Sterile supply with AGVs from Ek Robotics23 May 2025
A German medical technology company has modernised its intralogistics - with an individually tailored overall automated guided vehicle (AGV) concept from Ek Robotics.
The goal is a consistently safe, efficiently timed material flow along the entire process chain - from sterilisation to storage.
The company has been relying on AGVs for years and decided to expand and replace outdated systems in 2023. Three existing systems from a competitor were replaced by transport robots from the Heavy Move series from Ek Robotics. These now handle storage and retrieval in a total of six sterilisation chambers, where sensitive medical devices are treated with gaseous sterilants. Thanks to four fork arms, the vehicles can transport two pallets at the same time – an advantage for maintaining the tight cycle times in the sterilization process. In addition, a new system has been put into operation that intelligently links the interfaces between sterilisation, post-conditioning, and automated storage.
As part of the deal, 12 Vario Move vehicles with fork adjustment and counterweights ensure the automated transportation of the reprocessed medical products - on two levels and in 24/7 operation. The route, which is around 500 meters long, runs through particularly narrow structural conditions and requires the utmost precision in navigation. The time-critical transfer takes place at a total of 20 post-conditioning chambers, each with three buffer lanes: a maximum of 60 minutes is available for each batch. A material flow simulation carried out in advance ensured the cycle accuracy of the processes. Three additional vehicles organise the transfer to the storage area. The semi-automated system is said to increase operational efficiency, reduces staff workload and creates the conditions for further growth - with maximum process reliability and economic scalability.
Ben Spencer
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