With a new software solution from Linde Material Handling (MH), companies can automate their intralogistics faster, as the implementation and control of AGVs is significantly simplified. The software is now also being used in the purely automated Linde L-Matic core high lift truck, which will be launched on the market in February 2025.
The main advantage of the „Matic:move“ software is the uncomplicated planning and shortened implementation of automated material flow processes. „This goes so far that Set up simple drop shipments between two points within one day “, says Pascal Kuster, Sales Trainer Automated Guided Vehicles at Linde MH. Any maintenance or service work that is due can be carried out by trained service technicians; dedicated robotics specialists are no longer required.
The Navigation of the vehicle in space via reflectors, which are distributed at prominent points in the infrastructure, for example in bends, at sources or sinks as well as loading and service points. To feed the software with data, the automated industrial truck travels along the route and creates a digital map of the warehouse environment. The pick-up and drop-off points of the vehicles and the routes can then be planned on the computer screen using the „drag & drop“ principle.
The software is designed For smaller fleets with up to five industrial trucks of the same vehicle type and standardised load carriers such as Euro pallets and pallet cages. The focus is particularly on horizontal transport in warehousing, production, incoming goods and dispatch areas. Mixed transport operations with manually operated industrial trucks and pedestrians can also be mapped. As a result, the solution scores with significantly lower investment costs. „In many cases, the payback period is around two years,“ explains Jan-Niklas Freund, Manager Automation Sales Steering at Linde MH.
„There is huge interest in automation solutions. Many managers in companies are feeling the increasing challenges posed by short delivery times in e-commerce, growing cost pressure due to high energy prices, increasing sustainability and safety efforts and, last but not least, the shortage of skilled labour. At the same time, there are material flow processes almost everywhere that are very well suited to automation. On the other hand, high costs and labour costs are causing hesitation and reluctance. Linde MH solves this dilemma with the ‚Matic:move’ software and opens up the opportunity for smaller medium-sized companies to increase the efficiency of goods handling with automated industrial trucks.“
Pascal Kuster, Sales Trainer Automated Guided Vehicles at Linde MH
New fully automated pallet truck
The „Matic:move“ software is already being used in the Linde L-Matic HD k automated high lift truck. The automated and manually operated truck has a load capacity of 1.6 tonnes and a lifting height of 3.8 metres and is used in wide-aisle warehouses or for serving narrow-aisle applications. With the purely automated Linde L-Matic core The next vehicle with the new software solution is now in the starting blocks. The compact „game changer“ with a load capacity of 1.2 tonnes and a lifting height of 1.78 metres has an integrated lithium-ion battery, but no drawbar and can cope with a working aisle width of less than 2.5 metres.
To ensure safe operation, the Linde L-Matic core has a 360° safety environment as standard, as well as emergency stop switches that can be used to stop the vehicle from several sides at the touch of a button. Optionally, the truck can be with additional safety features such as the Linde BlueSpot or the Linde Red Warning Lines. The battery is charged manually or automatically using induction charging.
Step-by-step expansion
For automation projects with a higher degree of complexity or if an expansion of the automation is planned, customers can seamlessly connect to „Matic:move“. The broad portfolio of industrial trucks and the „Matic:move+“ software are then used, which can be used to automate fleets of up to 150 vehicles. The extended software can be connected to warehouse management, warehouse control and enterprise resource planning systems via interfaces. The range of services extends from visualisation of the current status of the vehicles to their availability and utilisation through to battery management.
Source: Linde Material Handling
