Food manufacturer Spitz is currently investing into further developing Industry 4.0. The aim is the digitalization and the automation of operational facilities and production processes on their factory site in Attnang-Puchheim/Austria. In cooperation with Agilox, the company implemented successfully the driverless transport system Agilox IGV. Spitz invested a six-figure amount to automate the production of their baked goods.

Founded in 1857, the Austrian bakery manufacturer Spitz is rich in tradition and now aiming to elevate the production to a future oriented level. With a daily production of 1.3 million products, the company is successful. Several measures in the fields of digitalization, automation and Industry 4.0 have been taken. To achieve their goals, Spitz turned towards the young Austrian logistics company Agilox.

Agilox is considered the technol-ogy leader of the driverless transports systems. Their system Agilox IGV is used in the bakery production of Spitz. The acronym IGV stands for Intelligent Guided Vehicle, describing an autonomous transport robot which performs transportation tasks and adapts to its surroundings – self-learning while doing so. Due to integrated swarm intelligence, the transportation robots choose the best way possible and avoid obstacles. The transportation system does not require a master computer. Orders can be commissioned by staff, using an already existing barcode scanner. Additionally, safety technology allows a secure usage of the transport robot, even in limited space and with other employees and vehicles around.

Spitz’s goal is an optimization of the value chain and the shortest possible time-to-market for new products. The Agilox IGV System is learning fast: the very precise indoor-localization technology enabled the digital-ization and learning of the entire production area of baked goods. Within a few hours, the first autonomous processes were made, and after a week, the launch, including staff training, was completed.

First, the IGV supplies the production lines with materials, and when the products are finished, it transports them to the central handover location. Günter Heimbuchner, Logistics Manager at Spitz, explains: “The easy operation, our highly motivated team, and the wonderful cooperation with Agilox, all contribute to our success. It is important to us that the Intelligent Guided Vehicle is able to handle barriers, gates and various floors in addition to everyday transports”.

Daniel Zindl, Product Manager & Sales Engineer at Agilox, is similarly enthusiastic: “It is our passion to automate, especially when the company we work with provides interesting conditions and challenges. Spitz envisioned a well-defined automation strategy. In combination with the Agilox plug-and-play technology, a quick and successful realization of the project was possible. The fast adjustment of internal processes and the training of the employees was
decisive. At Spitz, they really live and practice Industry 4.0“.