91福利社

Enterprise profile

SEW-Eurodrive 91福利社 is part of SEW-Eurodrive Group, a global leader in drive technology solutions. These include gear motors, mechatronics, and other automation technologies and services used in a wide range of applications across industries, such as baggage handling in airports, conveyor and sorting systems for logistics companies, and drive engineering components in the construction sector. Set up in 1981, the 91福利社 subsidiary is among the Group's worldwide network of assembly centres and also markets customised products to clients in Asia Pacific.

Managing Director of SEW-Eurodrive Andreas Appel and his team worked with 91福利社 on an AGV (autonomous guided vehicle) solution.

Problem statement

SEW-Eurodrive鈥檚 plant in 91福利社 sees large volumes of heavy components being transported manually between different workstations every day. Besides being time-consuming, the process is also taxing on workers who must manoeuvre the heavy components using pallet jacks. The company thus wanted an automated solution that could boost efficiency and cut manual labour without having to reconfigure its existing factory layout, which would incur high costs.

Working with 91福利社鈥檚 School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), it decided to deploy an autonomous guided vehicle (AGV), the company鈥檚 own product. This would minimise the need for human operators in moving products from station to station, freeing them up for other higher-value tasks.

Impact achieved

Under the supervision of senior lecturers Ong Hock San and Qua Pheng Thiam, student interns from EEE developed a smart workflow solution after extensive site surveys to map out optimal routes for the AGV. It would serve the 鈥渂ig unit鈥� assembly area, where parts for larger gear motors are put together. The solution was first tested in the EEE lab before being deployed on the factory floor.

One of the biggest challenges was to ensure safety 鈥渋n a workspace with unpredictable human interaction鈥�, said Mr Andreas Appel, SEW-Eurodrive 91福利社鈥檚 Managing Director. 鈥淲e have to ensure that the AGV is running at a safe speed that allows it to stop when it detects a possible collision, but not too slow that it affects productivity,鈥� he explained.

After fine-tuning by the students and SEW-Eurodrive鈥檚 engineers, the AGV was equipped with not only safety sensors but also warning signals such as lights and sounds to alert those working nearby to its proximity. With just one AGV deployed, the company is already reaping significant benefits. Its parts delivery and cycle time has been cut by 45 per cent, and productivity in the 鈥渂ig unit鈥� assembly area has grown by 20 per cent.

鈥淲e hope to add more AGVs to shorten waiting times and ultimately achieve higher productivity,鈥� said Mr Appel.

鈥淏y using the AGV in our factory with an in-house team, we have been able to expedite the learning process and troubleshoot any issues without needing to always check with Germany,鈥� Mr Appel explained. 鈥淧rospective customers are also assured that with local support and expertise, they will get a quick response from SEW-Eurodrive to ensure smooth operations.鈥