Logistics Automation

Our infeed sorting lines integrate several different products such as conveyors, bale height measurement, label printer with applicator and a reader system for reading and verifying the infeed label.

At the entrance to the logistics centres, the lines scan all incoming shipments and packages, evaluate them in a flash in the database, assign them a new stock number, relabel each individual package with a new label and use the new code to direct it to the correct distribution van. All these operations take 1.3 seconds per item.

The machine can be further enhanced with solutions including volumetric bale measurement, a pass-through weigher, a six-sided scanner and a check of the bottom of the bale (to ensure that it has not previously come into contact with water and the bottom is not punctured by further handling).

Entry to the line is manual, but the workstation can also be adapted to ergonomic needs and equipped with automatic tipping of pallets (tipper) or logistics carts (logistics cart).

Our robotic system disassembles the incoming pallet of material fully automatically. The robot can automatically recognize the different types of material on the pallet (cartons, cans, beverage packages, their position and automatically move them to the conveyor).

The detection is fully automatic and even randomly oriented material is not a problem. The actual picking of the material is ensured by vacuum suction cups with possible mechanical insurance. Of course, fully automatic pallet exchange under the robot, handling and storage of items and handling of empty pallets, including stacking. The transport to the line is carried out by VZV trucks or AGV/AMR trucks.

In case of need, our machine is also capable of the reverse function, which is to stack pallets from production.

Another example is our sorting line consisting of a package straightening system, a package sequencer (gapper), code reading and package size measurement and subsequent sorting to final destinations.

The line is able to process packages of different sizes from plastic wrapping (polybag), through envelopes from 5 mm thickness up to 650x1200x500 mm size. The outlet chute is designed to maximize space saving and ergonomics of the workplace. The sorting capacity (sorter) is up to an output of over 6,000 bales per hour with sorting up to 26 chutes.

For pallet transport we have developed our own heavy conveyors with a load capacity of up to 2,000 kg consisting of roller conveyors, chain conveyors, chain shifters and turntables. We know the requirements of our customers, so our conveyor systems are equipped with additional devices that enable:

• Automatic detection of the pallet placed or removed by the pallet truck.
• Automatic passage control of the pallet. The Europallet itself is checked whether it contains all parts (bottom plates, logs), whether the parts are correctly positioned, the fork clearance is met and the pallet is not broken. In addition, the material to be transported is checked to ensure that it does not exceed the footprint of the pallet and the overall height is measured. The non-conforming pallet is put on the repair track, the conforming pallet is sent to the automated warehouse.
• Automatic disassembly of stacked pallets. The machine scans the incoming column of pallets and breaks them down into individual pallets for further processing. Pallets are disassembled sequentially and a stack with multiple pallet types (E-pal, H-pal) can be disassembled. if required, our machine is also capable of the opposite function, namely stacking pallets from the factory into a similar stack with defined height and weight.

We also equip our conveyors as required with devices such as pallet stacking under robotic applications, stoppers in front of critical nodes and other devices necessary for correct and robust operation of the conveyors with minimum errors.

Together with our partners and AMR trolley manufacturers, we automate pallet logistics with flexible solutions. However, this is not simply a replacement of the operator-operated pallet trucks with a fully automated solution.

Before the actual implementation, it is advisable to analyse the material flow on the hall, find out how to optimise the material movement (e.g. by dynamic simulation) and then create a digital twin. This will allow to find a suitable solution in terms of the number and utilization of the actual AMR units. The whole fleet is then managed in the fleet SW, of which the digital twin is a part. This allows a quick simulation of material flow changes with bottleneck identification.

For other technologies, we are able to modify the entry/exit points of the lines that either produce or consume tact pallets to be fully functional with AMR technology.

We focus on working with European AMR cart manufacturers with good service availability and full support.