Jungheinrich automates material flow at Picanol in Belgium

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.”

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