Automation & digitization: Würth, Procter & Gamble, Seeberger, Oknoplast & Co.
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Published on: March 10, 2025 / update from: March 10, 2025 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein
Automation & digitization: Würth, Procter & Gamble, Seeberger, Oknoplast & Co.
Highly automated camps: trends and technologies of the future
Automation and digitization in warehouse logistics: a comprehensive overview
In recent years, the rapid technological development of warehouse logistics has led to a fundamental transformation of traditional goods warehouse in highly automated high -bay warehouse. This development has now become essential for increasing efficiency and productivity in the entire logistics industry. This report examines the current trends, technological solutions and practical examples and offers an outlook on the future development of this dynamic industry.
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The driving forces of warehouse automation
The automation of warehouse processes is promoted by several factors that work together to increase the performance and efficiency of modern warehouse. In the dynamic world of warehouse logistics, groundbreaking trends are emerging that shape the future of automated systems and lead to new standards in industry. With the innovations in robotics and artificial intelligence, which are increasingly promoting automation, and the integration of the Internet of things that ensure more seamless networking, high -bay warehouse is increasingly autonomous and networked.
This advances are in the context of a comprehensive digital transformation that also addresses flexibility and scalability of automated warehouse solutions in order to be able to respond to the fluctuations of the market. The progressive development of complex software systems for warehouse management not only enables better control of the logistics processes, but also an optimization based on data analyzes and simulations. The development of high -bay bearings thus aims to meet the increasing demands on warehouse systems through the use of modern technologies.
Technological components of modern warehouse systems
Modern warehouse systems are based on a combination of different technologies that work seamlessly together. Shelf control units (RBG) are central components of automated high-bay warehouse and take over the storage and outsourcing of pallets with high precision and speed. These are often supplemented by shuttle systems that provide pallets for the RBGs and thus optimize the internal material flow.
Driverless transport systems (FTS) revolutionize internal transport in camps and combine different storage areas. For companies such as Seeberger, these autonomous vehicles move, for example, on a bridge between the high -bay warehouse, the manual warehouse and the production. The FTS rack systems can be adapted to different transport devices with little effort to ensure safe transport, while the modular shelf structure enables efficient storage for each bearing material.
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Practical examples of automated high -bay warehouse
Procter & Gamble: state -of -the -art distribution center in Euskirchen
Procter & Gamble opened a new fully automated high -bay warehouse at the Euskirchen location in September, which is a significant step in the strategic development of the location. The almost 30-meter-high and 90 meter wide building offers space for over 19,000 additional pallet parking spaces and strengthens delivery capacities and the resilience of the entire supply chain for retail in the roof region with an investment of almost 50 million euros.
The operation in the high-bay warehouse is completely autonomous: from capacity management to the input and outsourcing process to pallet transport with the help of the latest robot technology, all processes within the building run computer-controlled. Particularly noteworthy should comply with strict sustainability guidelines, including efficient, programmable LED lights, an air treatment system with heat recovery and an Air Night Cooling System.
Oknoplast: Efficient window production by automated storage technology
Another remarkable example is the new high -bay warehouse of the Oknoplast Group in Ochmanów near Krakow. With a capacity of almost 30,000 m³, it should be the most powerful fully automatic warehouse for production components in the industry in Poland and is part of an investment of around EUR 25 million to expand the market share in Europe and the USA. The warehouse reaches an impressive productivity of 60 pallets per hour and provides the required profile systems for the window and door systems to be produced fully automatically.
The cycle time is only a minute for the entire process from removing a palette to transport to the destination in production to the return to the corresponding shelf. According to the company, the high degree of automation in this new warehouse has no negative effects on personnel policy, which underlines the possibility of harmonious integration of modern technologies while appreciating human work.
Würth: individualized warehouse solutions for efficient material procurement
The Würth company relies on another form of warehouse automation with its ORSY® system shelves, which can be precisely tailored to the needs and work processes of customers. The result of this adaptation is a highly efficient solution in which the required materials are immediately at hand, without time -consuming searches. These systems not only offer a better overview of the inventory, but also enable quick supply supply.
Automation continues with the ORSY® system control sensor, which monitors the individual storage spaces via sensors and automatically reordered when the minimum stock is below-ideal for quick-turning products such as DIN and standard parts. The ORSY® controller acts as an interface between the physical warehouse system and the digital world and combines services and systems in a solution that offers complete inventory control, fast scanning and selected service apps.
