The HUBMASTER® System

The HUBMASTER® System Is a bridge-and-mast robotic stacker crane used for stacking and retrieving loads in and out of a racking system. The system works without touching the floor, while allowing loads to be picked up directly from the ground.

The system is delivered together with the racking system or mounted on top of existing structures. We deliver the system as a full turn-key solution or provide design guidance for the correct sizing of the supporting structure below.
 

  • Patented technology undergoing continuous advancements since 2008.
  • Multidisciplinary team providing in-house technical support and customizations.
  • Remote service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and a global service team for onsite rapid response.

Technology

The HUBMASTER® System allows the manipulation of a wide variety of products, of different weights and dimensions. The system is adjusted to each application with adapted fork carriages, such as trilateral and variable width systems, telescopic forks, as well as special customized attachments for loads.

Alternative to automatic guided forklift systems (AGVs) and ASRS stacker cranes.

Available with different forks and fork carriages for the handling of a variety of loads, up to 6m in length and up to 3 ton in weight.

It works without touching the ground, which means direct savings in infrastructure and paving costs.

Management through the HMWare™ native software, which integrates with your warehouse management and production scheduling software (WMS / ERP / MRP).

High reach above 12 m and operations in very narrow spaces starting at 1.35 m wide.

Also adapted for operations in freezing conditions, high temperature and humidity environments or in chemical storage

Benefits

01 Multi-aisle operation

The HUBMASTER® System is suited for rapid and space effective aisle changing, so one deice can serve several aisles.

02 Works in Narrow Aisles

Very narrow aisles from 1.35 meters wide, at a height exceeding 12 meters.

03 Energy Efficient

The HUBMASTER® System operates without batteries, directly connected to the mains, so no energy is wasted in carrying heavy batteries or during battery loading cycles. There is also no waste to manage at the batteries’ life end.

04 Does not require strong Industrial Flooring

The HUBMASTER® System remains 5cm above the ground avoiding all contact with the surface.

05 Software

The HMWare™ by HUBMASTER® warehouse control software (WCS) is specifically designed for the automatic control of the storage system and the seamless integration with the production control software of the Client, for 24-hour management of order dispatches and reception.

06 Cost Reduction

The HUBMASTER® System operates in multiple aisles, increasing productivity and reducing total facility costs.

Configurations

Fork Carriages types

Standard fork carriage

Standard fork carriage

For use with all types of palletized loads in narrow aisles. The load can be rotated 360º with no limitations. It has two variable manual opening forks to adapt to the requirements of the load.

Trilateral forks carriage

Trilateral forks carriage

For use with palletized loads in very narrow aisles, from 1.35m wide. Its fully motorized movement achieves 180º load handling (it allows loads to be handled from the centre, left or right of the HUBMASTER®).

Variable width forks carriage

Variable width forks carriage

Used with mixed loads, which require forks of different fork openings for the proper load stabilization. Suitable for mixed handling of standard palletized loads and extra-long loads. The motorized adjusting forks allow for a quick automatic adaptation to the load.

Telescopic forks carriage

Telescopic forks carriage

For use with double-deep storage in conventional racking systems. The fully motorised fork extension offers fast and convenient operation and allows easy reach to a second line of pallet positions.

Long load forks carriage

Long load forks carriage

For use with wide loads that require a fork opening of up to 3 metres, to ensure perfect load stability. Thanks to the lateral travel of the mast, long loads can be moved in narrow aisles without rotation.

Deep reach fork carriage

Deep reach fork carriage

For use with oversized and deep loads requiring deep forks for stability. Thanks to the lateral travel of the mast, deep loads can be moved in narrow aisles.

Multi-Aisle Configuration

The HUBMASTER® System is available in a wide variety of configurations to suit existing storage areas and storage requirements.

The easy and space saving transition between aisles make the HUBMASTER® very adequate for operations in multiple-aisle configurations. It is possible to operate up to 5 aisles with a single HUBMASTER® device.

As an example, the picture shows a three-aisle system operating in a six-row rack configuration.

This configuration is more cost effective than having one single aisle unit in each aisle and is especially interesting in connection with automatic systems.

Control software

Functionality and Integration with almost any WMS/ERP/MES in the market.

The HMWare™ by HUBMASTER® warehouse control software (WCS) controls the stacker crane PLCs in real time and provides warehouse management functionality and bi-directional integration with the Client’s management software.

