Arvato Deploys More Robots from Nomagic in Dortmund

Arvato intensifies the targeted use of robots in its logistics centers. Following the successful implementation of several robot-assisted palletizing and depalletizing applications at various locations, the supply chain and e-commerce service provider is now deploying the robot item pick solution “justPick” from the Polish robotics specialist Nomagic as the next step in its comprehensive automation strategy.

(Dortmund/Gütersloh) At the Dortmund site, Arvato operates a distribution center for several fashion clients on an area of 30,000 square meters. As part of the pilot project “Autostore Port Picking” (ASPP), the “justPick” robot from Nomagic will be used for picking individual item orders from the fully automated Autostore warehouse. It is planned that after successful piloting, additional robots will follow and perform picking at the Autostore system in Dortmund. Currently, Arvato already operates ten Autostore systems worldwide and sees great potential for further scaling the robotic solution. Additional applications at shuttle warehouse workstations and for bag sorting loading are also in planning.

“The autonomous robot system enables us, with appropriate scaling, to respond more flexibly and with shorter lead times to our customers’ requirements by continuously processing customer orders—especially during late and night shifts,” says Axel Mayer, President Lifestyle Fashion & Sports at Arvato.

Automatic Provisioning of Goods

At the Dortmund site, Arvato is taking another step towards a fully automated order fulfillment process with the automatic provisioning of goods through the Autostore system and the automatic picking by the robot. “Nomagic was the only supplier that could represent both the pick process for order fulfillment and the returns replenishment process without changing the existing infrastructure,” explains Christoph Echelmeyer, Vice President Operations and site manager. With the “justPick” robot, not only are customer orders fulfilled, but the Autostore facility is also replenished.

All automation solutions, whether robotics, goods-to-person, AGV, or packaging solutions, are designed by Arvato not as standalone solutions whenever possible, but always in the context of its own “Warehouse Automation Toolbox (WAT).” “We place great value on solutions with a high degree of modularity and flexibility. This approach is further driven by our high diversification and positioning in various business areas such as high-tech, healthcare, and consumer products with their wide range of different items. From our perspective, Nomagic’s “justPick” solution particularly contributes to these points,” explains Markus Billmann, Senior Expert Process Automation and Future Warehouse Team at Arvato. Nomagic has been able to convince Arvato through a multitude of already implemented systems that are very close to the application case of the pilot project and the subsequent projects.

Autonomous Switching of Suction and Gripper Tools

The “justPick” robot is equipped with a gripper tool changer that enables the autonomous switching of different suction and gripper tools during the container change at the carousel port of the Autostore system. This not only increases the potential throughput of the system, as downtime or idle times are effectively minimized, but it also increases the number of pickable items on the hardware side, positively impacting the future viability and scalability of the system in terms of third-party usability. Markus Billmann: “This flexibility is extremely important to us in the dynamic environment in which we operate as a 3PL service provider.”

Photo: © Nomagic