iFD and Sander Fördertechnik – a strong team for the Saxon automotive industry

The automotive industry in Saxony, and particularly at the Zwickau site, has a long tradition. Saxony’s automotive sites are also playing a pioneering role in e-mobility. GKN Driveline Deutschland GmbH is the market leader in the production of drive shafts for the automotive industry and employs over 950 people at its site in Mosel, near Zwickau.

GKN Driveline Deutschland GmbH has for years been entrusted with technological change processes and the launch of new products. Drive shafts from Mosel will also be used in the new generation of hybrid and battery-powered vehicles.

In addition to the technical development of the products, the logistics system was also due for an update. To this end, Sander Fördertechnik GmbH and iFD GmbH have developed a joint concept for the automation of processes using a driverless transport system.

Autonomous vehicles operate in a loop to supply workstations with the required components. This completely reorganises the supply process within the production of drive shafts at the GKN plant in Mosel. To optimise the process, iFD GmbH supplied an ordering system for the intuitive recording of requirements. Using this system, workers can specify which parts are needed digitally and in a time-saving manner. The requested parts are picked by the order picker and placed directly onto the AGV. This transports the parts autonomously to their destination.

The system is complemented by functionalities such as master data management, order creation and order processing.