König + Neurath puts autonomous high-bay warehouse into operation

The construction of the new camp was one of the last projects initiated by Egon König. Initiated by Egon König and which his wife Gerti König pushed forward with great after his death. It was an affair of the heart for him, as he wanted to give his his company and the customers and project partners of König + Neurath.

Neurath’s customers and project partners – and to ensure the future viability of the Hessian manufacturer of office furniture and room systems. “The new building, which is twelve metres high, 130 metres long and 20 metres wide, can now store around 5,000 pallets. We are proud that we can now offer these capacities now after only one year of construction,” says a delighted David Schuch, who oversaw the project from the first planning step in 2017 through to completion. “What is extraordinary is not only the impressive size of the building, but above all the technology that is being used here.”

The overall concept was developed using a “digital twin” was developed and implemented. The digital twin will continue to be used to analyse the ACTUAL process and to further develop the system, adds Dirk Fischer, Director of Production / Technology / Purchasing. “The interaction between several autonomously driving systems and the data technology is unique,” says Schuch. What he means by this becomes clear when one experiences the fully automated processes live: it goes amazingly smoothly and orderly when the autonomous high-lift trucks and narrow-aisle trucks come to life.

During the day the autonomous vehicles go about their work on precisely calculated routes as if by magic. sort all the goods that reach the loading gate in wire mesh boxes or on a Euro pallet and are then and enter the hall by conveyor belt are sorted into the high racks. At night what is needed the next day is then taken out of storage. “The system can handle four self-propelled vehicles, the system can perform 35 storage and retrieval operations per hour, which is 280 per shift,” says production manager Fischer.

A sustainable solution that avoids errors and relieves the workforce
In view of the impressive figures, the question arises as to how these quantities were
moved in the past. “Even if it sounds paradoxical to outsiders at first, we are glad, that the system is now taking over. In future, it will know which article is in which quantity in which which container is in which place. In addition, thanks to the currently most powerful warehouse management software eWM on S4/HANA.”

The automated system automated system does not replace any employees, but the people can devote themselves to other tasks that would be too complex for such software. “It is cheaper, works without damage and avoids errors,” Dirk Fischer summarises the advantages. A sustainable solution that was born out of necessity.

“The fire load in the old warehouse was too high,” Fischer adds the main argument for the new building. “Now we also have a sustainable building that, as a low-energy hall, does not need to be heated and has a green roof. and has a green roof.”

Complex tasks will be taken over by specialists in future

Hartmut Hagemann, Chairman of the Board of Management, commented on the strategic importance of the new building. Hagemann, who follows on from his colleagues’ remarks and refers to the future orientation of the company: The future of furniture production is characterised by Hartmut Hagemann is convinced that the future of furniture production will be characterised by increasing individualisation. “We are increasingly more and more flexible furniture and room solutions according to the customer’s wishes. Therefore we need solutions for simple processes such as storage and retrieval. removal from storage. For consulting, project planning and all more complex tasks in the production require brains, manual work and thus a team of specialists. specialists are needed. That’s what our employees are there for, and we consistently invest in their qualifications and further training. invest in their qualifications and further training.

Facts and figures on the fully automated high-bay warehouse on the König + Neurath site

• Project start 2017
• Groundbreaking July 2020
• Four sub-projects: New building, conversion of existing building (goods receiving with loading gates
  and platforms, new office building), interior fittings & automation (racking and automated guided
  transport system), introduction of warehouse management
• Cold hall with green roof
  Storage possible at ~12 m height, 130 m length, 20 m width in 10.5 m rack height
• Capacity: approx. 5,000 pallets
• 4 self-propelled vehicles
• ~ 280 storage/retrieval operations per shift

For more information, please visit: https://www.koenig-neurath.com/en/