The HMWare™ is an advanced management system, which helps to increase productivity, reduce errors, and provides capability to integrate the complex operation and communication of different automated subsystems in the warehouse, such as the HUBMASTER® stacker crane, AGVs, robotic arms and others.

This is a high-performance system for management and control, with two
degrees of functionality to choose from:

The Advanced module

The Advanced module

The Advanced module provides support for full 24/7 autonomous operation with full integration with the customer’s software.
The Basic module

The Basic module

The Basic module provides for automatic operation with direct inputs from a user or operator console, and thus offering an entry level for simple automatic warehouses such as tool warehouses, which are not directly connected with a production management system.

Semi-automatic operation

We also offer the HUBMASTER® System in semi-automatic mode, with the same characteristics of the automatic system, but requiring an operator on board. The operator remains always at floor level on the system’s platform and operates the system with a control panel.

The HUBMASTER® System semi-automatic operation requires the handling by the operator, who is constantly monitored by the built-in active safety systems and zoning control sensors for an assisted driving experience

01

Ergonomic design

Intuitive, assisted operation, which empowers even those users without specific training in driving vehicles or machines.

02

Safety

The in-built active safety and zoning sensors provide a safe and ease of use experience to even the most unskilled operators.

03

High Resistance

The standard system program offers load capacities of up to 2500 kg and shelf height configurations of up to 12 m. It can also be supplied also in custom configurations for custom applications.

04

Flexibility

Can be configured to operate with virtually any type of pallet, racking, or auxiliary structure, also in narrow aisles, starting at 1.35 m wide. Allows operation in multiple aisles with a single system, through rapid changes and in confined spaces.

05

Operations involving Bulky Loads

Allows loads to be moved laterally without rotation to minimize the aisle width required to move bulky items.

06

Operation on Any Flooring

The system runs on rails above the floor, so forget about expensive, even, smooth, or super-flat floors.

Zoning Control

Speeds and accelerations are programmed to suit each specific application and can be limited to different control zones within the aisle, depending on the direction of travel of the system at any given time.

The HUBMASTER® System Zoning Control software can be used to completely modify the areas within the corridor, as well as the configuration parameters for movement and acceleration in these areas

RED ZONE

Prohibited-access area: Once the system is in this area, no movement is allowed.
 

ORANGE ZONE

Slow movement area: Speed is limited in this area.
 

GREEN AREA

Free movement area: All movements and speeds are allowed.

Very narrow aisle operation

When the HUBMASTER® is configured with a trilateral forks carriage, you get all the benefits of the standard system, and can also work in corridors from 1.35 m wide and more than 12 m high without touching the ground.

Maximize the storage volume by reducing aisle spaces.

Especially recommended in warehouses where the condition of the ground does not allow operating with trilateral VNA forklifts without substantial adaptation to these types of machines.

The System remains 5cm above the ground by avoiding contact with the surface, meaning that strong industrial flooring is not needed.

The system operates 24 hours a day without using costly forklift batteries. It does not require battery recharging systems or special measures for the evacuation of gases emitted during the battery recharging process or at the battery end of life.

Racking types & accessories

We supply the HUBMASTER® System fully integrated with the storage system, ensuring a perfect fit and the correct structural dimensioning of the racking.

HUBMASTER® Storage and Handling Solutions partners with prime racking manufacturers in Europe and America to offer the best solutions for every application, and acts as a one stop shop for all your needs around the automatic HUBMASTER® System.

Multiples configurations and racking types are possible:

  • Conventional Beam Racking.
  • Cantilever Shelving for long goods.
  • Push-Back Racks for multiple-deep pallet storage.
  • High density Mobile Racking., combining the movement of the racking with the motion of the HUBMASTER® System.
  • Compact Shelving with Shuttle, with the combined management of the shuttle system and the HUBMASTER® System.
  • Dynamic Gravity Shelving, for the automatic management of the storage and retrieval of loads.
  • Rack-Clad buildings where the racks support the HUBMASTER® System and the building.
It is also possible to arrange for partial integrations, whereby you provide the storage system and we limit our scope to the supply of the handling system. In such cases we provide free-of-charge consultation for the correct dimensioning of the supporting racks.

We typically integrate other components to provide a full turn-key solution to complement your HUBMASTER® System:
 

  • Warehouse Management Software (WMS)
  • Automatic guided vehicles for the transport into different areas.
  • Conveyors, as pickup and drop (P&D) stations.
  • Put/Pick to Light (PTL) systems.
  • Palletizing Robotic Cells.