Kardex Mlog Relies on Remote Maintenance and Offers It for Third Parties

The intralogistics provider Kardex Mlog has further optimized maintenance and repair for automated warehouses and is relying more than ever on remote procedures. In over 96 percent of cases, remote maintenance with the concept implemented by Kardex Mlog leads to success, increasing system availability. The Life Cycle Service concept, consisting of six service modules, is also offered by the company based in Neuenstadt for systems from other providers.

(Neuenstadt)The Life Cycle Service accompanies logistics systems throughout their entire lifespan, ensures maximum reliability, and keeps technology up to date. Customers can configure a tailored maintenance concept from six service modules. In the Support Services module, Kardex Mlog offers on-site repairs or remote diagnostics, supported by augmented reality. A standby service and a 24/7 hotline complete the offering. Other service modules focus on spare parts, training and consulting, predictive maintenance, service agreements, and safety. This includes not only the UVV inspections, the DGUV-V3 inspection, compliance with accident prevention regulations, and safety training, but also the annually required shelf inspections according to EN 15635. Shelf inspections often reveal deficiencies that need to be addressed immediately. In the event of damage, warehouse managers face high fines and criminal consequences if people are injured due to inadequately secured shelves. “We offer our customers a comprehensive service with just one central contact person for the entire system,” emphasizes Rainer Busch, head of the Life Cycle Service department and a member of the management board of Kardex Mlog. Against this background and due to positive customer feedback, his team also takes over the technical service of systems that were not built by Kardex Mlog.

Potential of Remote Procedures

The potential of remote procedures has been recognized early by Kardex Mlog as one of the first providers of integrated material flow systems and high-bay warehouses and has been consistently expanded and developed since then. The warehouse automation specialist has implemented several hundred solutions for remote maintenance since 1997. Today, 75 percent of support services for automated warehouses are already conducted remotely. “In the future, this share could rise to 80 to 90 percent,” Busch is convinced. The presence of external service technicians in the warehouse is therefore only rarely required. Drivers of this development include the increasing networking of systems, especially concerning Industry 4.0 and the associated Smart Service Solutions from Kardex Mlog. However, the development also depends on the qualification of the employees at the system operator. If a hardware defect is diagnosed during remote maintenance, some parts can be replaced by the customer themselves in close coordination with the hotline, but also with the help of augmented reality, provided they have the necessary basic knowledge. By contributing their own efforts, maintenance costs for automated warehouses can be significantly reduced, which Kardex Mlog actively promotes with the service module “Training / Optimization / Consulting.” In addition to operator training, the company also offers maintenance training and system training for logistics management.

About Kardex Mlog

Kardex Mlog, based in Neuenstadt am Kocher, is one of the leading providers of integrated material flow systems and high-bay warehouses. The company has more than 50 years of experience in planning, implementing, and maintaining fully automated logistics solutions. The three business areas of new systems, modernization, and customer service rely on in-house manufacturing in Neuenstadt. Kardex Mlog is part of the Kardex Group and employs 300 people, with a revenue of 79 million euros in 2019.
Photo: © Kardex Mlog / Caption: In over 96 percent of cases, remote maintenance with the concept implemented by Kardex Mlog leads to success. www.kardex.com      www.kardex-mlog.de