Get the material flow going with efficient tugger train management!

Everywhere the focus is on e-commerce, but it still exists in Germany, the good old production. The requirements for controlling production are constantly increasing due to ever smaller batch sizes, which means that the process flows in the warehouse and transport require good organisation. What is needed here is fast and efficient warehouse and transport management that makes the best possible use of the spatial conditions and the associated transport routes.

Have you ever asked yourself the question: How can I make the individual transport routes of materials or other stored goods between the warehouse (so-called source) and the destination, production or assembly (so-called sink) as efficient as possible?

One solution module here can be the use of tugger trains in conjunction with a tugger train management system customised in SuPCIS-L8. Comparable to a bus system in local public transport, the driver of the tugger train - usually consisting of a tractor in combination with at least one trailer - follows a fixed timetable. The individual stations are shown to the driver on the display, so that he is always informed about which station he has to head for next. However, the question rightly arises at this point, for whom is the use of tugger trains suitable at all and by whom is the tugger train timetable actually specified or, to put it casually, who takes over the efficient planning of the individual route sections?

Quite simple: our powerful warehouse management system SuPCIS-L8 takes over the planning and control of the tugger trains by managing all stopping points and staging destinations including their capacities, the tugger trains as tractor units and trailers with type and parking spaces. In order to simplify handling when loading the trailers, the trailers can be equipped with light displays, as we know it from pick-by-light or pick-to-light locations.

The trailers are loaded with containers provided in advance at the loading station. For each container, the destination place where it is needed is known. Depending on the storage technology used, provision for loading can take place, for example, by full retrieval from a manual or automatic container store or also by picking in a manual store. Each container is assigned a storage location and, once loading is complete, the sequence planning is route-optimised on the route for all currently loaded containers. Upon arrival at a destination station, the containers to be deposited there are displayed and acknowledged on the vehicle terminal or optionally also by means of the pick-by-light displays.

The main use of tugger trains is particularly suitable for companies in which transport tasks have to be completed more or less regularly or over mostly longer distances.

With the use of tugger trains and our WMS SuPCIS-L8 for efficient control of the tractors, there are significant advantages for the user compared to the otherwise "usual" use of multiple forklifts: less and overall quieter warehouse traffic with increased safety at the same time. A route train is safer than several individual vehicles crossing each other. Fewer vehicles, associated material and fewer employees operating the vehicles also result in reduced capital investment. As the tugger trains follow a fixed timetable, unnecessary (empty) journeys are avoided, and thanks to simultaneous supply and disposal, there is an improvement in productivity in production or assembly.

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