"Several projects have already been realized"

materialfluss: What demands does modern intralogistics place on companies like Dambach and how do you try to meet them?

Our customers are general contractors and system integrators. They are always on the lookout for customized and economical solutions. In order to meet these requirements, our product portfolio includes all essential components for problem-free and fast storage of various load carriers. All Dambach products are also developed and manufactured at our site in Baden-Württemberg. This enables us not only to perfectly coordinate conveyor technology, storage and retrieval machines, load handling devices and shuttles, but also to ensure consistently high quality. For us, "Made in Germany" is not just a slogan, but embodies the innovative strength of our region coupled with our commitment to high-quality products. This can be seen, for example, in the consistent pre-installation and pre-commissioning of all components. This shortens assembly times on the construction site, reduces sources of error and cuts costs for the customer.

mfl: Which of these poses the greatest technical challenge, even for an established company like Dambach?Thumm: The complexity of systems has increased in recent years. The demand for higher handling capacity and better use of space is increasing. The energy balance is also playing an increasingly important role. To this end, Dambach uses state-of-the-art energy storage systems for storage and retrieval machines, shuttles, carriers and floor conveyors. Alternative drive concepts such as the rack and pinion drive mean that our pallet stacker cranes are among the fastest on the market.

mfl: What was the reaction to the new Multiflex system you introduced? Which reactions surprised you?

Benjamin Thumm, Product Manager at Dambach Lagersysteme.

Demand for our new pallet shuttle system was greater than expected. Driven by the trend towards small parts shuttle solutions, interest in very high throughput rates combined with high storage density is also growing in pallet warehouses. As the three modules - carrier, shuttle and floor conveyor - can be freely combined, the scope for planning is enormous. Innovative warehouse concepts have already been developed together with system integrators and planning offices. I am also pleased that many of our customers have already taken advantage of the benefits of combined storage solutions consisting of storage and retrieval machines and pallet shuttle systems.

mfl: In three sentences, what are the advantages of the new system?Thumm: The high storage density coupled with high handling capacity is certainly one of the key benefits. The system can also be easily and flexibly integrated into a wide variety of building types and existing warehouses.

mfl: When will we see the first reference systems with the new combination of the new carrier, the lift and the Compact Shuttle?Thumm: Several projects have already been realized with the new pallet shuttle system. Thanks to its high availability and suitability for deep-freezing, it has been very convincing. The tried-and-tested Compact Shuttle and floor conveyor products also demonstrated their efficiency in combination with the Multiflex system.

mfl: How will the development continue? What else can come after the Multiflex?Thumm: The trend towards ever better space utilization and higher handling capacity is unbroken. In addition, energy consumption will play an increasingly important role in the future. We are currently working on various solutions to meet the coming requirements. We want to use innovative solutions to give our customers a technological edge. I can already tell you this much: we will surprise you with further complementary products in the coming year.

Vita

Dr. Benjamin Thumm is Product Manager at Dambach Lagersysteme GmbH & Co KG. After studying mechanical engineering at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Thumm completed his doctorate in the field of product cost optimization in plant engineering at the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin). Before joining Dambach as a product manager, the intralogistics expert worked as a project manager at Siemens AG.

mfl: And what about the old system question "RBG or shuttle?" and what is the current answer to that? "It depends" or do you see trends in one direction or the other?

"It depends!" is exactly right here. A blanket statement cannot be made without knowing all the boundary conditions. Both products have their advantages. Our aim is to work out the optimum solution together with the customer. As an objective provider of both solutions, we can provide advice. For example, a customer project was realized in which both systems were used together. In addition to the classic high-bay warehouse with storage and retrieval machines, a pallet shuttle warehouse was also set up in the deep-freeze area to serve as a high-performance buffer warehouse.

Martin Schrüfer