Unsteady and constantly changing market situations pose major challenges for the logistics of many companies. In order to be able to offer customers an innovative and reliable solution despite or precisely in such situations, Gebhardt has developed the new Gebhardt StoreBiter OLS X based on its established shuttle and driverless transport system technologies.

According to the company, the system enables the implementation of a flexible and scalable configuration "even with a manageable initial investment". The distribution centers can be expanded step by step - even during ongoing operations - almost at will. This is an aspect that offers great advantages, especially in the current situation with constantly changing conditions, and prevents downtime. With the Gebhardt solution, sequencing takes place directly in the warehouse, eliminating the need for expensive purchases of conveyor loops or sequencing towers. In addition, a wide variety of container and carton sizes can be stored.

Great flexibility in layout
The Gebhardt StoreBiter OLS X consists of two or more aisles, which are divided into several levels. Depending on the performance requirements, each level is equipped with one or more shuttles. The different aisles are connected to each other via platforms, allowing the vehicles to be moved freely, easily and without rails between the aisles. Standardized lifter/workstation combinations, which are connected directly to the warehouse, provide layout flexibility, especially in complicated brownfield environments.

In addition, the shuttle can leave the warehouse like an AGV to travel directly to workstations. This makes it possible to supply less frequented workstations even without conveyor technology. Compared to similar systems, this sophisticated and innovative design results in significantly reduced maintenance intensity and susceptibility to errors. The product is only dependent on a rail guide inside the aisles and does not require high-maintenance, mechanical interchangeable trolleys outside. Time-consuming wheel changes are therefore a thing of the past. The low dead weight combined with a high load capacity (max. 2 x 50 kg) enables a high conveying speed of up to 2.0 m/s and makes the Gebhardt StoreBiter OLS X energy-efficient.

Expansion of the product range
"With the OLS X Shuttle, we combine high performance with maximum flexibility. By dispensing with large conveyor loops, workstations can be connected flexibly and directly to the warehouse. This also enables direct, sequenced retrieval without additional hardware," says Marco Gebhardt, Managing Director of the Gebhardt Intralogistics Group, summarizing the advantages of the new development. The company has succeeded in innovatively expanding its proven product range in order to provide customers with a solution for efficient and economical warehouse processes.