In Action for Our Customers
Whether it is concepts for plants, medical systems or robot-based automation, the teams from KUKA, Swisslog and Swisslog Healthcare are collaborating with customers and partners on innovative solutions all over the world. We have collected some exciting examples.
A lighthouse automation project for logistical challenges
From shampoo to organic foods and detergents: dm-drogerie markt is Europe’s largest drugstore retailer – and the growing product diversity is a logistical challenge. In order to serve millions of people in the stores with hundreds of thousands of products quickly and efficiently, dm decided to move its distribution center in Wustermark, Germany, to the next level of automation in collaboration with Swisslog.
In addition to Swisslog technologies, KUKA robots are used at the new, state-of-the-art distribution center. “Swisslog has implemented a product-to-person or product-to-robot system for the first time at the Wustermark site. The robot solution, in particular, was unique in Germany at the time of start-up,” says Eike-Niklas Jung, Head of Technology & IT-VZ dm-drogerie markt. For the innovative logistics concept in Wustermark, dm received the German and European Logistics Award.
Innovative KUKA technologies for a more sustainable food production
Automation for a more sustainable feed supply: the insect farm of ENORM Biofactory in Denmark uses hygienic oil robots from KUKA to palletize insect boxes and produce a climatefriendly protein source. The robots continuously palletize the containers containing millions of fly larvae. “We have to very quickly fill, empty and stack containers, some of which are extremely heavy. Our production would not be possible without the robots from KUKA”, says Carsten Lind Pedersen, CEO of ENORM.
The robots must work 100 percent reliably: “If there was a problem with one of the robots, we would only have two to three minutes to solve it – otherwise the entire process would come to a standstill. But luckily this has not yet happened.” To ensure a smooth process, the workflows were simulated and planned in advance using software from Visual Components.
Ultrasound robot ARTHUR for better Arthritis treatment
An innovative ultrasound system for a more gentle examination: The Danish medical device developer ROPCA ApS has put the robotbased medical product ARTHUR into use at clinics in cooperation with KUKA. It is based on the LBR Med lightweight robot and supports the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.
“I think it is very inspiring to create solutions that help people. That’s why I’m particularly proud of ARTHUR, which is already being used in medical practices. It is scanning patients as we speak”, says Thiusius Rajeeth Savarimuthu, founder of ROPCA ApS. Artificial Intelligence supports the diagnoses and ensures stable quality of the ultrasound images taken by ARTHUR.
Transport automation at the University Hospital Bonn: For first-class patient care
An average of 1,400 transports are handled per day by the pneumatic tube system at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB). 145 stations and a tube network with a total length of 17 kilometers allow medication, samples, documents and other medical supplies to be sent quickly and reliably to any station on campus.
Cutting-Edge logistics for sporting goods giant
Anta Group, a leader in China’s sporting goods industry, focuses on innovation and aims to become a world-renowned multi-brand sports goods group. Efficient logistics operations play a crucial role in this mission. Advanced logistics technology solutions support this mission.
Swisslog in China provides flexible, data-driven, and robotics-based logistics, such as an integrated logistics automation system for Anta’s Operations Center in South-Eastern China, featuring an automated vertical warehouse or a multi-layer shuttle system with 231 high-speed shuttles, achieving a capacity of over 100,000 storage boxes and 35 stacker cranes for more than one million storage boxes. The use of the modular warehouse management system SynQ WMS has helped to increase operational efficiency by 200 percent. This means that storage requirements of over 14 million items can be met by 2025.
