As a "company within the company", CLAAS Industrietechnik is responsible for axles, transmissions, corn crackers as well as hydraulic and electrical components. One particularly innovative product range is the continuously variable transmission variants developed in-house for CLAAS tractors and the TERRA TRAC crawler tracks for CLAAS combine harvesters and forage harvesters. In order to provide their employees with the best possible support in their tasks for the various assemblies, the company has always focussed on suitable technological solutions in production. The result: A well-known consistently high CLAAS product quality.

Watch PART 1 of our Case Study on YouTube now:

Project preparation (testing with verification of system requirements / device selection) & project start

Watch PART 2 of our Case Study on YouTube now:

Process "Central parts washing plant" & special features/requirements (I); storage concept

Watch PART 3 of our Case Study on YouTube now:

Process "Central parts washing plant" & special features/requirements (II); "Chip removal" process

Watch PART 4 of our Case Study on YouTube now:

Results & key project added value by means of customized intralogistics automation

Watch PART 5 of our Case Study on YouTube now:

System security: Collaborative interactions with employees & technical solutions for specific systemic interactions with the existing production environment

Watch PART 6 of our Case Study on YouTube now:

Summary & final reasons for selecting the Robotize AMR / Technical development during the project / Status quo & outlook

By integrating the Robotize fleet into a production facility that had grown historically in terms of processes and was therefore very cramped in terms of space, it was possible to significantly increase operational efficiency - without major interventions in the existing work processes or far-reaching infrastructural adjustments - through the direct removal of filled pallet cages and goods carriers. Before automation, the parts regularly remained in the production hall until the next processing step, but now there is adequate space available for productive activities at workstations that are always tidy and the workflow for employees has been significantly improved.

By integrating the Robotize fleet into a production facility that had grown historically in terms of processes and was therefore very cramped in terms of space, it was possible to significantly increase operational efficiency - without major interventions in the existing work processes or far-reaching infrastructural adjustments - through the direct removal of filled pallet cages and goods carriers. Before automation, the parts regularly remained in the production hall until the next processing step, but now there is adequate space available for productive activities at workstations that are always tidy and the workflow for employees has been significantly improved.

Collaborative safety at the interfaces between humans and robots is ensured at all times in all processes. Based on the Robotize onboard proximity sensors and laser scanners, the Robotize AMRs adjust their speed according to the situation and slow down to a stop when the paths become narrower or when they approach people, forklift trucks and other obstacles. In the event of path blockages, the individual devices are able to search for the most suitable alternative routes to continue the current mission based on a careful mapping of the factory floor during the installation process.

Communication has also been conveniently designed so that employees can initiate a robot mission by simply pressing a call button at their workstation, thereby initiating a collection or delivery order. Clear digital status displays on various end devices ensure maximum transparency and a complete overview. The communication of the robots with the production environment has also been solved in detail during integration by mR MOBILE ROBOTS. Gates, for example, can be controlled by the Robotize devices via I-O-Boxes and opened automatically by a corresponding signal if they do not open under sensor control for operational reasons. Based on the I-O-Boxes, the robots also trigger visual signals - such as warning or information signals - as required.