Global industrial truck manufacturer, Linde Material Handling (MH), has partnered with robotics specialist, Balyo, to develop “Linde Robotics” providing technological solutions for automated industrial trucks.
The robots, automated by Balyo technology, work for standard Linde trucks and do not require navigation infrastructure such as laser reflectors, tracks or magnets. Instead, they use in-built autonomous laser-assisted technology to navigate around the warehouse, which relies on structural features such as walls, racks or columns and allows for quick installation.
As part of the technology, the warehouse is mapped and the data is converted into a two-dimensional picture. Warehouse routes are defined and robot missions are assigned. The vehicle, equipped with laser, processor unit and digitised map, is then able to locate itself in real time. Unlike other market solutions, the robots analyse their environment and can restart automatically.
Chief Sales Officer at Linde MH, Christophe Lautray, said: “Our aim was to extend our range of automation solutions to offer our customers solutions having different levels of complexity. With Balyo we were able to develop materials handling equipment to cooperate exclusively with Linde products so that we can now combine the best of both worlds. “Our plan is to integrate Balyo’s innovative technology into most of our products step by step, whilst utilising synergies in production and sales at the same time.”
Changes in the warehouse, missions or routes can be implemented at any time. The software suite, which connects the trucks to Warehouse Management System (WMS) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software and allows warehouse supervisors to control the robots via an intuitive user interface, ensures the truck is fully integrated in the warehouse environment.
The new robot fleet also comes with a security solution, which automatically restarts the truck once an obstacle has been removed.
CEO of Balyo, Fabien Bardinet, said: “Linde MH is the European market leader in industrial trucks offering great product knowledge and a densely knit consulting and service network. For us, Balyo is the ideal partner to create the most advanced automated trucks to serve best our mutual customers.”
For more information, visit www.linde.co.uk
