TK-Center Birrfeld AG, CH-Lupfig
The TK-Center Birrfeld AG headquartered in Lupfig was founded in 1993 and employs today over 100 professionals. The competences are the logistics processing for frozen food, from the producer up to the consumer. The range of services includes the whole logistics in the supply chain.
Requirements
An automated conveyor system for pallets with a pallet lift and shuttle car connects the neighbouring building of the Hiestand-Bakery. Over the lift the frozen food is transported to the cold storage area (-26°C) and from there to the loading ramps or into the high-bay storage system (-26°C).
In 2008 Gilgen was commissioned for the expertise of the functional reliability and availability of the conveying systems. The modernisation, which consisted of three phases, was started with a sporty schedule in October 2010.
Logistics solution
First the mechanical components, which had not been replaced, were improved. Then both hydraulic lifts were replaced including the cabinets with new Simatic S7-PLC, Profibus and Ethernet.
In phase two, the new control software of the buffer warehouse and the material flow computer were implemented.
In phase three the entire pallet conveyor system in the cold area has been replaced by new conveyor elements. The goods receipt and the elevator between the buffer and the storage system were connected to two converter elements. This guarantees a direct and fully automated connection to the cold storage warehouse. In replacement of the initiators, for about 100 ultrasonic sensors were installed to increase the switching reliability in the buffer area (-26°C).
