Nominated for IFOY Award 2013 in the Forklift Truck Solutions Category: STILL

• Automation of logistics processes: autonomous STILL forklift trucks in a dairy warehouse

Munich, February 18, 2013.  In order to handle the annually growing turnover of goods while saving storage space and cutting costs, the Heideblume dairy in Elsdorf decided to centralise its external delivery warehouses in 2012 to create an automated logistics centre. The solution chosen by the company, which loads around 190,000 tons of dairy and delicatessen products in Elsdorf every year for dispatch to virtually all the leading German discount and retail chains, was developed by Still GmbH. The provider of forklift trucks and intralogistics systems not only uses conventional driverless transport systems but also automates its own standard trucks. As the latter can be operated both automatically and manually, this ensures maximum flexibility from the point of view of the customer.

Large storage capacity on small footprint
Still optimised the routines and processes in the new Heideblume logistics centre through the use of three autonomous FM-X 14 reach trucks. As the width of the aisles in the new warehouse is only 2.9 metres and the reach trucks need a mere 60 millimetres of manoeuvring space for storage and retrieval, it was possible to house the large storage capacity on an extremely small footprint. Moreover, automated operation permitted the introduction of operating processes that would be impossible with purely manual operation. "Vehicle control with this level of precision would require a great deal of time and concentration", explains Frank Domke, project manager at Still, and would also considerably increase the risk of accidents.
With the automated high-bay racks and a new consumables warehouse as well as a two-storey building for goods dispatch and order picking, the logistics centre now provides space for around 4,500 pallets of finished goods as well as around 3,000 pallets of raw, auxiliary and process materials. Once the goods have been picked, they are forwarded to provisioning lines in the cooled dispatch hall and immediately loaded onto refrigerated trailers by Still double-decker trucks. The daily throughout is around 1,000 pallets.

Customer benefit: reduced transport and service costs
The automation concept saves time and above all cuts transport and service costs, as there is less damage and fewer collisions, considerably reducing the timeload and expense of repairs and technical maintenance. Exhaust emissions are also considerably lower. Centralised, automated and optimised processes of consumables logistics additionally ensures transparent warehouse management, paving the way for effective utilisation of every storage location.
The automated trucks are computer-controlled and connected to the Still warehouse control computer via access points and wireless LAN to make sure they perform their tasks with maximum precision. The interfaces from the truck control system to the warehouse management system and the conveying technology were also programmed by Still. The software not only controls the driving direction but also dynamically regulates and plans warehouse traffic at narrow passages and crossings. Magnetic reference points sunk into the floor enable the warehouse trucks to navigate their way through the warehouse independently and to react flexibly to changes in surroundings. The forks of the trucks are fitted with light emitting distance measuring devices that constantly monitor the distance between the truck and objects surrounding it. The use of special sensors for integrated height control facilitates storage and retrieval of pallets up to the top rack 7.2 metres above ground with maximum precision.
The Heideblume dairy is extremely satisfied with the outcome of the project. "All transport, incoming storage and retrieval processes are handled smoothly in the new consumables warehouse by the autonomous trucks", says Michael Sievers, Logistics Director at Heideblume. And if the requirements for the warehouse change one day? "Then we can also operate the standard trucks manually and flexibly whenever necessary."

IFOY AWARD  WWW.IFOY.ORG
The International Forklift Truck of the Year (IFOY) recognises the year's best materials handling equipment and solutions in four categories. The aim of the non-profit organisation is to document the performance capability and innovative drive of the materials handling sector, helping to boost competitiveness and raise the profile of the entire intralogistics sector in the public arena. The winners of the IFOY Award are selected once a year by an independent jury of international trade journalists. A neutral test forms the basis for assessment by the jury. The sponsor of the IFOY Award is the VDMA Materials Handling and Logistics Systems Sector Association. The patron is the German Ministry of Economics and Technology, the presentation partner is the leading international CeMAT trade fair in Hannover. The headquarters of the IFOY Organisation are in Munich.
Members of the jury: Martin Althoff, Editor-in-Chief Logistiek Totaal (Netherlands), Theo Egberts, IFOY tester and owner of Buro Andersom/Andersom Testing (Netherlands, without voting rights), Günther Hörbst, Editor-in-Chief Deutsche Logistik-Zeitung (DVZ) (Germany), Anders Karlsson, Editor-in-Chief Transport & Logistik iDag (Sweden), Peter MacLeod, Editor-in-Chief SHD Magazine (England), Bernd Maienschein, Editor-in-Chief MM Logistik (Germany), Marilena Matei, Editorial Manager Tranzit and Tranzit Logistica (Romania), Isabel Rodrigo, Editor-in-Chief Logística Profesional (Spain), Hans-Joachim Schlobach, publisher and Editor-in-Chief BUSINESS+LOGISTIC (Austria), Sascha Schmel, Managing Director of the VDMA Materials Handling and Logistics Systems Sector Association (without voting rights), Dr. Petra Seebauer, Editor-in-Chief LOGISTIK HEUTE (Germany), Sebastian Śliwieński, Editor-in-Chief Warehouse Monitor (Poland), Heres Stad, Editor-in-Chief Logistiek (Netherlands). Executive Jury Chairperson is Anita Würmser, logistics journalist and Managing Director of wuermser.communications (Germany).

Reproduction free of charge, courtesy copy requested.

Anita Würmser
Chair of the IFOY Jury
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