STILL strengthens its competence in process-oriented material flow solutions
STILL takes over LR Intralogistik
STILL GmbH has continued to expand its leading market position in the lean logistics area by acquiring, as of 30th October 2015, LR Intralogistik GmbH, a specialist for forklift-free intralogistics material transport using tugger train elements. STILL, a leading supplier of customized intralogistics solutions worldwide, is at the same time strengthening its competence in process-oriented material flow concepts including automated solutions. LR Intralogistik’s portfolio includes developing customer-specific tugger train systems together with the trolleys needed for this, with the emphasis on process safety, cost-efficiency, security and ergonomics.
Since the company’s foundation in late 2009, LR Intralogistik had already collaborated closely with STILL as an exclusive partner in the tugger trains area. With a well thought out strategy and by combining their strengths in development, sales and service, the two companies have jointly achieved a leading position in the area of production supply using tugger train elements. Thomas A. Fischer, STILL GmbH’s Managing Director Sales, Service & Marketing (CSO), said “STILL also wants to continue to occupy a leading position in the dynamically growing market for intelligent, efficient logistics and material flow systems in the future. Between them, LR Intralogistik and STILL possess substantial innovation potential to enable them to serve future customer requirements.”
STILL supports the extensive opportunities for customers to use tugger trains, from simple long-distance traffic to precisely sequenced cycled supply concepts, by the advisory and planning competence of a central business unit in the intralogistics systems area. Fischer says “In this way STILL achieves a sustained increase in its competence and market presence in the design and management of complex material flow solutions in logistics, and in implementing intelligent factories and warehouses. In view of the growing demand for concepts to partially or fully automate logistics processes, the tugger train offers enormous growth potential for STILL GmbH.
STILL’s tugger trains consist of a truck and several trailers that remain in the train to accommodate the trolleys, which are called E-, B- or C-frames. Without an additional lifting appliance, the trolleys loaded with load carriers or products of all kinds are pushed level with the ground into the trailers, which lift them quickly and quietly for the journey. Thus a single trip serves a large number of decentrally organised fabrication locations, where the required materials are delivered just in time, and finished components are transported away.
This flexibly synchronised production supply, with small material stocks, ensures reduced traffic volume inside the factory, a lower accident risk and the efficient use of personnel. Tugger train systems are therefore an integral part of future-oriented lean methods.
