Automation from simple to complex

New automation solutions from Linde Material Handling simplify commissioning and maintenance and increase customer-specific options

Companies looking to improve their competitiveness through more automated material handling will find everything they need under one roof at Linde Material Handling (MH). Linde MH offers a broad portfolio of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and mobile robots (AMRs), from small to large, for simple to complex projects. In addition, at Linde MH and Motrac, the number of experts to ensure professional planning and implementation has grown considerably in recent years. With the Linde L-MATIC HD k automated stacker truck, an additional model is currently being marketed for horizontal transport applications with lift heights of up to 3.8 meters. The mass-produced truck offers faster commissioning thanks to new software and simplified service. Also recently at LogiMAT, Linde MH showed the concept study of the fully automatic stacker Linde L-MATIC C. Due to its compact dimensions, the truck with integrated lithium-ion battery is particularly suitable for applications in tight spaces and for small and large truck fleets. Sales start at the end of the year.

"Automating logistics processes is now possible in almost all warehouse and production areas," says Louis Vieira, Head of Sales Automation & Intralogistics at Linde MH, who encourages all logistics managers to delve into the subject. According to him, processes with repetitive motion are particularly well suited to automation. For example AMRs with transport platforms very suitable for horizontal goods transports between defined transfer points. The same applies to replenishment in high bay racking with automatic reach trucks or picking pallets in high bay racking up to 16 meters high. "However, by far the most common applications for automated industrial trucks are the extremely versatile stackers," reports Louis Vieira. Among other things, they can be used for tasks such as production stocking and picking finished goods to transport.

New models for even more variety of applications

With the Linde L-MATIC HD k now comes another truck model for multiple applications on the market. The automated stacker moves goods weighing up to 1.6 tons between conveyors, racks, marked floor areas or racking locations and stores and retrieves them up to a height of 3.8 meters. Equipped with several safety scanners that monitor 360° and several load sensors, the truck travels at speeds of up to 7.2 km/h. It meets the technical safety requirements of European standard ISO 3691-4 for unmanned material handling. The stacker can be optionally equipped with Linde BlueSpot, warning lights, a second load sensor and additional obstacle detection. The Linde L-MATIC HD k gets its energy from a lead-acid or lithium-ion battery; suitable chargers are supplied ex-factory. There are several options for (interim) charging, both manual and fully automatic. In the latter case, the truck automatically connects to a charging station, which can extend the maximum operating time of about 18 hours to a 24/7 deployment. Two different software solutions for commissioning ensure quick implementation of the devices. Another special feature: service is carried out by specially trained technicians, and short repair and maintenance times increase the operational availability of the trucks.

The fully automated Linde L-MATIC C stacker with a lifting capacity of 1.2 tons is recommended for automation in confined spaces because of its short, narrow design. The reason is that warehouse and production layouts, which have grown larger and larger over the years, are often characterized by tight spaces or narrow aisles. The 1,785 mm long and 840 mm wide truck with integrated lithium-ion battery is a flexible, scalable option for pallet transports previously performed with larger manually operated material handling equipment. The truck comes with new software. Instead of having to program it yourself, project logic is configured through a simple, clear user interface.

However, companies should not focus their attention solely on automation, advises Sales Manager Vieira. The digitization of data, documents and processes is just as important. This can be achieved, for example, with the Linde Warehouse Navigator, consisting of a warehouse data, order picking and truck control system. With this software solution, all orders, inventories and goods movements in the warehouse can be paperlessly controlled, monitored and documented. All storage locations with current occupancy are displayed in 3D and the forklift driver is shown the fastest route to the destination. At the same time, the software documents all movements of load carriers at changing storage locations.