shelves to employees like a drive-in. "Boby" can work autonomously for up to 14 hours without recharging.

Visit more: https://www.igus.sg/info/plain-bearings-iglidur