The Giengen I site is a central logistics hub within the Noerpel Group. Every day, several thousand packages are moved across a warehouse area of 50,000 square meters and a hall length of almost 500 meters - in processes that change depending on customer requirements, shipment structure or seasonal workload. With this in mind, Noerpel decided to automate the floor-to-floor transports with mobile robots. It quickly became clear that in order for automation to develop optimally in large-scale and dynamic warehouse operations, a solution is needed that goes beyond the mere control of individual systems - a central control level that efficiently connects all components.

The solution: one platform, many possibilities

Anyfleet, the automation platform from the Munich-based technology company Idealworks, was chosen. One advantage of the solution: Anyfleet is manufacturer-independent, cloud-based and modular. It connects robots, sensors, IoT devices and higher-level systems such as WMS or TMS at a central control level. As an active member of the VDA 5050 core team, Idealworks is actively involved in shaping the guideline and also ensures that Anyfleet always remains at the cutting edge of interoperable communication. It was precisely this interoperability that was a key selection criterion: the platform supports the VDA 5050 guideline and thus enables the seamless integration of a wide range of vehicle types - including future generations - without the need for extensive adjustments to the system architecture. Strategic scalability was also a decisive factor: the solution can be efficiently transferred to other locations - an advantage for a long-term, consistent automation strategy.

Platform architecture: interoperable and scalable

Central orchestration is at the heart of the system. Transport orders are generated automatically, distributed to vehicles and transferred from the WMS as required. The platform takes factors such as vehicle availability, battery status, traffic volume or prioritized zones into account in real time. Thanks to zone-based routing, defined warehouse areas can be individually controlled - including transfer points to manual processes such as tugger trains or forklifts. Communication is fully VDA 5050-compliant, which not only enables manufacturer-independent vehicle fleets, but also the integration of future technologies such as freely navigating vehicles or intelligent charging points.

"The high flexibility of the zone control system when making adjustments in the warehouse enables us to use Anyfleet to make adjustments independently and without extensive external support. This allows us to react quickly to changes in the routes and travel paths," says Stefan Wuggazer, Branch Manager, Noerpel Giengen I.

Efficiency during operation

Since commissioning, mobile robots have been reliably handling transportation between incoming goods, picking, packing and shipping. The platform ensures complete transparency: a browser-based dashboard gives employees real-time insight into fleet status, order progress and potential bottlenecks.

Manual interventions are the exception - the system detects overloads at an early stage, reschedules flexibly, redistributes orders dynamically and visualizes all relevant data points. This includes vehicle metrics such as utilization, loading cycles or error frequencies, but also key figures such as throughput times, empty runs or utilization levels of individual process paths. This data flows directly into continuous improvement processes (CIP) and helps to identify bottlenecks at an early stage.
The advantages of the solution at a glance

The platform solution offers several advantages for companies with complex intralogistics processes:

- Manufacturer independence: Thanks to VDA 5050, the system remains open for future vehicle or technology providers
- Standardization: One platform for all means of transport reduces complexity, training effort and susceptibility to errors
- Scalability: New vehicles, routes, process paths, peripheral devices and IoT can be flexibly integrated - through pure configuration, without additional programming
- Transparency and controllability: real-time data creates planning reliability and enables proactive control
- Future-proof: the platform is already prepared for upcoming VDA 5050 versions and new robotics solutions

Possible starting point for further projects

The operation of Anyfleet at the Giengen I site is the first milestone in a long-term automation strategy. In particular, the possibility of rolling out proven setups at other locations with adapted parameters supports Noerpel's stringent digital strategy and enables synergy effects. The central automation solution acts not only as a technical interface, but also as the backbone of adaptable intralogistics.