IFOY Audit
Finalists undergo the three-stage IFOY Audit as part of the IFOY Audit, which takes place during the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS. This consists of the scientific IFOY Innovation Check, the IFOY Test and the jury test.
Smart Pallet Mover (SPM)
Interroll Group
The Interroll Smart Pallet Mover (SPM) increases productivity and safety in manufacturing logistics significantly by automating the last mile of production in a new way.
Product name and company
Smart Pallet Mover (SPM) – Interroll Group
Category
Special of the Year
Description
SPM is a new, mobile robotics solution for the automation of pallet transport in the areas of production machines and order picking.
- It is designed to transport pallets or boxes weighing up to 1000 kilograms.
- The flexible and scalable solution represents a mobile and autonomously operating transport system that can be used, for example, as an efficient enhancement of static conveyors.
- SPM consists of non-driven conveyors, a battery-operated unit on rails, a transfer and an online tool to program the system and interface with other machines.
- The system autonomously moves modular conveyor units with pallets or boxes and can replace forklifts e.g. in safety relevant working areas.
- Due to its digital connectivity and intrinsic safety setup, SPM is capable of working collaboratively in human and machine environments.
- The modular solution it can be seamlessly combined with other components of a material flow system and integrated in existing IT environments of a modern smart factory.
- A web-based configurator with a user centered interface offers highly convenient planning of SPM installations.
Innovations
The Interroll Smart Pallet Mover (SPM) is a completely new development. It offers users an automation solution for areas of the material flow process in which comparable technologies were not available before.
The design is based on a disruptive concept that splits the functions “Carrying” and “Driving”. This allows a simple modular mechanical structure where drive and control abilities are mutualised on a robot all along the conveyor.
Moving autonomously modular conveyor units with pallets or boxes SPM replaces manual processes which needed so far to be carried out by hand or by fork lifts.
Market relevance
- On a global scale worldwide shipments of warehousing and logistics robots will grow from 194,000 (2018) to 938,000 (by 2022). But the average degree of automation of internal material handling in medium-sized companies in Germany is only at an upgradable level 53 percent.
- Not even one in five companies (19 percent) achieves a level of automation of over 75 percent for these processes.
Nearly one in 10 companies (9 percent) has been very reluctant to invest in these processes and has an automation level of just under 25 percent. - For pallet conveyor technology companies consider robustness (58 percent), simple operation (53 percent) and high-tech design (35 percent) as the most important requirements.
(Source: Survey commissioned by Interroll and conducted by the agency Faktenkontor (Hamburg). A total of 200 production companies in Germany were surveyed by telephone in 2019. The focus was on companies with 50 to 500 employees and a turnover of up to 500 million euros) - The economic burden of poor occupational safety is estimated at 3,94 % of global GDP each year (Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), 2019
Customer benefits
The SPM empowers customers to integrate automated smart handling solutions in predictive budget, short notice, while ensuring flexibility and scalability in operation.
Increase in productivity:
Automatic material supply of machines
No downtime due to manual activities
Up to 30 percent productivity increase
Work safety:
Keeps workers away from unsafe areas
Reduces the risks of accidents
Intuitive controls:
Simple initial setup and configuration
Online Configuration Tool
Seamless integration:
Easy integration into existing IT-environments and SOA-installations
Wi-Fi connection to IOT-Hubs within a smart factory
Flexible Scalable and modular:
Easily adaptable to site conditions
Seamless cooperation with AGVs
Ease of installation:
Low-cost, plug and play installation
No interruptions of production processes
Versatile and intelligent:
Self-optimizing controls
Makes preventive maintenance possible
Durable and robust:
Proven, reliable product
Robust, durable construction
Test report
The Interroll Smart Pallet Mover, or SPM for short, is a new robotic solution that was developed for manufacturing logistics but also offers advantages in other intralogistics environments, such as order picking or sequencing activities.
The logistical handling around processing machines such as laser cutting machines and press brakes is often not or hardly automated. The SPM changes this.
