Egemin Automation's AGV technology on show at Audi

Egemin Automation has shown off its automated guided vehicle (AGV) solution which will be adopted by automotive manufacturer Audi.

Egemin's AGV system for internal transport was on show recently at Audi's TechDay at its headquarters in Ingolstadt, Bavaria. The technology day focused on current projects using smart technologies to improve efficiency in production and logistics.

April 2017 will see the start of a pilot AGV project aimed at improving internal transport at the Logistics and Goods Transport Center Ingolstadt, which is currently carried out by trained personnel using manual forklifts. 

For the project, Egemin will be integrating an automated E'gv HYBRID (Egemin Guided Vehicle) solution based on two FM-X 12 reach trucks manufactured by STILL, Egemin's sister company in the KION Group.

Automation will lead to space savings for Audi, as the manoeuvring areas between storage racks will be eliminated. The vehicles will also be available around the clock across all three shifts, increasing efficiency in the warehouse.

Premium automotive manufacturer Audi supplies contract manufacturing operations in China and India from the 25,000 sqm warehouse, and fills up to 2,500 freight containers per year with goods from the Logistics and Goods Transport Center Ingolstadt.

At the TechDay, Stefan Meier, project manager at Audi, showed how containers will be moved into and out of storage using an E'gv STANDARD FLV2012/N vehicle, and explained: "The components for our vehicles come to us in 'large load carrier' containers. In future, the automated guided vehicles will work autonomously to move the containers into and out of high-rack storage and supply the packaging areas."
 
Egemin Automation designs, integrates and maintains automated materials handling solutions to improve the intralogistics processes in warehouses, production and distribution. It operates on a world-wide scale from its headquarters in Antwerp and has offices located in Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific, along with partners in other areas, and employs approximately 400 people.