Digital and automated process optimizations are rapidly gaining importance in logistics. The Karlsruhe-based tech start-up enabl, together with SICK, is showing how the pressing challenges in this sector – shortage of skilled workers, cost pressures and increasing safety requirements – can be cleverly solved.
The company enabl Technologies GmbH relies on a technically very sophisticated teleoperation system with the help of which automated forklift trucks can be reliably and safely used even in demanding scenarios such as the unloading of trucks in warehouses or interlinked storage structures. Cross-national remote control over the Internet in combination with AI-supported automation software offers not only maximum efficiency but also a promising approach for solving the problem of the increasing shortage of skilled workers.
Also novel for the field of automation is enabl's "Material handling as a service" business model. Via a platform, transport orders from customers in warehouses in which forklifts from enabl are operating are assigned flexibly and on an as-needed basis to remote drivers. Included is a pay-per-use billing system that delivers tangible cost benefits when order levels fluctuate. With these concepts, enabl is on a path to providing crucial inspiration to the logistics sector.
From the beginning, enabl has relied on SICK's expertise with the safety sensors required for the forklifts, as Johannes Schantz, CTO at enabl, explains: "SICK is setting the standard in the industry, and that's why we got together with the experts at SICK very early in the development phase to jointly come up with the best sensor package for our system. In doing so, we not only benefited from their expertise and experience but also from their comprehensive single-source product and service offerings."
Marcus Ichters, Key Account Manager Mobile Platforms at SICK, remembers their initial encounters well in a rather small meeting room at the time at enabl's first location: "We discussed in detail there the best setup for a convincing safety concept – enabl had already settled on our microScan3 and nanoScan3 safety laser scanners, however the skilled placement of these sensors on the vehicle and how to combine them with other sensors formed part of our collaborative development work.
The innovative remote forklift automation system from enabl is already being successfully used by leading logistics companies such as DB-Schenker. It covers numerous application possibilities - from the loading and unloading of trucks to driving around areas right through to precise putaway in racks.
The core element of the system is the combination of SICK sensors that ensure a fully protected forklift system. Three safety laser scanners perform the key safety functions: safely detecting people and objects, and providing navigation assistance to the remote driver. In a hazardous situation, the sensors always "have the last word" – they reduce the speed and initiate a safe stop.
The two microScan3 safety laser scanners with a nine-meter scanning range protect the flanks of the vehicle from the front and are supplemented by the compact nanoScan3 that can be flexibly mounted on standard vehicles. A distance sensor enables millimeter-precise positioning when handling load carriers, while inductive sensors monitor the control of the fork. For large lifting heights, a TiM310 is also used to protect the area underneath the fork. In rack structures, a picoScan150 provides lateral protection at heights. The result: maximum safety and precision for efficient remote operation – even in complex logistics environments.
Looking back on the development period and the implementation of this comprehensive sensor package, the agile, young tech start-up praises the experienced global market leader for its response times: "The fast rollout, the good component availability and the uncomplicated support at SICK are a good match for our start-up mindset. This enables us, as partners, to develop convincing solutions for our customers in an extremely short time," says Johannes Schantz with conviction.
The sophisticated sensor solution also allows safe (partially) automated driving of the forklift trucks, e.g. when traversing routes between a truck to be unloaded and loading zones or right through to high-bay warehouses. Johannes Schantz also emphasizes the support and assistance they receive from SICK in this area: "We receive uncomplicated test samples, discuss results, and know that we have a competent, experienced partner at our side as we continue to further develop our systems."
The start-up has ambitious goals for further developing its business model and regards the ever worsening shortage of skilled workers and the high cost pressures as one of the key drivers for change in the logistics world. enabl with its "Material handling as a service" sees new billing models where investments in industrial vehicles transition to a usage-based model as the way forward. The combination of teleoperation and automation adds a completely new dimension to this by enhancing the occupational profile of a "forklift driver": The remote forklift drivers work in a safe environment in driving centers and can be recruited with less dependence on local job markets. This could make the occupation more attractive and stop any further worsening of the labor shortage. There is a real urgency to this because a double to three-fold increase in sales by 2030 is predicted for the forklift market while the availability of drivers is continuously decreasing. This dilemma compels the market to bundle its innovative strengths and act in a collaborative manner at all levels.
