HiQ helps Danaher Motion develop a system for the industrial trucks of tomorrow – Pick-n-Go®
- Warehouse productivity doubled thanks to new technology based on laser navigation and voice control
Danaher Motion develops and sells navigation systems for laser-controlled industrial trucks. It recently launched a solution which combines laser navigation with voice identification. This means the trucks can be used for a brand new application – picking customer orders in large warehouses, such as those used by grocery retailers. HiQ was involved in the product development process and has contributed to the system’s integration with Danaher Motion’s customers’ existing stock management systems, including at the Swedish Coop’s central warehouse in Bro just outside Stockholm. The new solution means that the trucks, which were previously used mainly for materials handling within production industry, are now increasingly being used in large warehouses such as those for the grocery trade, improving efficiency and reducing the time taken for processes such as order picking and results.
“Our new solution is opening the door to a completely new market, which is distribution centres where the so-called “man-to-goods” method is used,” says Henrik Eriksson, who works in business development at Danaher Motion. Man-to-goods means that a member of staff goes around with a truck picking orders onto a pallet, roller cage or other carrier, instructed by a picking list, truck terminal or voice control. By automating the trucks, up to half the staff member’s time can be eliminated – thereby doubling his productivity.
“HiQ is assisting us in the product development process, contributing technology and expertise in areas such as communication via WLAN (radio network) and CAN (field bus technology for vehicles such as industrial trucks). They are helping us to integrate our solution with our customers’ existing warehouse management systems (WMS) and our technology with the customer’s existing models of warehouse trucks. We are very pleased with HiQ’s work on this project,” continues Eriksson.
HiQ has also worked on the further development of the laser navigation system and the controlling computer that is integrated into each truck, as well as quality assurance of tools.
“We have sound specialist expertise in the development of various communications solutions since we have been working on this type of project for more than 15 years. The assignment from Danaher Motion is very exciting and is a good example of HiQ’s top level expertise ,” says Jerker Lindsten, Managing Director of HiQ Göteborg.
About Danaher Motion:
Danaher Motion employs just over 6,000 people all over the world and in Sweden has operations in Stockholm, Kristianstad, Flen and Särö. Its core business consists of various types of mechanical and motor controls with the associated system software for industrial trucks etc. and it is part of the Danaher Corporation, a company with turnover of around SEK 85 billion that is listed on the NYSE under the ticker DHR.
In Särö Danaher Motion develops navigation systems for driverless trucks, known as Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGV). The trucks drive according to a drawn map of permitted routes which also feature navigation objects such as reflectors for laser control. A central system distributes driving assignments to the trucks and the system also acts as supervisor and traffic planner. Danaher Motion’s solution includes both navigation of the trucks and the central control system as well as tools for configuration, installation, simulation, maintenance and testing of the environments in which the trucks will be used.
For further information, please contact:
Jerker Lindsten, Managing Director HiQ Göteborg, tel.: +46 (0)31 743 91 00
Annika Billberg, Head of Corporate Communications HiQ, tel.: +46 (0)8-588 90 015, +46 (0)704-200 103
Henrik Eriksson, Pick-n-Go® Sales Manager Danaher Motion, tel.: +46 (0)31–938066, or visit www.pick-n-go.com.