ek robotics Archives

AGVs for Supply and Disposal of Printing Machines

Posted on 4 November, 202429 July, 2025 by David Priestman

More and more companies are relying on automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in intralogistics to increase efficiency and meet challenges such as a shortage of skilled workers. This is also the case at GGP Media GmbH in Pößneck, Thuringia, which produces high-quality print and digital publications.

AGVs as a solution for skills shortages and increased efficiency

In view of the shortage of skilled workers and rising costs, GGP Media decided to use an AGV in March 2024, which has been in 24-hour operation ever since. Previously, material transportation in production was carried out manually, which led to a bottleneck: “We were having increasing problems finding skilled workers and therefore had to look for future-proof alternatives,” reports Matthias Stumpf, Head of Intralogistics at GGP Media. “Rising labour costs and the shortage of skilled workers made the use of an AGV increasingly attractive in order to find a reliable and efficient solution without additional personnel costs.”

Tailor-made solution for 24/7 operation

A material flow simulation was carried out before the AGV was implemented. This provided important insights into the optimum number of vehicles and potential bottlenecks in the layout. The aim was to automate the transport processes between the printing presses and the high-bay warehouse. To meet GGP Media’s requirements, ek robotics developed a concept with three driverless transport vehicles from the modular VARIO MOVE series. These vehicles are equipped with shortened forks and counterweights to pick up the finished goods on europallets and transport them safely to the transfer stations of the high-bay warehouse.

Automation to optimize logistics processes

The automation project at GGP Media shows that AGVs are an efficient and future-proof solution for overcoming challenges in intralogistics. Even with complex, tightly timed processes and limited space, the integration of automated guided vehicles offers an efficient way to improve the material flow. GGP Media’s experience shows that automated systems not only lead to an increase in costs and efficiency but can also be easily integrated into existing working environments.

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ek robotics’ New Commissioning & Layout Engineer

Home Fitness Warehouse Automated

Posted on 20 February, 202425 July, 2025 by David Priestman

The retail company Sport-Tiedje is automating its new logistics centre with driverless transport systems from ek robotics. In Osterrönfeld near Rendsburg, nine transport robots from the VARIO MOVE series and four fully automated VNA MOVE narrow-aisle forklift trucks will optimize the home fitness expert’s transport and warehouse processes.

A small sports store in the center of Schleswig has developed into Europe’s leading home fitness specialist over the past decades. Sport-Tiedje GmbH employs around 700 people in 10 European countries. Due to the company’s strong growth, the previous central warehouse in Büdelsdorf reached its capacity limits. The dimensions of the new central warehouse in Osterrönfeld near Rendsburg are correspondingly future-oriented: Over 51,000 m² of warehouse space offers room for order picking, storage and handling of goods. The driverless transport system from Hamburg-based manufacturer.

North German partnership

ek robotics ensures efficient warehouse automation with decades of high availability. The automated guided vehicle fleet comprises nine vehicle models from the modular VARIO MOVE L series, which are responsible for linking incoming goods, order picking and outgoing goods. The high-bay warehouse will also be operated automatically in future and will contribute to an efficient material flow between the areas. The four fully automated narrow-aisle stackers will store and retrieve pallets precisely in the high-bay warehouse with 30 aisles and a length of 80 m each. “The AGV from ek robotics will support the staff on site and significantly improve processes in the central warehouse,” says Christian Grau, Managing Director of Sport-Tiedje.

Warehouse Automated

ek robotics is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and system integrators of innovative high-tech transport robotics for production and warehouse logistics. At five locations worldwide (Hamburg, Germany, headquarters), Reutlingen (Germany), Milan (Italy), Prague (Czech Republic) and Buckingham (UK), the transport robotics specialist with over 300 employees creates intelligent, networked and flexible transport solutions for the fully automated, internal material flow of its globally active customers.

ek robotics’ New Commissioning & Layout Engineer

Posted on 2 March, 202331 July, 2025 by David Priestman

ek robotics are delighted to welcome Simon Kirby to the UK team as the new Commissioning & Layout Engineer. Simon (pictured) brings with him a wealth of experience, having previously spent 8 years working in the Materials Handling Equipment industry.

