NORD’s new digital twin and virtual commissioning technology significantly reduces the system development process from planning to commissioning.With digital twins for virtual commissioning, NORD supports their customers with quicker system availability, even for complex drive systems.Since the introduction of the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) technical standard in 2010, it has become increasingly common to work with simulation models in system planning. Global drive systems manufacturer, NORD DRIVESYSTEMS, also utilizes data-based simulations for the development of components and drive solutions and as of recently, to create digital twins for system development. This innovative technology allows engineers to verify early in the planning process whether the drive concept is suitable for the system, even complex systems, significantly reducing the project timeline and achieving greater efficiency and availability.Virtual commissioning is done via the myNORD Online Customer Portal. Users configure drive systems for their requirements as usual, selecting features such as performance, mounting options, or outputs. Once they are done with their selection, they can request a simulation model for the fully configured drive system. This process was developed by NORD in cooperation with machineering GmbH & Co. KG, a software company in Munich specializing in virtual commissioning.One main advantage of digital twins is the significantly faster availability of the entire system. Models from myNORD are inserted into a simulated system, enabling extensive testing before products are ordered and assembled. If adjustments are needed, they can be easily implemented based on the data, with errors being remedied in the early stages of development to avoid potential damage and system downtime later. After the virtual drive system has been tested and validated by the customer, NORD will manufacture and deliver the physical solution. Actual commissioning can be done quickly since the drives are already functionally integrated into the control system. The overall process from configuration to commissioning is reduced from several months to only a few weeks.Virtual commissioning is especially beneficial for technically demanding solutions as many issues can be worked out far in advance. That’s why NORD’s primary focus for this initial phase of simulation models focuses on components that play a decisive role in automating production processes such as their range of high-efficiency synchronous motors as well as the corresponding gear units and variable frequency drives. Future simulation models will gradually become available for other NORD product areas.nord.comAbout NORD DRIVESYSTEMS® GroupWith more than 4,900 employees, NORD DRIVESYSTEMS has been developing, producing, and selling drive technology for over 50 years, and it is a global leader among full-service providers in the industry. In addition to standard drives, NORD delivers application-specific designs and solutions for special requirements, such as energy-saving drives or explosion-protected systems. NORD has subsidiaries and sales partners in 80 countries worldwide. The dense sales and service network guarantees optimal availability, enabling short delivery times, and customer-oriented service. NORD produces a very diverse range of drives for torques from 88 lb-in to more than 2.5 million lb-in, provides motors in the power range of 0.16 – 1,341 hp, and manufactures frequency inverters with the required power electronics of up to 200 hp. Inverter solutions are available for conventional control cabinet installations as well as for decentralized, fully integrated drive units. Visit nord.com.

NORD enables virtual commissioning of its drive solutions.NORD-VIBN.jpg: With digital twins for virtual commissioning, NORD supports its customers with the quicker availability of systems, even with complex drive systems.NORD now offers digital twins for system development. Based on a myNORD configuration, it is now possible to request individually created drive systems as simulation models. This allows engineers to verify early in the planning phase whether the drive concept is suitable for the system. Virtual commissioning significantly reduces the project time even for complex systems.Since the publication of the FMI (functional mock-up interface) technical standard in 2010, it has become more and more common to work with simulation models in system planning. NORD DRIVESYSTEMS also uses data-based simulations for the development of its components and drive solutions. The system provider is now using this know-how to help its customers achieve greater efficiency and availability of its drive systems even in the planning phase by offering a digital service: With digital twins of its drives, NORD enables virtual commissioning.Simple online configurationUsers can configure drive systems or components for their requirements as usual via the myNORD customer portal. They select components and their features such as performance, mounting options or outputs. Then, they can request a simulation model for the fully configured drive system. The process was developed by NORD in cooperation with the software company Machineering from Munich, which specialises in virtual commissioning.Just a few weeks until actual commissioningThe advantage of these digital twins of the NORD solutions is the significantly faster availability of the entire system. The simulation models are inserted into a similarly simulated system. In this environment, the drive configurations can be extensively tested. If adjustments are required, they can be easily implemented based on the data. Errors can be remedied in the early stages of development, avoiding potential later damage. Only once the virtual drive system has been validated by the customer, it will be manufactured and delivered by NORD. As the drives are already functionally integrated into the system control at this point, actual commissioning is possible in a very short time. The overall process from configuration to commissioning is reduced from several months to only a few weeks.High-efficiency IE5+ motors already available virtuallyVirtual commissioning of drive systems is of special interest for any technically demanding solution. Therefore, NORD particularly focuses on components that play a decisive role in automating production processes. The manufacturer is kicking off the virtual commissioning with its range of high-efficiency IE5+ and IE4 motors, along with the corresponding gear units and frequency inverters. Simulation models will then gradually become available for other NORD product areas as well.About NORD DRIVESYSTEMSWith approx. 