The Spinner Group is a provider in the field of high-frequency technology. Headquartered in Munich and with production facilities in Germany, Hungary and China, it employs more than 800 people. At the Westerham site near Munich, the components, software modules and safety technology of the now 22-year-old logistics system no longer met current standards. In addition, some spare parts were barely available. The automated small parts warehouse is the central hub that connects two production halls via a conveyor bridge and three floors. After a detailed cost-benefit analysis, those responsible decided on a comprehensive retrofit.

Mechanical components of the old system in good condition

The first step: Klinkhammer carried out an inventory to identify system-critical products that could have an impact on the ongoing operation of the system. An individual retrofit concept was created on this basis. "Good preparation and structuring of the planning pays off," explains Harald Dirnaichner, Logistics Project Manager at Spinner GmbH. "Thanks to the overall good mechanical condition of the old system and the careful maintenance by Klinkhammer, we decided on a retrofit based on a comprehensive analysis. This enabled us to implement a future-proof warehouse modernization that saved us from having to invest in a new logistics system."

During the retrofit, mechanical, electrical and PLC components of the logistics system were replaced in order to bring the system up to the current state of the art. The replacement of the control technology not only included technical components, but also the PLC programming, the traveling control cabinet and the travel and hoist motors of the container storage and retrieval machines as well as their load handling devices with telescopes and belt drives. The latest version of the Klinkvision system visualization was also installed during the renewal of the control technology. This should enable the cause of faults to be identified more quickly in future and eliminated by remote diagnosis. The next step planned is to migrate the warehouse management software to a new software version.