Ludwigshafen, 10.05.2017 – The transport volume at the BASF
at the Ludwigshafen site
is around 20 million metric tons per year. BASF has developed a logistics concept that focuses on cost reductions and faster transports.
The most important components of this concept are:
- Automated guided vehicles (AGV),
- new optimized-for-rail tank containers instead of railway tank cars
- and a new tank container depot.
AGV drives underneath a tank container at a loading station (Photo: BASF)
AGV with tank container (Photo: BASF)
According to BASF the AGV is a worldwide first that was developed together with VDL Automated Vehicles
. It is a 16.5 meters long carriage with 32 wheels and eight steerable axles, the vehicle has a payload of 78 metric tons. Due to its flat construction it can drive underneath the new tank containers, lift and then move them. Because of the high number of wheels and its steerable axles the AGV remains maneuverable and does not cause any damage to roads even though it can weigh as much as 100 metric tons. BASF says that the duration for the transport of a tank container to one of the 150 loading stations will be cut from 22 hours to 1 hour.
BASF optimizes logistics at Ludwigshafen site (Video: BASF)
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The AGV navigates along transponders embedded in the road surface. The transponders as well as the corresponding transponder antennas have been delivered by Götting and were integrated into the vehicle in cooperation with VDL. The transponders are glass transponders that are especially protected against environmental conditions and have been manufactured by the Pikatron GmbH
. The transponder antenna is a new version of the Götting type HG G-98850. Additionally the HG G-45000 safety laser scanners shown in the VDL video above come from Götting.
Concept of the AGV with transponder navigation and safety scanners (Video: VDL)
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Owing to the sophisticated safety features and equipment and the state-of-the-art vehicle control the AGVs can drive together with other traffic on normal streets. Additionally a fully automated tank container depot is constructed at BASF Ludwigshafen until mid 2018. This depot will be trimodal, meaning that goods can be handled via AGVs, trucks and rail.
You can find more information on this project on the following sites (sample):
Rhein-Neckar Fernsehen with Video
Ansprechpartner:
Sales AGVs