In his previous role, after four years as a Service Engineer, he progressed into the Logistics Solutions Department where he specialised in commissioning Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs).

“I am really pleased to be joining the ek robotics team and I can’t wait to get started,” commented Simon. “My role here will be based nationwide across the UK and in Ireland, where I will be heavily involved in the designing, implementation, and installation of AGV systems for our customers.”

He added: “I had a wonderful 8 years or so at my previous employer and I leave very happy with my time there, however, the opportunity to come to ek robotics was too good to turn down. The company is accustomed to a wide, diverse range of AGVs which I am excited to be involved in, but I’m also looking forward to contributing to the continued growth and success of ek robotics.”

Chris Price, Managing Director of ek robotics UK, said: “We are thrilled to have Simon as part of the team, and we are looking forward to having his skillset within the business. We wanted to bring someone on board who had solid experience and Simon has that in abundance – I’m sure he will be an excellent addition to the team.”

ek robotics is a leading manufacturer and system integrator of innovative high-tech transport robotics for production and warehouse logistics. At six locations in Europe (Rosengarten, Germany, Headquarters), Reutlingen (Germany), Milan (Italy), Prague (Czech Republic), Buckingham (UK), and Budapest (Hungary), the transport robotics specialist with more than 300 employees creates intelligent, networked and flexible transport solutions for the fully automated, in-plant material flow of its global customers. With more than 60 years of experience in design, development, manufacturing, integration, turnkey delivery, and support throughout the entire lifecycle of automated guided vehicles (AGVs), ek robotics is among the technical elite in this fast-growing industry of the future.

AGV System for Irish Chemical Industry

Posted on 9 January, 202329 July, 2025 by David Priestman

ek robotics has announced an automation and logistics deal with Chemco Group. The company will realize the automation of the central warehouse in Dublin with three different types of transport robots.

Chemco Ireland Limited is a comprehensive chemical solutions provider. They work in partnership with some of the world’s largest companies, providing expertise, world-class efficiency, and transparent operations. With the goal of making the intralogistics processes in the central warehouse in Dublin more cost-efficient, the family-owned company chose an automated guided vehicle (AGV) system from ek robotics. In 2024, a transport robot fleet of nine AGVs will be used in the central warehouse. Four SMART MOVE narrow-aisle trucks, three VARIO MOVE and one HEAVY MOVE as well as another VARIO MOVE for the new building at the Dublin site will be responsible for the automated storage and retrieval of goods in the existing racking system in a three-shift system with transfer heights of 10 meters.

“We were looking at ways to make our warehouse logistics more cost-efficient, while maintaining our smooth and quality distribution and storage for our clients. We decided that automation was the way to go, and we had discussions with ek robotics. Since then, we haven’t looked back and we’re looking forward to the implementation of the Automated Guided Vehicles”, says Jamie McDonald, Operations Manager at Chemco. Graham German, Project Director at ek robotics UK, said: “This project has been a completely collaborative partnership and we have thoroughly enjoyed working alongside Chemco to reach the perfect automated solution. We expect all our trucks to arrive on site at Chemco in around a year’s time at the end of 2023, with the fully automated operation commissioned and in action towards 2024.” Chris Price, Managing Director of ek robotics UK, added: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with Chemco. We love challenges, which is why we wanted to get involved in the chemical industry – something we haven’t done before in the UK business – whilst also working with an excellent company such as Chemco. “We’re glad that Chemco have not only chosen automation, but they’ve also chosen to partner with ek robotics. This is another great step forward for our business.”

About ek robotics

ek robotics is the world’s leading manufacturer and system integrator of innovative high-tech transport robotics for production and warehouse logistics. At five locations in Europe (Rosengarten, Germany, headquarters), Reutlingen (Germany), Milan (Italy), Prague (Czech Republic) and Buckingham (UK), the transport robotics specialist with more than 300 employees creates intelligent, networked and flexible transport solutions for the fully automated, in-plant material flow of its global customers. With 60 years of experience in design, development, manufacturing, integration, turnkey delivery, and support throughout the entire lifecycle of automated guided vehicles (AGVs), ek robotics is among the technical elite in this fast-growing industry of the future.