Automation for Everyone

For many companies, scalability is essential in today’s dynamic economy. Companies need to be able to adapt quickly to changing conditions and increasing requirements without losing control or efficiency. The scalable iGo automation solutions from our KION brand, STILL offer just that: a flexible, modular architecture that enables companies of all sizes to gradually build and expand their automation as needed.

In the 18th century, the Industrial Revolution marked a turning point in the history of mankind – the huge shift toward industrialization took its course. Steam power and mechanical machines fundamentally changed the production landscape and led to immense economic progress. But these advances were not achievable for everyone: Small businesses and craftsmen were often left out.

Almost two centuries later, in the age of the digital revolution, we are currently experiencing another paradigm shift. Advances in automation technology have revolutionized the way companies work. But this time there is one key difference: The innovative technology is not just reserved for large companies and global corporations. Thanks to scalable and simple automation solutions, such as those offered by our KION subsidiary STILL, even small and medium-sized enterprises can benefit from the advantages of automation. For example, imagine a small carpentry shop that becomes more efficient and competitive through automated machines. This is not a vision for the future, but a reality – a reality that was awarded the prestigious IFOY Award this year.

“Automating processes is becoming increasingly relevant for companies with smaller fleets. That is why availability and ease of use, as well reliable and flexible service are extremely important to us,” says Frank Müller, Senior Vice President Sales & Service Business Development at STILL. STILL’s iGo solutions and associated trucks, such as the automated STILL EXV iGo high lift pallet truck, represent an important new chapter. The extremely maneuverable truck, combined with the iGo easy solution, moves pallets weighing up to 1.6 tons quickly, safely, reliably, and completely autonomously through the warehouse – enabling small and medium-sized companies to start the automation process immediately. “Series production not only enables us to deliver and commission quickly, but also greatly simplifies support from our service team,” explains Dr. Andreas Kwiatkowski, Product Manager Automation & Intralogistics Solutions at STILL.

The key here is plug-and-play. Dick Van De Pas, KION Automated Solutions EMEA Validation Engineer, emphasizes the revolutionary potential of the solution in our interview: “It’s a whole new level of simplicity. Easy to implement, easy to expand – a standardized product.” The EXV iGo, an automated guided vehicle (AGV), comes directly from the KION plant in Châtellerault (France). The fleet manager can manage up to five trucks, which together can serve up to 100 pallet spaces.

“With the STILL iGo easy variant, companies can start small and expand the scope of the project to iGo systems as needed. The key advantage lies in the software architecture, which can be easily adapted, while the hardware – the trucks, in other words – remains unchanged,” explains Dr. Andreas Kwiatkowski.

Small companies that previously relied on manual processes can get started straight away with the iGo easy plug-and-play solution and the STILL EXV iGo. The truck can be easily and quickly integrated into existing processes – or commissioned from scratch in no time at all. “Installation is incredibly easy,” explains Dick Van De Pas. “You no longer need highly specialized experts to commission our trucks—completing a training course is sufficient.”

The technicians start assembling by the navigation targets and reflectors for navigation within the warehouse environment. As a result, the location can be surveyed to order to create navigation maps. The reflectors perform triangulation, but it is also possible to use building columns instead of reflectors to reduce installation costs. “Reflectors offer us a very high level of accuracy. The amount of reflectors to be installed depends on the size of the site,” explains Van De Pas. The simple commissioning process is cost-efficient and adaptable – ideal for medium-sized companies. According to Van De Pas: “The EXV iGo is cheaper, standardized, and available within three months instead of six months.” The reason for the rapid availability is the series production with standardized components in-house at the KION factories.

The fact that small and medium-sized companies can now also automate is news to many customers – because some experts still assume that AGVs, etc., are only suitable as a solution for large companies and global players. However, Dick Van De Pas believes that the new solutions not only make things easier for customers, but also for the STILL Sales team. “Up to now, every automation project has required extensive expert advice.” This hurdle is now significantly lower.

The STILL EXV iGo can be implemented quickly and reliably with iGo easy, without the need for special programming. A web interface and software, which can be easily configured on-site by the STILL technicians,

is all you need for commissioning. And what if growth follows and the customer suddenly needs higher capacities? “It’s easy to expand from iGo easy to iGo systems without losing data,” adds Dr. Andreas Kwiatkowski. But wait – what is the difference between the two systems?

“The iGo easy solution is ideal for small and medium-sized enterprises. It is quick to implement, does not require extensive programming, and can be easily configured without highly specialized experts,” explains Van De Pas. It includes software, a web interface, and the driverless transport system. iGo Systems, on the other hand, is the much more complex variant for customers with large fleets. “Here, different automated solutions interact with each other,” says Van De Pas. Stationary solutions such as the flexible iGo cube pallet shuttle warehouse work just as seamlessly with the system as the STILL MX-X iGo Very Narrow Aisle Truck or autonomous mobile robots, such as the STILL AXH iGo.

The idea of ‘automation for everyone’ also requires a special service concept, because even the best automation systems need regular maintenance and service in order to function reliably. STILL offers a strong nationwide service network with trained technicians. By standardizing the components of the automated trucks, we can also ensure high part availability via the central STILL spare parts supply and with the help of digital twins, software malfunctions can be rectified easily and on-site at the customer’s premises. The experienced automation experts at STILL ensure that every system always runs at maximum performance.

In various sectors, from food and beverage production to the automotive industry, e-commerce and retail, STILL iGo easy makes it possible to easily optimize logistics processes, increase efficiency, and flexibly adapt to changing market conditions. “Once the system is set up, layouts and additional floors can be easily added. Processes and product flows can be changed very easily. It’s so simple that anyone with some experience can do it themselves – and our STILL technicians don’t even have to be on-site to do it,” says Dick Van De Pas.

STILL’s solutions mark a milestone in the history of intralogistics. The EXV iGo and iGo easy make it easy to get started with automation by gradually automating simple and individual processes. The fact that the advantages of automation will no longer only be reserved for large companies in the future means a significant increase in competitiveness for small and medium-sized enterprises. A true game-changer!