Automation shaped by the processes
of each industry

Flows and constraints differ from one industry to the next. That is why we start from the process: what is transported, how materials move, where bottlenecks appear, and what integration is required.

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Automotive 3PL / Logistics Manufacturing Electronics Food & Beverage Pharma
Operational context

Different processes. The same question: where does automation make sense?

Every industry has its own rhythms, load carriers, constraints, and integration requirements. We analyse the physical material flow to identify where automation can improve continuity, safety, and operational control.

Flow
What is transported, and between which points.
Rhythm
The frequency, the volumes, and the variability of the process.
Environment
The space available, the traffic, and the operational constraints.
Integration
How the automation interacts with people, systems, and existing equipment.

Integration adapts to the architecture of the process

  • Architecture 01

    Standalone

    The AMR/AGV system manages its fleet and its missions independently of WMS, MES, or ERP. Missions can be triggered locally by operators, buttons, sensors, stations, or other mechanisms defined for the process.

  • Architecture 02

    Integrated with existing systems

    Where the process calls for it, the AMR/AGV system can exchange orders, statuses, and information with WMS, MES, ERP, or other operational systems.

Integration with process equipment

In both configurations — standalone or integrated with existing systems — AMR/AGV can interact with the infrastructure and equipment of the process: conveyors, automatic doors, lifts, transfer stations, lines, and other equipment.

01 / Automotive

A flow synchronized with production, not merely automated transport

In automotive, intralogistics automation has to sustain the rhythm of production. Line feeding, the movement of sub-assemblies, the return of empty pallets, containers, and carts, and the pickup of finished goods all have to be coordinated so that internal transport never becomes a bottleneck.

Automotive operations automated with mobile robots

Typical operational flow

  1. Supermarket / intermediate stock
  2. Kitting / sequencing
  3. Line feeding
  4. Production / assembly
  5. WIP / sub-assemblies
  6. Finished-goods pallet pickup
  7. Staging / warehouse
Return flows
  1. Line
  2. empty pallets / containers / carts
  3. reuse point

Where we step in

Line feeding
AMR/AGV

AMR/AGV transport between the supermarket, the preparation areas, and the production lines.

WIP & sub-assemblies
AMR/AGV

AMR/AGV transfer between operations, cells, and intermediate areas.

Return flows
AMR/AGV

Transporting empty pallets, containers, and carts back to the reuse points.

Finished-goods pallets
AMR/AGV

Picking up finished-goods pallets and moving them by AMR/AGV to staging or to the warehouse.

When the flow reaches the pallet

In processes where finished goods have to be consolidated onto a pallet, automated palletizing can become part of the same intralogistics flow.

  1. End-of-line
  2. Stackbot / automated palletizing
  3. finished pallet
  4. AMR/AGV
  5. staging / warehouse

Stackbot builds the pallet, and the AMR/AGV system can pick the finished pallet up and continue the transport to the next logistics stage.

02 / Manufacturing

Continuous flow between production and internal logistics

In manufacturing, internal transport has to keep pace with production. Finished-goods pallet pickup, empty-pallet supply, feeding lines, cells, and machines, and WIP transfer all have to be coordinated so that materials arrive where they are needed, without waiting and without repetitive manual trips.

Manufacturing operations automated with mobile robots

Typical operational flow

Finished goods
  1. Production
  2. End-of-line
  3. Finished-goods pallet pickup
  4. Staging / warehouse
Empty-pallet supply
  1. Pallet magazine / warehouse location
  2. Empty pallet
  3. End-of-line
Production supply
  1. Warehouse / supermarket
  2. Line / Cell / Machine Feeding
  3. Production
WIP / transfer between sequences
  1. Production sequence A
  2. WIP / buffer
  3. Production sequence B

What we automate in the internal flow

Finished-goods pickup
AMR/AGV

Finished-goods pallets are picked up at end-of-line and moved to staging or to the warehouse.

Empty-pallet replenishment
AMR/AGV

End-of-line positions are replenished with empty pallets taken from the pallet magazine or from dedicated locations in the warehouse.

Production supply
AMR/AGV

Materials and components are moved from the supermarket or buffer to the lines, cells, and machines that consume them.

Transfer between production sequences
AMR/AGV

Work in progress is transferred between production sequences, cells, and buffer areas, at the rhythm the process requires.

When the flow reaches the pallet

At end-of-line, finished goods can be palletized automatically, and the resulting pallet can be picked up directly by the AMR/AGV system for the next logistics stage.