The design is based on a novel concept that separates the “carrying” and “drive” functions. This enables a simple modular mechanical design that combines the drive and control functions for the entire conveyor on one robot.
The SPM is designed to transport and buffer pallets or boxes weighing up to 1000 kilograms. It consists of four main components: a non-driven roller conveyor section, a battery-powered unit on rails, a transfer and an intuitive online tool for programming the system and connecting it to other machines. The mobile, autonomous conveyor system is flexible and scalable and can be used, for example, as an efficient extension of static roller conveyors.
The desired configuration can be configured entirely online, with costs and budgeting clear in advance. The final solution is then delivered plug & play, implemented and adjusted. An implementation time of only two to three days is possible, according to Interroll.
The control system is self-optimising and enables optimal planning of preventive maintenance or prioritisation of tasks. Downtime caused by manual tasks is a thing of the past. According to Interroll, productivity increases of up to 30 percent are possible. Another advantage is that no super-flat floor is required. Since the mover runs on a rail and the feet can be easily adjusted, the system can also be used in existing, less flat environments.
With its digital connectivity and intrinsic safety settings, the SPM works effortlessly in both manual and automated environments. Workers no longer need to go near unsafe areas, reducing the risk of accidents. A significant plus is that no fencing is required. Even if there is a fence, for example for a laser cutting machine, it does not interfere with the SPM.
IFOY Test Verdict
With the SPM, Interroll enables automation where it has rarely been used before: upstream of production logistics. Waiting times and downtimes make way for just-in-time delivery and intelligent buffering. The Interroll Smart Pallet Mover significantly increases productivity and safety in production environments by automating in a completely new way.
IFOY Innovation Check
Market relevance
The new development “Smart Pallet Mover” is seen as a possible component for serving the growing demand for automation in pallet handling and picking. The simple software-supported realization of large handling stations as well as the saving of previously necessary components leads to the expectation of a cost-benefit advantage, which is to be assessed as a high market relevance overall.
Customer benefit
For users, the flexibility as well as the possible cost advantage are in the focus. A decisive component is the associated software, which enables planning and control of the system. This enables the user himself to adapt the system to different logistical tasks and parameters without much effort. The system performance can be tested via an integrated simulation. Another positive aspect is the high-performance level d achieved in accordance with ISO 13849, which makes fencing of the handling area unnecessary.
Novelty
The completely newly developed Smart Pallet Mover solution already has a high degree of novelty as such. The following aspects represent the main innovations. The robot moving underneath the roller tracks, which provides the drive for the rollers via a “friction chain”, is an innovative solution. Conventional roller drives are completely eliminated, which not only simplifies the installation of the system. The position of the pallets is also detected from below through the roller conveyor during the process by a total of 16 sensors on the robot, which ensures that the traversing motion is controlled. A web-based uniform software solution makes contemporary simple setup and control of the Smart Pallet Mover possible.
Functionality / type of implementation
The functionality could be impressively demonstrated on the test setup. The movements of the robot during the target approaches appear smooth and good. Due to the inertia of the goods, the readjustment of the robot can be observed during simultaneous driving and moving. Requirement for a successful regulation, is the function of the sensors, which detect the pallets through the roller conveyor. Unfavorably rough ambient conditions with dirt and small interfering objects may cover the sensors and negatively influence the operation.
| Functionality / type of implementation | ++ |
| Novelty / Innovation | ++ |
| Customer benefits | ++ |
| Market relevance | + |
| ++ very good / + good / Ø balanced / – less / — not available | |
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Image/video credits: Interroll Group
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Statutes
In den Statuten sind die Grundwerte und die Standards des IFOY AWARD festgelegt, nach denen die Organisation handelt. Dazu gehören unter anderem Gremien, Wahlomodus, Bewertungskriterien sowie der Code of Conduct.
Committees
The International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year has three bodies: Jury, sponsors, and advisory board.