German manufacturing company WEBER-HYDRAULIK has deployed a fleet of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) at its Güglingen production site as part of a pilot program for its whole group of companies.

WEBER-HYDRAULIK says the vehicles handle internal material transport between the high-bay warehouse, the small parts warehouse and the assembly areas, with the aim of making logistics processes more efficient, improving supply reliability and relieving staff of repetitive transport tasks.

The vehicles transport small parts containers (SPCs) autonomously along defined routes, while also responding flexibly to traffic conditions and coordinating their journeys with each other. A central fleet management system coordinates operations to ensure the smooth flow of materials.

Loading and unloading continues to be carried out by staff at designated handover points.

Chris Gulyasch, from WEBER-HYDRAULIK’s supply chain management department and the manager of the AMR pilot program, says: “You can think of the system as a combination of rail-guided transport and an autonomous domestic robot. The vehicles are networked with one another and coordinate their journeys independently.” 

Gulyasch explains the groundwork for the introduction of the autonomous transport solution has been laid in Güglingen over the past few years, in particular, the modernisation of the high-bay and small-parts warehouses.

“Our aim is to ensure a stable and efficient supply – even during staff shortages,” he continues. “At the same time, we are reducing manual transport routes and easing the workload on our staff in their day-to-day work.”

The pilot program will be extended to additional areas in the future.