  1. End-of-line
  2. Stackbot / automated palletizing
  3. finished pallet
  4. AMR/AGV
  5. staging / warehouse

Stackbot builds the pallet, and the AMR/AGV system picks it up and continues the transport to staging or to the warehouse.

03 / 3PL & LOGISTICS

A predictable goods flow, from receiving to dispatch

In 3PL and logistics operations, pallets have to move between receiving, storage, the preparation areas, and dispatch at a rhythm set by volumes and priorities. AMR/AGV can take over the repetitive transport between these areas, reducing traffic from manually operated equipment and supporting a more predictable flow.

3PL and logistics operations automated with mobile robots

TYPICAL OPERATIONAL FLOW

INBOUND / PUT-AWAY
  1. Receiving
  2. Pallet pickup
  3. Put-away / storage
REPLENISHMENT
  1. Storage
  2. Pallet pickup
  3. Picking / preparation area
POST-PICKING / OUTBOUND
  1. Pallet prepared after picking
  2. AMR/AGV
  3. Automated / manual stretch wrapping
  4. Staging / loading
EMPTY PALLETS
  1. Empty-pallet stock
  2. AMR/AGV
  3. Point of use

WHAT WE AUTOMATE IN THE INTERNAL FLOW

PUT-AWAY
AMR/AGV

Received pallets are collected from inbound and moved to storage locations or storage areas.

REPLENISHMENT
AMR/AGV

Pallets are moved from storage to the picking areas, the preparation areas, or other points of use.

POST-PICKING / OUTBOUND
AMR/AGV

Pallets prepared after picking are collected and moved to automated or manual stretch wrapping, then on to staging and loading.

EMPTY-PALLET SUPPLY
AMR/AGV

Empty pallets are moved from their dedicated storage areas to the points where they are needed.

VALUE-ADDED SERVICES (VAS) & PALLETIZING

In 3PL operations that include value-added services (VAS) — packing, repacking, promotion preparation, repackaging, or other work on the products — automated palletizing can complete the preparation flow. The mobile robot moves the pallet that picking has already prepared; it does not perform the picking itself.

  1. VAS / packing / repacking
  2. Stackbot / automated palletizing
  3. finished pallet
  4. AMR/AGV
  5. stretch wrapping
  6. staging / loading
04 / FMCG & FOOD & BEVERAGE

Continuous flow from end-of-line to the warehouse

In FMCG and Food & Beverage, high volumes and a steady line rhythm make end-of-line critical to production continuity. Palletizing, empty-pallet supply, packaging materials feeding, and finished-goods pallet pickup have to be coordinated so the flow continues without accumulation or waiting between production and the warehouse.

FMCG and Food and Beverage operations automated with mobile robots

TYPICAL OPERATIONAL FLOW

FINISHED-GOODS PALLETS
  1. End-of-line
  2. Automated palletizing
  3. Finished-goods pallet pickup
  4. Staging / warehouse
EMPTY-PALLET SUPPLY
  1. Pallet magazine / warehouse
  2. Empty pallet
  3. Palletizing area
PACKAGING MATERIALS FEEDING
  1. Warehouse / supermarket
  2. Packaging materials
  3. Packaging / line

WHAT WE AUTOMATE IN THE INTERNAL FLOW

FINISHED-GOODS PALLET PICKUP
AMR/AGV

Finished-goods pallets are collected from the palletizing area or from end-of-line and moved to staging or to the warehouse.

EMPTY-PALLET SUPPLY
AMR/AGV

Empty pallets are taken from the pallet magazine or from dedicated storage locations and moved to the palletizing area.

PACKAGING MATERIALS FEEDING
AMR/AGV

Packaging materials — boxes, cartons, film, containers, and other packaging consumables — are moved from the warehouse or supermarket to packaging and to the line's points of consumption.

PALLETIZING AND END-OF-LINE CONTINUITY

Automated palletizing can take on the rhythm of the line and run directly in the same flow as the autonomous transport of finished-goods pallets.

  1. End-of-line
  2. Stackbot / automated palletizing
  3. finished pallet
  4. AMR/AGV
  5. staging / warehouse
COMPLEMENTARY FLOW
  1. Pallet magazine
  2. empty pallet
  3. palletizing area

The empty pallet enters the palletizing area, and the finished-goods pallet leaves for staging or the warehouse.

CONFIGURATIONS ADAPTED TO THE ENVIRONMENT

Stainless steel, where the application calls for it

For applications where the operating environment requires a specific construction, AMR/AGV solutions can be configured in stainless steel, according to the requirements of the project.

