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EK ROBOTICS

ADAPTABLE AUTONOMY ON THE MOVE

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EK ROBOTICS

I PROFILE

ek robotics, a leading German manufacturer, is revolutionising the warehouse and logistics sector with its state-of-the-art, sustainable robotics solutions. In particular, the company’s modular Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) technology framework has redefined the sector; offering operators a flexible platform that adapts to changing needs as the customers’ operation evolves. Chris Price, Managing Director at ek robotics UK, spoke with Richard Hagan about how robots are shaping the future of warehouse operations. stablished in 1980 by Mr Eilers and

Rethinking the forklift

Mr Kirf (the origin of the ‘ek’ in the

One of the keys to ek robotics’ turnaround

company name), ek robotics found

was its forward-thinking pivot, which

success over the decades, until it was

moved it from automating commercially

acquired by the Böttner family in 2011. This

available forklift trucks, to designing and

acquisition was a major turning point that

building automated trucks from the

saw an important upturn in ek robotics’

ground up, all of which is done in-house.

fortunes, including a doubling of its work-

According to Chris Price, the Managing

force from 155 to over 300 staff and a

Director at ek robotics UK, the move was

tripling of turnover.

customer-centric: “We realised that the

During this success story, ek robotics has

weak point of traditional commercially avail-

realised over 15,000 systems with more

able forklift trucks was their life expectancy

than 12,000 AGVs in operation worldwide.

of five to seven years, whereas our versatile

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EK ROBOTICS

I PROFILE

“ek robotics also has an in-house academy that trains its customers on how to care for their systems, ensuring endless, flawless operations”

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warehouse are served by this fleet with maximum efficiency. The 90 AGVs were manufactured specifically for this application and move approximately nine million litres of milk a year at Arla Dairies’ facility. The fleet has been so successful that Arla Dairies transport robots, which we design,

recently re-signed the service contract with ek robotics through to 2025.

build and automate, are built to last fifteen

Pioneering robot technologies

to twenty years. With appropriate mainte-

ek robotics also boasts a number of other

nance, the service life is almost unlimited.

industry milestones, including pioneering

“During that lifecycle, however, the

inductive and magnetic spot guidance

customer’s needs often change as their

and laser guidance, and the first to

business evolves. Thanks to the modularity

introduce Lithium-ion battery technology.

of our multiple award-winning Vario Move

“We are probably about five years ahead

AGVs, one truck can be specified for many

of most of our competitors,” Mr Price

different jobs simply by changing the

proudly revealed.

forklift attachment. “So, rather than replacing the forklift every

In addition to its modular AGV, ek robotics also offers Autonomous Mobile

time the customer’s needs change, you

Robots (AMRs). The X MOVE transport

simply swap out the attachment. It’s a com-

platform from ek robotics is the world's

pletely modular concept. How a customer

first AGV that can be used in an AGV or

deploys the truck for first five years can be

AMR system. Which transport system is

changed for the next ten to twenty.”

used in a company’s automated production depends primarily on the purpose

Moving milk in the millions ek robotics is especially proud of its

and the area of application. To navigate its programmed route, the

AGV installation at Arla Dairies in the UK.

X MOVE uses orientation devices such as

Installed in 2014, the 90 AGVs of the

laser reflectors, environmental contours

CUSTOM MOVE series constitute the

or barcodes. AGVs move predictably,

largest AGV installation in the UK.

driving according to a timetable, and they

The fleet at Arla Dairies has worked

are particularly efficient, safe and reliable.

flawlessly 24 hours a day ever since 2014,

Setting up an AGV system is complex

in an environment that is permanently

because the layout of the driving courses

chilled to two degrees Celsius. Over

and the respective transport steps must

10,000 storage spaces in the block

be planned and programmed precisely.

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EK ROBOTICS

I PROFILE

On the other hand, AMRs can be

For example, ek robotics has installed

quickly deployed. They do not follow

these Autonomous Transport Systems

a predefined route, which eliminates the

in four major hospitals across Tuscany,

labour-intensive setup required by AGVs.

Italy. A total of 44 transport robots supply

While AMRs are suitable for simple applica-

1,900 hospital beds with meals, along

tions, AGVs are predominantly used for

with transporting medicines, laundry

complex and challenging tasks.

and waste according to a fixed schedule.

ek robotics recently put all this together

To help customers monitor their sys-

in its latest installation for BMW Mini at

tems, ek robotics offers SARA, its Smart

the new press facility in Swindon. The

Analytics Reporting App. SARA converts

AGVs undertake repetitive tasks, enabling

the running data from an AGV system

workers to carry out more fulfilling

into a reporting suite which reports on

operations, improving site efficiency. The

the efficiency and other data of the

machines perform duties such as the move-

customer’s operation.

ment of up to six tonnes of blank steel to

ek robotics also has an in-house

the press, delivering tools and removing

academy that trains customers on how to

to stores the freshly pressed panels.

care for their systems, ensuring endless, flawless operations.

Automated transport solutions.

ek robotics services customers via

With the ability to move quietly, safely

a network of facilities located across

and efficiently everything from medicines

Europe. Its manufacturing operations

and bed linen to vehicle parts, the AGVs of

are handled by hubs in Hamburg and

the MEDI MOVE series are extremely pop-

Reutlingen in Germany, as well as in Milan

ular with customers ranging from hospitals

and in the Czech Republic. It also has

to large vehicle manufacturers.

a sales and servicing facility in Budapest.

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In late 2023, ek robotics moved into

customers significantly reduce their

a state-of-the-art sales and manufac-

carbon footprint through increased

turing facility in Hamburg.

efficiency and – in some cases – reduced need for human capital.

Sustainability & operations

Pointing to the reduced staff require-

AGVs are an integral part of sustainable,

ment at Arla Dairies, Mr Price highlighted

process-optimised intralogistics. “AGVs

the advantages of a smaller workforce:

are used to optimise internal material

“The benefit is not just about the effi-

flows and a wide variety of processes in

ciency and reliability of our machines. It

production, warehousing and distribution

also means fewer people commuting to

centres,” Mr Price said. “AGV users also

work to move goods around. Added to our

benefit from increased safety: replacing

electric, battery-powered systems, it’s

conventional forklifts with AGVs reduces

a massive sustainability leap forward

human-caused accidents. This is

for our customers.”

reflected in lower operating costs and improved efficiency.” The transport robots follow optimised,

The benefits of robotic operations at Arla was evident during Covid lockdowns, when the dairy’s operations continued

pre-programmed routes and are

seamlessly thanks to the robots, at a time

equipped with state-of-the-art safety

when the workforce was required to stay

technology and 3D obstacle detection

home. “AGVs just keep working,” Mr Price

for personal and object protection. AGVs

said, in conclusion. “Arla confirmed that

are becoming increasingly important due

without their AGVs, milk supplies in the

to the ongoing shortage of skilled

UK during Covid would have been

workers. Automation enables available

seriously impacted.”

skilled workers to be deployed more

In an ever-evolving market, ek

efficiently. In addition, transport robots

robotics stays committed to the ethos

can undertake heavy, dangerous and

of adaptability, sustainability and cus-

monotonous tasks.

tomer-centric innovation, ensuring it

Sustainability is high on the agenda for ek robotics, with its AGVs helping

remains at the forefront of logistics robotics for years to come.

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