ifm choses Schreiner ProTech labels for robotized logistics

Electronics logistics provider ifm has invested in Schreiner ProTech’s ((rfid))-DistaFerr ESD LongRange labels to allow driverless Automated Mobile Robots (AMRs) to quickly and accurately find, deliver and digitally track all warehoused items at its facility in Germany.

For ifm, it is critical that its AMRs work efficiently when locating an item or finding its intended intra-facility destination.

Each AMR travels approximately 30 kilometers per day, placing emphasis not only on finding and transporting the correct item, but doing so with the least-possible lag time.

At each stop, an AMR passes a special rack system where the scheduled container can be dropped off and a new one picked up. Information on where and when to deliver an item is conveyed digitally, lending to optimal capacity utilization.

Among the common challenges in such a setting are electrostatic discharge (ESD) containers, which have antistatic elements that adversely affect RFID functionality.

Schreiner ProTech’s ((rfid))-DistaFerr ESD LongRange Labels are specially adapted to thrive even on ESD surfaces.

For ifm, the result has been seamless interaction between marking, identification, and digitalization. The company is enjoying 99 percent delivery accuracy – especially impressive considering that its 155,000 customers worldwide generate around 1.3 million purchase orders per year.

‘It was crucial for all containers to be uniquely marked and automatically identifiable,’ said Ulrich Beller, lean manager for ifm. ‘The RFID labels were the key to this use case. As a result of now having combined two steps in one process we benefit from massive time savings and increase in efficiency.’

‘((rfid))-DistaFerr ESD LongRange is not exactly a niche product, but has been developed for a specific use case, that is for application to ESD materials,’ said Katharina Totev, RFID product manager at Schreiner ProTech. ‘However, what makes this all-in-one solution unique is the combination of our marking and the AMR from ifm.’