Jungheinrich and Movu Robotics have agreed a strategic partnership covering automated pallet warehouse systems, combining Movu’s four-way shuttle technology with Jungheinrich’s warehouse integration, software and service capabilities.
Under the agreement, Jungheinrich will become the preferred integrator for Movu’s shuttle systems, while Movu will serve as Jungheinrich’s preferred supplier for the technology. The companies plan to coordinate the design, integration and servicing of automated pallet warehouse projects.
The partnership will integrate Movu’s four-way shuttles with Jungheinrich’s warehouse management system and software ecosystem. The companies will also use standardised software interfaces and jointly develop solution designs, with service processes coordinated across installations.
Four-way shuttle systems are used to store and retrieve pallets in high-density warehouse configurations, including multi-deep storage. Jungheinrich and Movu are targeting applications including food and beverage, cold-chain logistics and third-party logistics.
“Customers today no longer expect individual automation components, but seamless automation solutions,” said Tobias Harzer, chief automation officer at Jungheinrich. “Together, we combine shuttle technology, software, integration and service into an overall system that fits seamlessly into existing warehouse structures.”
The companies said their systems can connect shuttle storage with conveyor technology and mobile robots, with Jungheinrich’s software managing material flows from goods receiving through storage to dispatch.
Movu said its shuttle systems are deployed at more than 200 warehouses. The technology is also being used in Jungheinrich customer projects in Europe and North America.
One project involves an automated warehouse for packaging materials at Coppenrath & Wiese, where previously decentralised storage capacity is being consolidated into a central facility. Another automated pallet warehouse is under construction for Mascot online in Almere, the Netherlands. The facility is designed with about 11,500 pallet locations and will use 10 Movu four-way shuttles.
“Four-way shuttle systems increasingly combine high-density storage with other functionalities like replenishing picking processes and sequencing goods for dispatch just in time, all within the same footprint,” said Noë van Bergen, chief sales officer at Movu Robotics.
Jungheinrich and Movu plan to further align their solution design, software interfaces and service processes as part of the partnership.
