Award for Robotics Solution
SSI Schaefer received the IFOY Award 2022, the “Oscar of intralogistics”, in the category “Integrated Warehouse Solution” for a pallet system solution. The system is in use for the furniture retailer IKEA.
Flat Pack Picking is an automated and turnkey system solution from a single source for efficient pallet assembly for furniture online retailing as well as for store deliveries. The concept, developed by SSI Schäfer in collaboration with Inter IKEA Group, Supply Chain Development, Intralogistics, is already in operation in Germany. Now, the solution convinced at this year’s IFOY Award (International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year Award) and took 1st place in the market comparison in the category “Integrated Warehouse Solution”.
The award-winning flat-pack picking solution was jointly designed by SSI Schäfer and Inter IKEA Group, Supply Chain Development, Intralogistics. Thanks to the fully automated system solution from a single source, IKEA now benefits from efficient pallet assembly for store deliveries. A total of four gantry robots handles heavy and large items, relieving employees of less ergonomic tasks and ensuring constant, transparent flows of goods. The gantry robots and grippers were developed by RO-BER Industrieroboter GmbH, a subsidiary of SSI Schäfer. For the successful implementation, the intralogistics specialist received the IFOY Award in the category “Integrated Warehouse Solution”.
The IFOY Award honors the best intralogistics solutions of the respective year. Suppliers had the opportunity to enter their products and system solutions online for the competition in a total of 13 categories. The products and solutions nominated by an international jury for the final went through various tests during the IFOY Test Days, including the IFOY Test Protocol comprising around 80 criteria and the scientific IFOY Innovation Check. A total of 25 jury members from 19 countries gave their assessment based on the test results. The winners were finally announced in Munich as part of the IFOY Award Night at the end of June 2022.
“The project shows how we take on our customers’ challenges and develop and implement innovative logistics solutions collaborating with them for a more ergonomic working environment and improved productivity,” said Notker Steigerwald, Head of Business Unit Logistics Solutions at SSI Schäfer.
IKEA and its employees benefit directly from the increased performance and automated processes. “The cooperation with SSI Schäfer was also consistently positive in this pilot project,” says Julien Weiß, Automation & Design Leader at Inter IKEA Group, Supply Chain Development, Intralogistics. “Especially the partnership approach lived by both sides contributed to the success.” Inter IKEA Group reserves the option to roll out the innovative system to other locations and IKEA stores. The Flat Pack Picking solution is fundamentally of interest to online furniture retailers but could also be transferred to other industries where large-volume and bulky goods are handled, such as windows or wood/metal blanks.
