The VW Sachsen Motorenwerk in Chemnitz currently represents one of the most modern manufacturing plants for combustion engines. The circular overhead conveyor system, used to transport approx. 2,200 manufactured engines daily, is the backbone of the entire motor works. It links all production areas, from assembly, through the engine test rigs, to despatch.
Total distribution
AS-Interface enables a fully distributed configuration of all peripheral functions, such as connection of the input and output signals or drives, complete with control. The controlled passage of the engines through the individual manufacturing sections of the circular conveyor system is ensured by switches controlled via barcode readers. To ensure defined distances between the transported engines, stoppers are used which also allow the undocking of individual motors from the conveyor belt.
Advantages and reasons in favor of AS-Interface in this conveyor system: 
The AS-Interface compact starter was selected to control the stoppers. The fact that up to seven stopper motors can be hard-wired to the power bus of a starter considerably facilitates the planning, assembly and commissioning of the plant.
Configuration of the hardware is quick and easy thanks to standardization of the I/O modules, the compact starters and the operator units for AS Interface.
