| | |

Festo’s EHMH Heavy Duty Axis Is Built for Safe Movement of Big Payloads

MC-4-Festo-EHMHHeavyDutyAxis-400.jpg

March 22, 2021

Developed with stacking or palletizing of heavy loads in mind, Festo’s new EHMH is a muscular cantilever axis with rack and pinion technology that handles payloads up to 200 kg with great repeatability. As a Z axis, EHMH can form the backbone of a complete, application-optimized handling solution with an all-Festo lineup of complementary components such as the EGC-HD heavy duty toothed belt or ball screw model as the X axis, CPX-E control system, CMMT-AS AC servo drive, EMMT-AS servo motors plus other accessories. Such a gantry-style solution is usually more cost-effective than a six-axis articulated robot performing such heavy loading/unloading functions typically required in the packaging and automotive sectors or in handling machine tools. EHMH also requires a smaller working envelope than an articulated robot, for optimal usage of available floor space.

EHMH comes in two sizes. It combines a solid steel profile and high-quality recirculating bearing guide for high rigidity and repeatability across all available stroke lengths – from 250 to 2,500 mm – with high feed force and speeds up to 1.5 m/s. EHMH also can be configured for enhanced safety protection up to Performance Level d (PL-d). A number of optional safety add-ons are available: a pneumatic locking unit for a positive, hard mechanical lock during maintenance or commissioning; a frictionally engaged clamping unit that acts as an emergency brake; and an external displacement encoder for additional position detection that can also be used as a second channel in safety applications. Among the protection options for the axis itself, users can add scrapers on both sides to guard it from external influences such as dust, dirt, particles or liquids. And the unit’s available easy lubrication features can extend the service life of the unit and reduce wear and tear.

In many cases, Festo gantries based on a cantilever axis like EHMH offer a superior cost and overall value proposition with simple commissioning for additional labor savings and a shorter project timeline than alternatives. The interpolation performed by multiple EHMH-based gantries (and their connected servo drives running in parallel) can be controlled from a single CPX-E motion controller. The CPX-E is an extremely compact alternative to the larger controllers required to manage multiple articulated robots.

For more information, visit www.festo.com.

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • The Future of Safety Networks

    October 8, 2025 How scalable safety systems are reshaping industrial automation As factories become more connected and fast-changing, traditional safety systems often fall short. Scalable safety networks offer a flexible, modular solution that helps manufacturers stay ahead on safety, compliance, and productivity. Designed for Agility Scalable safety networks are built on a modular foundation. This… Read More…

  • ABB Contactor Selection Guide Canada

    October 1, 2025 ABB contactors are among the most reliable electrical switching devices in industrial automation. As Canada’s leading ABB authorized distributor, Proax has helped thousands of engineers and technicians select the right ABB contactor for their applications. Whether you’re designing a new motor control panel or replacing existing equipment, choosing the right ABB contactor can… Read More…


Featured Article

Revolutionizing Material Movement with Autonomous Mobile Robots

Revolutionizing Material Movement with Autonomous Mobile Robots

In today’s fast-paced manufacturing and logistics industries, the need for efficient and flexible material movement solutions has never been greater. Traditional methods like conveyor systems, forklifts, and manual pushcarts have served us well, but they come with limitations.

That’s why Omron is thrilled to announce the launch of their game-changing MD Series of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). Read more


Products

  • Schneider Electric Unveils New AI Data Centre Reference Designs with NVIDIA

    October 6, 2025 Schneider Electric, a leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has announced new reference designs developed with NVIDIA that significantly accelerate time to deployment and aid operators as they adopt AI-ready infrastructure solutions. The first reference design delivers the industry’s first and only critical framework for integrated power management and liquid… Read More…

  • PISA-M Electronic Circuit Breakers: New NEC Class 2 Compliant Variants Available

    October 6, 2025 PULS introduces new 4-channel electronic circuit breakers designed specifically for power distribution in NEC Class 2 circuits, expanding the existing PISA-M series. PISA-M enables the safe distribution of load current into four individual Class 2 circuits. This offers a cost-effective alternative to multiple individually approved NEC Class 2 compliant power supplies, reducing both acquisition costs and… Read More…