Heinemann invests €1m in Oslo driverless supply chain
By Doug Newhouse |
Gebr. Heinemann has introduced the world’s first automated, laser-controlled AGV (Automated Ground Vehicle) driverless transport system (SAGV) at Europe’s largest duty free and travel retail operation in Oslo Gardermoen Airport.
The new system has been designed to supply Heinemann’s two new duty free shops – with an area of 4,600sq m in the departure area of the airport – with around 11,000 SKU articles, including cigarettes, confectionery, wines and spirits, perfume and cosmetics, plus accessories.
‘HUGE’ INVESTMENT FOR A ‘HUGE’ OPERATION
As part of all this, the Hamburg-based retailer and wholesaler has invested nearly €1m ($1.1m) in this new technology to manage the company’s demanding product supply chain.
This comprises driverless ’journeys’ from the goods in receipt reception point at its on-airport warehouse to individual in-shop product line replenishment – a 500m distance negotiated by AGVs on multiple levels leading to Heinemann’s two large duty free shops in the international terminal departure areas.
The introduction of this new technology follows the completion of Oslo Airport’s terminal expansion earlier this year after Oslo’s airport operator Avinor agreed to a doubling of the sales area at Gardermoen.
Heinemann’s project partner at Oslo is E&K Automation, with the industrial engineering team at Gebr. Heinemann logistics conceiving the new transport system while the ‘experts in automated, laser-controlled AGVs’, E&K Automation configured the system’s forklifts.
At the same time, Heinemann was responsible for the overall concept planning and for the software with requirements for steering, navigation and safety that has transformed an AGV into an SAGV – known as a Secured Automated Ground Vehicle – and said to be the first of its kind.
‘DEMANDING LOGISTICAL REQUIREMENTS’
“We developed the SAGV solution for Oslo because of the demanding logistical requirements there and because the airport meets the structural requirements for this kind of innovative system,” said Marco Rebohm, Director of Logistics at Gebr. Heinemann.
“Every day we move a large volume of goods over the long distance of 500 metres and across different levels. We adapted the SAGV to this requirement. This increases our productivity and ensures the secure supply chain from the logistics centre to our shops.
“It also spares our employees particularly physically demanding work. We were able to incorporate their know-how into our technical planning and they can now take on new assignments in the shops and provide service to our customers.”
LOGISTICS CHALLENGE: NINE LORRIES A DAY
The logistics challenge at Oslo involves up to nine lorry deliveries a day at Oslo from the Gebr. Heinemann logistics centre in Hamburg-Allermöhe.
The company said: “The articles which are pre-commissioned on pallets, are manually unloaded at goods receipt and brought to 18 storage spaces equipped with sensors. These sensors then send a signal to the SAGVs, six of which will be used through the final expansion stage.
“The specially designed transport control system maintains constant contact with the vehicles at every point in the system. This ensures both optimal transport processes and the flow of materials. After receiving the signal, the SAGVs pick up the goods and bring them to the shops where they are unloaded at a holding area by employees and brought to the sales area.”
Interestingly, Heinemann adds that pallets on the SAGV are protected by an innovative sensor solution with a 360-degree light grid around them that detects and reports any access to the goods during transport through the supply channels.
IN-BUILT SENSOR SYSTEM
“If access is reported, the SAGV moves to one of the control points on the route so that the appropriate measures can be taken by a specially trained employee. The secure supply chain is ensured between the Gebr. Heinemann logistics centre in Hamburg to the Heinemann Duty Free Shops at Oslo Airport.”
Looking ahead to the end of the year, Heinemann’s Rebohm says the SGVs will also supply the world’s largest duty free arrivals shop, which opened at Oslo last year.
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