05 / ELECTRONICS

A controlled flow between production supply and the finished product

Electronics production involves large volumes of components, kits, containers, and products at different stages of completion. Automating internal transport can support the rhythmic feeding of production, the transfer between production sequences, and the movement of finished products to the next logistics stage.

Electronics operations automated with mobile robots

TYPICAL OPERATIONAL FLOW

LINE / CELL FEEDING
  1. Supermarket / buffer
  2. Components / kits
  3. Production line / cell
WIP
  1. Production sequence A
  2. WIP / buffer
  3. Production sequence B
FINISHED GOODS
  1. Production / test / packaging
  2. Finished-goods pickup
  3. Staging / warehouse

The load carrier varies with the process: containers, carts, racks, or pallets.

WHAT WE AUTOMATE IN THE INTERNAL FLOW

PRODUCTION SUPPLY
AMR/AGV

The components, kits, and materials the process needs are moved from the supermarket or buffer to the lines, the cells, and the points of consumption.

TRANSFER BETWEEN PRODUCTION SEQUENCES
AMR/AGV

Work in progress is transferred between production, test, and inspection sequences and the buffer areas.

FINISHED-GOODS PICKUP
AMR/AGV

Completed products are collected after production, test, or packaging and moved to staging, to the warehouse, or to the next logistics stage.

PALLETIZING, WHERE THE FLOW CALLS FOR IT

For flows where packaged products are consolidated onto a pallet, automated palletizing and finished-pallet pickup can be integrated into the same logistics sequence.

06 / PHARMA

Controlled flows, predictable transport, and configurations adapted to the environment

In pharma, internal transport has to fit into a rigorously defined process, with predictable movements of materials, WIP, and finished goods. The AMR/AGV solution can be configured to the requirements of the application and of the operating environment, including in stainless steel where that is required.

Controlled pharma operations with mobile robots

TYPICAL OPERATIONAL FLOW

PHARMA MANUFACTURING
PRODUCTION / PACKAGING FEEDING
  1. Stock / buffer
  2. Materials / components
  3. Production / packaging
WIP
  1. Production sequence A
  2. WIP / buffer
  3. Production sequence B
FINISHED GOODS
  1. Packaging
  2. Finished-goods pickup
  3. Staging / warehouse
FINISHED-GOODS PALLETS
  1. Secondary packaging
  2. Finished pallet
  3. AMR/AGV
  4. Staging / warehouse
PHARMA DISTRIBUTION
INBOUND / PUT-AWAY
  1. Receiving
  2. Pallet pickup
  3. Put-away / storage
REPLENISHMENT
  1. Storage
  2. Replenishment
  3. Order preparation area
OUTBOUND
  1. Order / prepared pallet
  2. AMR/AGV
  3. Staging / loading

WHAT WE AUTOMATE IN THE INTERNAL FLOW

PRODUCTION AND PACKAGING SUPPLY
AMR/AGV

The required materials and components are moved between the storage, production, and packaging areas.

TRANSFER BETWEEN PRODUCTION SEQUENCES
AMR/AGV

Work in progress is transferred under control between the stages of the process and the buffer areas.

FINISHED-GOODS PICKUP
AMR/AGV

Finished goods are collected after packaging and moved to staging, to the warehouse, or to the next logistics stage.

PALLET TRANSPORT
AMR/AGV

Pallets are moved between receiving, storage, the operational areas, and staging, according to the defined flow.

PALLETIZING IN PHARMA MANUFACTURING

In plants where secondary packaging ends with pallet building, automated palletizing can be integrated directly with autonomous transport to staging or to the warehouse.

  1. Secondary packaging
  2. Stackbot / automated palletizing
  3. finished pallet
  4. AMR/AGV
  5. staging / warehouse
CONFIGURATIONS ADAPTED TO THE ENVIRONMENT

Stainless steel, where the application calls for it

For applications that require a construction adapted to the operating environment, AMR/AGV solutions can be configured in stainless steel, according to the requirements of the project.

Shall we look at what kind of automation makes sense in your industry?

If you recognized your operation in one of the industries above, tell us your operational context. We will look together at where automation makes sense and which configuration suits the real process.

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SEE ALSO

Relevant pages

Mobile robots (AMR/AGV)

See the manufacturers in our portfolio and the transfer types we automate in the warehouse and in production.

See details

Automated palletizing

Explore the Stackbot solution for end-of-line automated palletizing and integration into production flows.

See details

Services

See how we approach selection, implementation, integration, and support for automation projects.

See details