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ABOUT KOLLMORGEN Since its founding in 1916, Kollmorgen’s innovative solutions have brought big ideas to life, kept the world safer, and improved peoples’ lives. Today, its world-class knowledge of motion systems and components, industry-leading quality, and deep expertise in linking and integrating standard and custom products continually delivers breakthrough motion solutions that are unmatched in performance, reliability, and ease-of-use. This gives machine builders around the world an irrefu

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Kollmorgen Teams Up with Segway for Give Away

POSTED 01/14/2014

Riding (or some say driving), a Segway® Personal Transporter (PT) should be on everyone’s bucket list — owning one is an even better idea. Mickey Simmons, Research Analyst at Proctor & Gamble, Cincinnati, Ohio, is experiencing the fun firsthand, after winning his own Segway x2 PT at PACK EXPO. This year’s drawing is the second time that Kollmorgen and Segway have teamed up to give away a brand new Segway x2 at PACK EXPO as a way to demonstrate the revolutionary Segway x2 drive train servo system designed and developed by Kollmorgen.

The Kollmorgen motor technology developed for Segway has unique and critical technical characteristics integral to its successful design and manufacture. Many of these breakthrough advances offer similarly beneficial application in packaging equipment. First and foremost, is the incredibly high level of efficiency and high torque/power density for a servo motor capable of powering a large off-road tire drive train and carrying a full grown man — yet small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. Advanced winding technology, including patented dual motor windings to allow the rider to "limp" home in the event the primary winding fails, and multi-design function overmolding are among the breakthrough features of the x2 servo that provide this power and rugged compactness. The performance of the x2 servo drive train is best demonstrated by the Segway’s excellent torque performance across its full range of speed capability — from a smooth, slow speed crawl to 10K rpm — while ensuring the safety of the passenger with smooth, seamless accel/decel. An aggressive price point was another critical Kollmorgen development criteria for the servo system to ensure a successful product launch for the x2 PT in the consumer marketplace.

Throughout its design and development process, the x2 drive train provides an excellent demonstration of Kollmorgen’s expertise and capability being partnered with the creative solutions objectives of their customer. Specifically for the x2 design technology, Kollmorgen’s ability to leverage R&D breakthroughs in controls, drives, and motors from their extensive industrial applications expertise was critical. Likewise, the economies of the Segway PT motor manufacturing system originated from Kollmorgen’s high volume stepper motors manufacturing technology.

As for Mickey, winning a Segway x2 came as a real surprise, along with learning that a Kollmorgen servo is the power behind the machine and that Kollmorgen provides such technologically advanced solutions far beyond traditional electric servo motors. Back home in Cincinnatti, Mickey and his wife, along with Keary Shaub, Kollmorgen Field Sales Engineer, and Teri Shaub, Kollmorgen Technical Applications Specialist, were treated to a great experience with personalized Segway x2 training and a tour of the beautiful downtown Cincinnati waterfront by the local Segway dealer, Segway of Cincinnati. In short order, Mickey is planning to order another x2 so that he and his wife can both ride the local Loveland Trail in Mason, Ohio and take their x2s camping… Scratch one from the bucket list.


 

ABOUT SEGWAY
Segway Inc., based in Bedford, New Hampshire, is the world’s leading provider of personal electric transportation. Segway markets a full line of zero-emissions Personal Transporters (PT) for indoor, sidewalk, cross-terrain and patrol use. All deliver impressive energy efficiency equivalent to 450 miles per gallon. The company’s comprehensive line of Robotic Mobility Platforms (RMPs) is based on PT technology that has been adapted to provide versatile, durable mobility solutions to researchers, academia and robotic integrators. Segway Inc. has a worldwide network of more than 250 distributor, dealer and experience center retail points in 80 countries across the globe, offering product and unique touring experiences.
 
ABOUT KOLLMORGEN
Kollmorgen is a leading provider of motion systems and components for machine builders around the globe, with over 70 years of motion control design and application expertise. Through world-class knowledge in motion, industry-leading quality and deep expertise in linking and integrating standard and custom products, Kollmorgen delivers breakthrough solutions unmatched in performance, reliability and ease-of-use, giving machine builders an irrefutable marketplace advantage.