4,700 employees today, NORD DRIVESYSTEMS has developed, produced and sold drive technology since 1965, and is one of the leading global full-service providers in the industry. In addition to standard drives, NORD delivers application-specific concepts and solutions for special requirements such as energy-saving drives or explosion-protected systems. In the 2021 financial year, annual sales amounted to 870 million Euros. NORD has 48 subsidiaries in 36 countries and further sales partners in more than 50 countries. They provide technical support, local stocks, assembly centres and customer service. NORD develops and produces a wide range of drive solutions for more than 100 industries, gear units for torques from 10 Nm up to over 282 kNm, supplies electric motors in the power range of 0.12 kW to 1,000 kW, and supplies the required power electronics with frequency inverters of up to 160 kW. Inverter solutions are available for conventional control cabinet installations as well as for decentralised, fully integrated drive units.ContactJörg Niermann+49 45 32 / 2 89 -0Joerg.Niermann@nord.com

New Module Allows Companies to Assess Robotic Needs and ROI, perform “What If” Analysis, and Optimize Planning and Execution in Real-TimeRoboteon, provider of a powerful software platform for warehouse robot enablement, announces breakthrough simulation capabilities in its platform for robotics and other warehouse automation. The new tool help companies make better decisions across multiple time horizons, from initial automation planning through real time execution on the floor.Interest in Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and other robotics is high, but there remains much uncertainty about use cases, the number of AMRs and humans needed across different time horizons, expected operational improvements, and cost savings from the robotics investment.Companies also lack tools to optimally balance and release work to the DC floor based on demand and available human and robotic resources.The good news: Roboteon’s Warehouse Robotics Fulfillment platform addresses all these challenges and more in a way unique in the market , adding a new dimension to the Roboteon platform’s powerful capabilities to integrate, manage, orchestrate, and optimize robot-enabled warehouse processes.Key features and capabilities of the new simulation tool include:• The ability to assess the number of robots and humans that will be needed for a potential robotics initiative.• After the initial deployment, the ability to test different operating plans, such as what is required for peak season success.• “Digital twin” functionality that enables real-time optimization of resource assignment and order release.• Robot vendor agnostic solution, delivering unbiased analytic results.• Native support for multi-client environments, as required by many 3PLs.• Ability to run simulation using actual past order history or generate synthetic demand based on profiling order patterns without the need to gather all that data.• Highly flexible configuration parameters for running the simulation, including the facility layout, speed of the robots, speed of human workers, time to complete picks and other work, use of other automation such as goods to person systems, and more.• More than two dozen metrics generated by the simulation, including cost per pick, lines or unit per hour, robot and human dwell times, and many more.• Extensive use of machine learning to improve the optimization results over time.The combination of Roboteon’s simulation capabilities, ease of use, and robot vendor agnostic orchestration provides a breakthrough in the warehouse robotics sector.Roboteon’s Warehouse Robotics Platform Now includes Advanced Simulation Capabilities to Enhance Planning and Decision-Making at Multiple Time HorizonsCompanies would typically work with Roboteon early in a robotics initiative to understand automation options, ROI, costs, as part of the solution design. Once robots have been deployed, the simulator supports short to mid-term planning for placement of robots and humans on the DC floor.Benefits of Roboteon’s simulation tool include:• Support for testing and building the business case for automation• Improved visibility over flexible time-horizons• Enhanced decision-making based on real-time data• More consistent ability to meet service-level commitments and client scorecards• Higher productivity and throughput“With the release of this simulation tool as part of our Robotics Fulfillment Platform , Roboteon has further enhanced our sector-leading capabilities for successful robotic enablement in the short and long term” said Dan Gilmore, chief marketing officer.About RoboteonRoboteon Inc.™ is a unique market innovator whose vision is to enable rapid deployment and efficient operation of robotics in distribution. Our software platform enables interoperability across robotic technologies and vendors. It also optimizes order planning, picking and other process execution while automatically considering dynamic conditions such as robot and human resource capacities on the floor. Combined with deep domain expertise, our technology speeds time-to-value and supports agile change. You can learn more at www.roboteon.com.ContactDan GilmoreRoboteondgilmore@roboteon.com