MAN automates production logistics with 12 Magazino robots

Robot supplier Magazino, part of Jungheinrich, supplies twelve robots to the MAN plant in Nuremberg. The mobile robot SOTO provides fully autonomous transport of small load carriers between the warehouse and the assembly line. After a one-year pilot project, the entire supply process of small load carriers for engine assembly and future battery production will be automated with twelve SOTO robots.

Magazino and MAN have been working closely and application-oriented together in the field of logistics automation since 2019 and have already pooled their specific expertise during the development phase of the SOTO robots. The robots' functionality was extensively tested and optimised during a one-year pilot phase. Based on this positive test, the MAN plant in Nuremberg decided to deploy a fleet of 12 SOTO robots for the complete automation of small parts logistics.

Simon Becker, project manager at MAN, says: "Thanks to SOTO, the supply process with small load carriers is now also fully automated. These robots are therefore also exemplary of the ongoing digitalisation and automation of our factory logistics and thus contribute to our overarching strategy. It is impressive to see how efficiently and harmoniously humans and robots can work together. The decision to introduce the SOTO robots is the result of years of trust-based cooperation with Magazino."

Markus Ruder, Magazino's project manager for the joint project with MAN, describes the target process as follows: "The SOTO robots pick up the small load carriers independently in the automated miniload warehouse and each robot brings up to 18 containers at a time to the individual assembly lines. They work in the same environment as humans and other mobile robots. At the assembly line, the SOTO robots place the 12-kilogram containers directly on the shelves. The worker can then easily grab the individual parts and assemble them. The SOTO robot also independently picks up empty load carriers and brings them to the central collection point."

Nuremberg plant uses standard container sizes according to the VDA standard, the German automotive industry association. The robot's adaptive gripper automatically adapts to the corresponding container format. The robot uses the codes on the shelves and the labels on the containers for identification. It receives transport orders directly from MAN's warehouse management system.

While assembly lines in industry today are highly automated, material replenishment is still done manually in most cases. Previous solutions such as the use of tow trains or automated guided vehicles do not lead to full automation, as humans are still needed for loading and unloading. With SOTO, MAN is now automating the 'last step' in the replenishment process.