The real challenge for many companies today is no longer in production, but in the warehouse. An increasing variety of items, a shortage of space and a shortage of skilled labour mean that traditional warehouse concepts often reach their limits. The Traunstein-based company Advasolutions offers a flexible and efficient alternative with its automated, shuttle-based storage system.
At the centre of the fully automated storage system are autonomous, three-dimensionally movable shuttles that automate all processes from goods receipt to dispatch in a fully modular, scalable manner and without the need for costly conversions. The combination of autonomous shuttles, a customisable shelving system and flexibly configurable storage areas means that items of different sizes, shapes and packaging can be efficiently transported, stored and dynamically moved.
A decisive difference to conventional automated storage systems lies in the handling of the goods themselves. Advasolutions does not move standardised containers, but article profiles.
„Our shuttles are not tied to specific means of transport such as plastic boxes or cartons. We completely dispense with fixed conveyor technology and lifts and instead use integrated rails in the shelving, which our 3D-capable robots use to move horizontally and vertically - inbound and outbound.“
Rodrigo Arias, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Advasolutions.
Dynamic storage spaces are used: a warehouse management system automatically recognises available space on the shelves. Each product is fully digitised during storage - including size, weight, shape, best-before date and other article-related features. On this basis, the software decides how and where an item is best stored. The warehouse therefore adapts to the goods, not the other way round. Bulky items are moved safely and no special grippers are required, even for unusual shapes.
Without robotics, the warehouse becomes a bottleneck
„If robotics is missing, the warehouse becomes a bottleneck, because the framework conditions have changed significantly. Today, there is a shortage of space and a shortage of skilled labour. At the same time, order profiles are very volatile,“ says Rodrigo Arias. „We operate our own fulfilment centre in Niederaula, Hesse, where we notice how much throughput increases at peak times, such as Black Friday. This can usually only be managed with overtime or temporary labour.“
In the 20,000 square metre Fulfilment Centre, which is also a research and development centre, around 250 shuttles are used under everyday conditions and are continuously developed further.
Flexible and dynamic
The technology is controlled via the company's own Warehouse Execution System (WES) and an AI-supported digital twin, which maps and optimises warehouse processes and movements in real time, thus proactively minimising errors.
A key advantage of the solution is its scalability. While traditional automation solutions are often designed for a fixed maximum throughput, the Traunstein shuttle ecosystem can be flexibly expanded and capacities can be added dynamically. In phases of high capacity utilisation, additional shuttles can be put into operation at short notice within a few minutes. This means that companies do not have to permanently design their infrastructure for peak loads.
Another aspect is the resilience of the overall system. Thanks to the decentralised structure of the shuttle fleet, the failure of individual components does not bring the warehouse to a standstill. This also ensures delivery reliability. All processes in the warehouse are also traceable. „Thanks to the digital twin, we always know where each item is located.“
Automating fresh produce logistics for the future
Advasolutions presented its innovative storage system for the first time at Logimat 2025. A first customer project is currently being implemented in the area of fresh produce logistics, automating the existing logistics centre of the Bavarian family business Maier Früchtegroßhandel. The flexible technology, consisting of hardware components (shuttles, racks and shelves) and software modules, is being adapted to the structural conditions and seamlessly integrated into the existing IT structure.
Maier Früchtegroßhandel is responding to two key challenges in the industry with this investment: the shortage of skilled labour and the physically demanding work in fresh produce logistics. In particular, activities such as picking, storing or transporting heavy crates at constantly cool temperatures often place a heavy burden on employees. The automated warehouse solution is designed to relieve employees of heavy tasks in cold environments.
At the same time, the digital recording of all item data ensures maximum transparency in the process. The consequences: an increase in picking accuracy, avoidance of incorrect deliveries, simplification of quality control and a reduction in spoilage, which ultimately leads to significant cost savings. In addition, the high degree of automation in the warehouse means that hardly any manual intervention is required - lighting and internal traffic can therefore be greatly reduced. This creates a so-called „dark warehouse“, which significantly reduces energy consumption.
Rodrigo Arias: „Maier's requirements are a perfect match for what our technology offers: A wide variety of sizes and container types, such as cardboard and plastic boxes, have to be transported, digitised and stored. We also handle the entire quality assurance process: when a pallet arrives, an AI-based camera system not only recognises the product, but also whether it is an organic product or a conventional variety, for example, and whether the quality is still right. Maier can then use the generated images to present its fresh products in the online shop - and customers can buy exactly the fruit that is pictured.“
Advasolutions is presenting the next generation of shuttles at this year's Logimat. Rodrigo Arias: „We are still at the beginning, but we will use more and more artificial intelligence so that the system optimises itself and the material flow organises itself.“ The intermeshing of robotics, software and artificial intelligence thus creates the basis for resilient, future-proof logistics structures.
Advasolutions at the LogiMAT 2026: Hall 3, Stand 3C79
