Innok Induros solves the shortage of skilled labour at Landgard

From the outdoor goods-in area to the indoor storage area, and back again during the night shift.

How Landgard has automated its intralogistics with the outdoor and multiterrain AMR INDUROS 700.

The original problem / challenge

Landgard, one of the leading wholesalers and marketers of flowers and plants in Germany, is facing a major challenge: managing the growing volume of goods transport in its logistics centres. Particularly in the seasonal business, when thousands of CC containers (container container trolleys) have to be transported every day, they are under enormous time and cost pressure. Another problem is the ubiquitous shortage of skilled workers in the industry, which makes it difficult for Landgard to find enough personnel, especially for the night shift. Hans Langohr, Head of Intralogistics at FHV Landgard, describes the initial situation: ‘Can a robot fit into our team and our workflows and perform all tasks properly?’ This was the key question at the beginning of the project.

The solution: the INDUROS from Innok Robotics

To meet these challenges, Landgard decided to use the autonomous mobile robot INDUROS 700 from Innok Robotics. The INDUROS 700 is an all-rounder that has been specially developed for the transport of goods in indoor and outdoor areas. It is able to drive on uneven surfaces, overcome ramps and thresholds, and even works reliably in bad weather conditions – a multi-terrain AMR. This capability was crucial for Landgard, since the conditions in their logistics centres are often adverse and conventional robots simply could not be used.

The INDUROS is also equipped with a powerful hybrid navigation system that allows it to move flexibly and without fixed infrastructure such as induction loops or markings. This not only saves Landgard the high costs of conversions, but also allows for future expansions or changes to the layout of the logistics centres.

Implementation and integration

The implementation process of the INDUROS 700 at Landgard went smoothly and efficiently. Thanks to the Innok Cockpit software, the navigation and order management could be set up intuitively and quickly. Within a few days, the robot was fully operational and integrated into the operation. The INDUROS performs a crucial task: it transports the CC trolleys between the incoming goods area and the storage locations in the interior. During the night, it ensures that all trolleys are ready for the storage of new goods in the outdoor goods-in area the next morning – and it does so completely autonomously.

The completely autonomous end-to-end process is crucial here. The robot connects and disconnects the CC trolleys autonomously and also charges them autonomously and wirelessly when it is not in use. Without charging, it can be in continuous use for around 14 hours.

‘In our seasonal business, it is often inconceivable how we would manage without this robotic support,’ Langohr continues. ’INDUROS relieves the entire team and can be integrated independently into our daily work. And it is perceived and has excellent safety features and stops by itself before a person could even come close to being harmed. This creates a great deal of trust among our employees.’

The people in charge at Landgard talk about the INDUROS 700.

Why INDUROS? The advantages over alternatives

Landgard chose the Innok Robotics INDUROS because of its unique capabilities and the flexibility it offers the company. A key advantage of the INDUROS is its multi-terrain capability, which makes it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. This feature is particularly invaluable in the logistics of flowers and plants, where products are often transported between different halls and outdoor areas.

‘The safety aspects were extremely important to us. Since the INDUROS has a variety of sensors and stops immediately at the slightest movement near it, we have no concerns about using it at night,’ explains Langohr. In addition, INDUROS requires no structural adjustments to the buildings. The advanced hybrid navigation enables precise control without the need for additional infrastructure. This saves Landgard significant costs and allows for quick, uncomplicated implementation.

Results and added value

The introduction of INDUROS 700 brought a number of advantages for Landgard. First of all, the staff shortage was effectively compensated for. The INDUROS takes over monotonous and exhausting transport tasks, freeing up staff for more skilled activities. The robot is particularly useful during the night shift, when it is difficult to find workers: ‘Where otherwise several employees would have to be present for health and safety reasons, the INDUROS now does its rounds autonomously,’ reports Langohr with satisfaction.

Customer satisfaction and future prospects

Thanks to the precise control of the robot and its seamless integration into the logistics process, Landgard was able to achieve this goal without any problems. The high level of customer satisfaction is a result of this increase in efficiency. ‘We no longer feel that the INDUROS is a robot – it has become part of our team,’ says Langohr.

Looking to the future, Landgard is already considering putting more robots into operation to fully exploit the potential of autonomous logistics solutions. ‘The INDUROS has set the standard for us,’ emphasises Langohr. Thanks to the flexible scalability of the system and the option of managing the robot fleet via the Innok Cockpit or, for example, VDA 5050, Landgard sees great potential for the further development of its logistics processes.

The cost side – How Landgard is achieving significant savings with INDUROS

Before Landgard put the autonomous mobile robot INDUROS into operation, the transport of goods in the logistics centre caused considerable costs for the transport of the CC trolleys alone. The total consisted of the wage costs for the forklift truck drivers and the costs for the maintenance and operation of the means of transport used so far. Each robot now saves around €60,000 per year per robot per shift. In two-shift operation, this amounts to around €120,000 without the surcharges for night work and the increased personnel costs.

Initially, Landgard considered purchasing the INDUROS as part of the ‘Robot as a Service’ (RaaS) all-round carefree package from Innok Robotics. This model enables the robots to be financed with monthly instalments, thus protecting the company's liquidity. However, after careful consideration, Landgard decided to purchase the robots outright, as the calculations showed that the return on investment (ROI) of the INDUROS would be achieved very quickly through the cost savings.

By using the INDUROS, Landgard is now realising significant savings and profiting from the investment in the long term.

Conclusion

The partnership between Landgard and Innok Robotics impressively demonstrates how modern technology can meet the challenges of the shortage of skilled workers and increase efficiency in the logistics sector. The INDUROS not only enables Landgard to save costs and optimise personnel deployment, but also to meet the increasing demands for flexible and sustainable logistics. Thanks to its multi-terrain capabilities, robust construction and intelligent navigation, the INDUROS is a tailor-made solution for the specific needs of Landgard.

‘It's impressive how the INDUROS 700 has integrated into our logistics system. It not only performs tasks, but also actively contributes to the optimisation of our entire process. This saves us time and money, and ensures that we are well positioned for future challenges,’ summarises Langohr.

With this project, Landgard and Innok Robotics are setting new standards for autonomous mobile robotics and demonstrating how successfully technology and traditional work processes can be merged.