 
RX 70-25 diesel trucks – the most economic truck of its class worldwide
Autonomous FM
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In time for the LogiMAT, by now the fifth International Trade Fair for Distribution, Materials Handling and Information Flow in Stuttgart, the Hamburg based Still GmbH can present another success in automating Intralogistics. The company received an order scoping four autonomous FM reach trucks already including an expansion to ten machines.
The biggest advantage of the innovative solution is the higher “intelligence” of the autonomous FM compared to conventional driverless transport systems which require more space for the needed stations. Further, the Still concept is clearly more flexible.
The initial implementation of the system is to take place in several steps. This year, the first FM will be delivered for storage and retrieval in a shift rack system. After this, the following trucks will take up service one by one on additional transport routes – first from the goods reception to the rack system and then from the production to the rack system and back. At first, Still will conduct intensive in-house tests and then start the operation at the customer’s.
Autonomous lift trucks are an important part for the automatic auto-organisation of warehouses. The FM is fully computer controlled, it navigates by laser-recognition of its environment. A rotating laser scanner with a scope of 180 degrees permanently scans the environment of the truck and registers a complete picture of the space around the truck. Comparing this picture to a map stored in the memory of the truck allows the exact localisation of the truck within centimetres. Requirement for this are extremely powerful computers, very exact sensors and intelligent algorithms. The positioning of the mast and the fork is achieved by a set of special sensors of the integrated height control.
First application of fully automatic VNA trucks
Only recently, the company from Hamburg had fitted a DVS warehouse with fully automated MX-X trucks operating without drivers in Bergen op Zoom (in the Netherlands between Rotterdam and Antwerpen). The transport and logistics group DSV (a merger of the DFDS Transport, Denmark and the Frans Maas group Netherlands) operates a large warehouse for GE Plastics with plastic materials and was able to improve the processes and also to reduce the costs considerably.
An important factor for the success in the highly dynamic logistics industry is the consistent development of systems connecting the concrete and efficient transport of goods and components with a steady flow of information. This is exactly where the new material flow management system by Still (MMSi) sets in. This system will be presented in Stuttgart with extended and additional functions. At the same time, it is a basis for the operation of the autonomous FM and MX-X trucks.
New features for the material flow management system
MMSi functions as a roof for all components such as order picking, warehouse administration and truck control – as well as all the autonomous trucks, RFID systems localising and navigating the trucks and the interface with dispatch systems. On the LogiMAT 2007, Still demonstrates an extended and a simplified goods reception, an integrated packing station with dispatch platform and certified label printing for the freight forwarder and the use of MMSi to generate logistics index figures which are the basis for warehouse management. A further feature is the TimeSlotBooking, a component optimizing the use of loading docks.
Showing a cross section of its broad range of products, Still will present the RX 70, the first truck with hybrid technology worldwide, beside the FM reach truck on its stand (no. 718) in hall no. 5 on the fair ground on the Killesberg. The future oriented drive system of the RX 70 consists of an IC-engine (diesel) driving the generator, an intelligent control unit and an electric motor operating contact-less with magnetic force. The RX 70 sets new standards for economics and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) with its low fuel consumption and its low service costs. With a fuel consumption of 2.5 litres only (according to VDI 2198 with 60 work cycles per hour) the RX 70 with a load capacity of 2.5 tons load capacity is the most economic truck of the world.
Modular trucks
Also in Stuttgart an EXU low lift pallet truck from the CX series will be presented. The EXU convinces by its easy handling and its economic three-phase drive motor. The ergonomic length of the tiller and the height of the handle make the steering especially easy and smooth. The modular concept Still has now been following for several years for its trucks, makes the EXU available with nominal load capacities of 1.6 and 2.2 tons.
The CX series is a modular concept as well, offering a suitable solution for every requirement of horizontal order picking. Different versions for different load capacities and lift heights as well as exchange of the battery is possible laterally or by crane.
No doubt the LogiMAT 2007 will cast new impulses for the logistics industry. Still contributes to this presenting innovative, future oriented solutions for the current subjects: automating, material flow management systems integrating hardware and software and overall costs. |