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Warehouse Management systems and artificial intelligence
Digitization in the warehouse is largely promoted by using modern Warehouse Management Systems (WMS). With a WMS, companies can significantly increase their efficiency in the warehouse. The automated control of the inventory management is possible to avoid bottlenecks or excess stocks and to make well -founded decisions based on data analyzes. The WMS enables efficient picking through clear structuring of orders and way optimization in the warehouse, while transparency is significantly increased by real -time information via existing and storage status.
The integration of artificial intelligence in warehouse processes opens up additional optimization options. According to a survey by the Digitalverband Bitkom, two thirds of the companies surveyed believe that AI-supported systems will take on many work in logistics in the future, although only 6% AI is currently actively working. The logistics industry with its widely branched networks is an ideal field of application for AI, since intelligently evaluated data, for example, future production and transport volumes can be predicted, which enables companies to use more efficient resources.
Concrete AI applications in warehouse logistics
In the area of warehouse logistics, large amounts of data arise every day, which form the perfect basis for the use of artificial intelligence. The specific possible uses include:
- Drive units can determine the most efficient route through the warehouse through centrally controlled AI, which simplifies the transport of goods into the various storage zones and ensures constant material flow, since these vehicles are not bound to working hours. In quality assurance, AI, which has been trained on the recognition of articles, can carry out the goods control more precisely and faster than humans, whereby modern image recognition software can also precisely examine complex surface properties.
- The pick-by-voice technology enables the goods to be picked by voice assistant and their storage space, which simplifies the pick process and facilitates the familiarization of new employees. AI-supported robot gunfarms can be trained through Reinforcement Learning how different articles have to be used without damaging them, which is particularly advantageous for sensitive materials.
- In the case of packaging processes, a 3D scanner can measure the optimal box and the required amount of adhesive tape based on training data, while for several items, the appropriate total packaging is calculated based on size, shape and weight.
Retrofit and modernization of existing storage systems
Not only the new building, but also the modernization of existing warehouse systems is becoming increasingly important. Storage logistics Retrofitting denotes the update or modernization of existing warehouse logistics systems and systems to improve your efficiency and performance, which can include the integration of new technologies, automation solutions or the redesign of warehouse layout and processes.
An impressive example of a successful retrofit project is the worldwide first pallet warehouse with 6 shelf operations devices, an extensive warehouse in front of Artschwager + Kohl Software GmbH, an extensive storage and automated shipping provision for 8 loading gates that was connected to SAP EWM-and all of this within just two weekends. The company offers a tried and tested retrofit procedure, which ranges from the initial analysis to inventory and detailed conceptual position to commissioning with employee training and subsequent support.
The advantages of such a modernization are diverse: existing systems can be equipped with modern technology without the need for a complete new building, which saves both time and costs. In addition, the processes can be optimized and the performance of the system increases, while integration into existing IT systems is guaranteed.
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Future prospects of automated warehouse logistics
The development of automated high -bay warehouse and digitized warehouse processes will continue to progress in the future. Aspects such as energy efficiency, sustainability and security are becoming increasingly important, while innovative concepts such as cooperation between humans and robots, the use of drones for inventory and the use of the latest communication technologies shift the limits of what is possible in automated warehouse environments.
The combination of AI and blockchain technology to implement smart contracts could be used in logistics to automatically carry out transactions as soon as certain conditions are met. Fully automated camps in which robots and AI systems take over the entire logistics-from storage to picking to delivery-would not only maximize efficiency, but also minimize the error rate and reduce operating costs.
The Corona crisis showed the vulnerability of modern supply chains and caused many logistics companies to find solutions for optimization and for more flexibility. The use of AI can make a decisive contribution here by creating more resilient supply chains and storing warehouses by digitized processes.
Sustainable through retrofit: modernization of existing warehouse structures
Automation and digitization in warehouse logistics has made considerable progress in recent years and will continue to shape the industry in the future. The examples presented by Procter & Gamble, Oknoplast, Würth and other companies clearly show how modern technologies can increase efficiency, accuracy and speed in warehouse logistics, while aspects such as sustainability and resource conservation are taken into account.
The integration of artificial intelligence and warehouse management systems opens up new opportunities to optimize warehouse processes and to adapt to changing market conditions. Retrofit projects also offer considerable potential to modernize existing systems and make fit for the future.
The future of warehouse logistics will be shaped by further innovations and the increasing networking of various technologies. Companies that invest in these technologies and successfully implement them will strengthen their competitiveness and meet the increasing requirements of the market. The focus will not only be efficiency and productivity, but also sustainability, resilience and the optimal cooperation between humans and machines.
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