Werner Weißböck is your contact
for modernisation matters

“Automated intra-logistics” might be a new terminology, but the corresponding solutions and systems have been available for many years. Change in the logistics and supply chain requirements of businesses will have certainly taken place since the realisation of many conveyor and storage systems were designed and implemented. Increased article ranges and throughput rates, shorter lead times, higher energy costs, lower fault tolerances or changing packing units and sizes pose a major challenge for many out-of-date systems. Move or improve? The decision for many is to choose between a relocation project and install a completely new system or to adapt their existing logistics solution and incorporate appropriate technology and automation to create the space, capacity and performance to meet the demands of the current and future business model.

TGW - A One-Stop Service

“Modernisation is like open-heart surgery“, says P Werner Weißböck who is responsible for modernisation projects at TGW Systems Integration. “Precise scheduling is a prerequisite during the implementation phase to ensure that your existing logistics operations are not interrupted.” At TGW an experienced team, skilled in the delivery of “brownfield” implementations, works to tight timescales and often outside normal working hours to guarantee no disruption to the warehouse production. “A major advantage is that we offer a one-stop service, providing the necessary control to the delivery schedule and the required deadlines.

TGW supplies software and controls as well as all the mechanical components for conveyor, automated pallet de-layering and pallet building, sortation and storage systems“, Werner Weißböck explains.

Every modernisation and upgrade project is different. The possible options range from IT and control upgrades to avoid obsolescence or increase performance to a complete redesign and retrofit including replacement and extension of mechanical system components. But in all cases it is a matter of tapping into the full potential of the resource. Increasing the availability, performance and energy efficiency, making the capacities more flexible and improving the functions and processes to improve operability with better ergonomics are all important reasons and motivation for modernising an intra-logistics system.

From IT Update To Total Retrofit

IT updates require the least intrusive surgery. Our approach is to review the whole control system and supply chain software, update and adapt it to meet the requirements of the logistics processes. Often a small investment in time and effort can provide significant improvements. “Special attention has to be paid to the hardware sector”, Werner Weißböck points out. “The implementation of a new server platform with high-availability clusters provides considerable advantages with respect to system stability and data security and delivers a higher service level.”

However, it may be that the existing operation requires major surgery. These projects typically have higher demands in time and effort. “In such cases we may update or renew mechanical components as well as the controls and software. This may include the conveyor elements, storage devices and the drive motors“, says Werner Weißböck. TGW attaches great importance to a more efficient energy management policy. High energy-consuming elements are replaced by energy-efficient motors and drive components in order to reduce consumption and cost.

Scope of Services: Analysis – Planning – Realisation – Support & Service

TGW Systems Integration pays particular attention to the planning phase in all modernisation projects. An “expert” team is convened; it is vital that this team includes members from the client’s operation. One of the first tasks is to undertake an analysis of the current situation and compare it to the current and future demands of the business. This process helps to define the optimum scope of the measures to be taken and just how intrusive the surgery needs to be. “It is rather a matter of finding the right scope of modernisation measures that provides the best cost-benefit ratio.”

TGW Systems Integration has recently experienced an increasing trend toward modernisation and retrofit enquiries. More and more companies are discovering that to “improve and not move” is a more cost-effective option. Customers such as electrical installation specialist Wieland Electric, international stainless steel products manufacturer Voestalpine Stahl and German high-tech automotive part provider ZF Lenksysteme have already benefited from working with TGW in improving and modernising their intra-logistics systems and there are many more opportunities in the pipeline.