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Picanol
07/23/2025

Jungheinrich automates material flow at Picanol in Belgium

With a customised automation solution, Jungheinrich is optimising intralogistics at Belgian machine manufacturer Picanol. Six arculee M type autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) will create a flexible and scalable solution.

  • Six arculee M type autonomous mobile robots (AMRs)  in operation
  • Automated material flow between goods receiving, ASRS and picking stations
  • Flexible and scalable solutions for production logistics

Hamburg – Belgian machine manufacturer Picanol has commissioned Jungheinrich to automate key material flow processes at its site in Ypres. As part of the project, six arculee M type autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) will be installed to handle transport between goods receiving, the automated small parts warehouse (ASRS) and picking stations. The decision in favour of Jungheinrich was made after a comprehensive proof of concept demonstrated the performance and flexibility of the solution.

Picanol, a leading manufacturer of high-tech weaving machines, is turning to automation in Ypres as it is a scalable, secure and high-performance method for optimising internal material flows. Until now, goods receiving has been connected to the warehouse through automated conveyer technology. The AMRs offer significantly more flexibility and scalability in comparison.

The new system includes 50 stations along a 230-metre-long transport route. The six arculee M robots can safely transport loads of up to 1,300 kilograms and are equipped with state-of-the-art 360° safety sensor technology. A key feature of the project is the jointly developed “Cust Backpack”, which enables pallet pickup at a height of 455 millimetres. The vehicles are powered by high-performance lithium-ion batteries that charge automatically, ensuring smooth 16/5 operation at the Picanol site.

The introduction of AMRs will optimise material supply to production areas and minimise damage caused by manual transport processes. Predictive transport planning and automatic load monitoring enable efficient resource use and significantly reduce downtime. A particular focus is on safety – the mobile robots navigate reliably and safely through complex working environments thanks to advanced sensor technology.

“This project demonstrates how customised automation solutions can significantly enhance efficiency in intralogistics,” emphasises project manager Jelle Celis at Jungheinrich. “Through close collaboration with Picanol during the development phase, we were able to create a solution that is perfectly tailored to the customer’s needs.”

The new system is scheduled to go live in August 2025.

About Picanol:

Picanol designs and builds high-tech weaving machines and is a global player, exporting over 90% of its products outside the EU. The Picanol Group (part of Tessenderlo Group, Euronext: TESB) consists of four companies: Picanol (weaving machines), Proferro (foundry and mechanical finishing), Psicontrol (electronics development and production), and Melotte (3D metal printing and high-precision finishing). Worldwide, the Picanol Group employs 2,200 people, more than 1,300 of whom are based in Ypres.

Image caption: Picanol is replacing automated conveyor technology with a solution based on arculee M autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). These robots offer significant advantages in terms of flexibility and scalability, making it easier for Picanol to adapt its internal logistics to new production requirements in the future.

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Portrait Benedikt Nufer

Dr. Benedikt Nufer

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