DURABLE begins automation with three Jungheinrich mobile robots
Jungheinrich automates the receipt of incoming goods for DURABLE with three EAE 212a mobile robots. The successful pilot project marks the office supplier’s switch to warehouse automation and ensures optimised processes through intelligent collaboration between humans and machines.
- Three autonomous EAE 212a low-lift trucks optimise material flows in Iserlohn
- Seamless integration into existing processes – safer collaboration of man and machine
- More efficient use of resources and less strain on employees at incoming goods
Iserlohn/Hamburg – DURABLE Hunke & Jochheim GmbH & Co. KG, based in Iserlohn, has successfully automated the receipt of incoming goods. Three Jungheinrich EAE 212a mobile robots have taken over transport and distribution tasks, ensuring seamless material flows. For the manufacturer of office supplies, the project marks the first step towards warehouse automation and is a resounding success.
Smart support for incoming goods
At DURABLE’s 24,000-square-metre distribution centre, processes are complex, and efficiency and flexibility demands are constantly increasing. In order to ease the strain on the incoming goods team and increase throughput, the company chose to use autonomous low-lift trucks. “We spent a long time looking for the right solution to our challenges,” explains Thomas Koch, Project Engineer at DURABLE. “The answer was the EAE 212a, which we implemented together with Jungheinrich as part of an exciting project.”
The three vehicles now carry out the transportation to storage and autonomously distribute pallets in numerous storage areas. This enables the staff to focus on unloading lorries, while the mobile robots take care of further transport. Subsequently, goods are stored manually using Jungheinrich EKX narrow-aisle trucks and reach trucks. The result is a seamless flow of materials from incoming goods to the narrow and wide aisles.
Efficient team of human and machine
DURABLE’s concept is based on efficient mixed operations. Employees and mobile robots work side by side – and have clearly defined tasks. EAE 212a trucks independently navigate the warehouse without artificial landmarks and autonomously drive around obstacles. With the help of 3D cameras and state-of-the-art laser technology, they react dynamically to employees, vehicles or objects that are hard to identify. Thanks to the load-bearing capacity of up to 1,200 kilograms and intelligent pallet recognition, the trucks can also move large-volume or wrongly positioned load carriers.
“The cooperation between the mobile robots and our employees is intuitive and efficient,” says Thomas Koch. “Thanks to intelligent pallet recognition, the EAE 212a can also pick up pallets that are not positioned correctly. Should this not work in exceptional cases – for example if the pallet’s position is too angular – the mobile robot immediately informs its human colleagues so that the error can promptly be corrected manually.”
Flexible automation as a future model
DURABLE was one of the first customers to become an active partner in the field test of the new EAE 212a and accompanied Jungheinrich in the further development of the truck as part of a co-creation project. The knowledge gathered during live operation flowed directly into series production.
“The DURABLE project shows how automation can be easily and effectively implemented in an existing environment,” says Jan-Philipp Grobecker, Head of Mobile Robot Sales at Jungheinrich. “The EAE 212a exemplifies how our customers can quickly achieve noticeable efficiency gains through a clear and scalable switch to Robotics – without having to fully adjust their infrastructure.”
Mobile robots work in a stand-alone system with an automated charging function and lithium-ion energy supply in multi-shift operations. Running on high-performance lithium-ion batteries, the EAE 212a trucks impress with their low energy consumption and high availability. Each of the three devices only needs to be charged a maximum of one time per shift. In doing so, the trucks intelligently coordinate with one another in order to avoid interrupting operations.
“We are very satisfied with the progress of the project and hope to be able to implement additional automation solutions with Jungheinrich in the near future,” adds Thomas Koch. “Of particular note is the open and transparent communication and the quick project launch. We were able to use the robots right after they arrived at our warehouse; only a few physical adjustments and IT decisions were needed.”
About DURABLE:
DURABLE Hunke & Jochheim GmbH & Co., based in Iserlohn, is a leading workplace equipment supplier and employs around 700 people. The company develops and manufactures innovative solutions for workplace organisation and operates a 24,000 square metre distribution centre at its headquarters, from which products are shipped worldwide.
