• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Your Membership
    • Edit Your Profile
  • Services
    • Advertising
    • Case studies
    • Design
    • Email marketing
    • Lead generation
    • Magazine
    • Press releases
    • Publishing
    • Sponsored posts
    • Webcasting
    • Webinars
    • White papers
    • Writing
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • Cart
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Terms of use
  • Events

Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

  • News
  • Features
  • Video
  • Webinars
  • White papers
  • Press releases
  • Featured companies
    • AMD Xilinx
    • BlueBotics
    • Elite Robot
    • RGo Robotics
    • SICK Sensor Intelligence
    • Vicor Power
interroll 1

Warehouse automation: Interroll looking to expand operations

March 15, 2019 by Abdul Montaqim

“You may not realise that you’ve used an Interroll product, but you almost certainly have,” says Hilton Campbell, the newly appointed managing director of Interroll UK, at a press event in London.

“If you’ve flown through an airport recently, particularly a European one, then you’ve probably used a conveyor while collecting your luggage – that’s Interroll technology.

“You may have used Interroll products even more recently, especially if you’ve done some shopping – a lot of supermarkets use conveyors with Interoll technology.” 

Some people can remember back when none of the supermarkets used conveyors at the checkout, and shoppers would have to move their items along manually.

The conveyors made things more convenient, but perhaps more importantly, they made the experience of checking out faster.

interroll 2

This enabled supermarkets to increase the volume of the business they did exponentially.

Similarly, airports and warehouses use conveyors to increase what is known as “throughput”, to use the industry jargon.

Increasing throughput in the supply chain – the warehouse part of a logistics operation – is of critical importance now as competition intensifies in the sector.

Campbell says new technologies such as autonomous vehicles and robots are interesting technologies, but conveyor systems are by far the fastest and most economical way to move goods around a warehouse.

“But it’s horses for courses,” he says, meaning that sometimes autonomous warehouse robots are appropriate while, at other times, a conveyor system is best. “It depends what the customer wants or requires. We’re increasingly seeing our conveyor systems being integrated with robotics and autonomous systems anyway.”

Interroll has been researching robotic and autonomous solutions of late, but while conveyor systems might be considered “traditional” automation technology, it’s still the infrastructure of choice for the overwhelming majority of mechanised and automated warehouse operations.

It’s probably not a massive debate, in that not a huge number of people are talking about it, and Campbell’s view that conveyor systems are faster and more cost-effective is probably widely accepted.

However, for a warehouse manager, there is at least another option that perhaps merits consideration. The conveyor system has been around a long time and, to all intents and purposes, there was no real alternative to it.

The main advantage of mobile autonomous vehicles is that there is no need for fixed infrastructure, which can be expensive. Even the magnetic strips that are often fixed to the floor to enable automated guided vehicles are not necessary for the new vehicles – or “robots” as they are sometimes called – because they are often equipped with artificial intelligence systems for mapping and self-charging.

Campbell argues that Interroll’s new modular design makes building an infrastructure easier to begin with and simpler to modify on an ongoing basis.

The company has developed new technology which enables the conveyor to stop items – boxes or totes – at specified locations to with a millimetre of accuracy.

This means that any robotic arms that are there to place objects inside the box or tote can add their own accuracy level and make the placement ultra-precise.

In other words, Interroll’s conveyor is precise enough for manufacturing assembly line work, even for industries that demand extreme precision, such as electronics.

Many of Interroll’s customers are from the electronics sector, but Campbell says one of the big growth areas now is e-commerce.

Hilton Campbell, managing director, Interroll UK
Hilton Campbell, managing director, Interroll UK

“About 50 per cent of enquiries coming into us are from online retail,” says Campbell. “Mostly from the fashion sector, but also electronics as well.

“We also find automotive parts distribution is a big area of interest as well.”

Finding people who want to work in the supply chain and logistics sectors is becoming increasingly difficult, which means companies like Interroll will continue to grow.

The company’s largest market is Germany, but Campbell – who arrived from South Africa to take up his role as MD for Interroll UK – says the booming online retail market in Britain offers many opportunities for Interroll.

As well as the many varieties and combinations of rollers and smart rollers – “RollerDrive” being one of its new products – Interroll provides Industry 4.0 open standards-compliant machine data monitoring and predictive maintenance systems.

The data can only be collected by the customer and they can decide whether to keep it on site or use some cloud services.

While Interroll has released an updated computer card for programmable logic controllers, it is not yet offering cloud services.

Looking ahead, Campbell says he’s interested in new technologies such as the driverless forklift trucks now coming onto the market, as well as AGVs – autonomous or otherwise.

But Interroll has been providing rollers and conveyor technology for 60 years, and there is plenty of work to do in that market first.

“I am looking forward to adding value to the UK operation, not just by growing sales by excellence, but by continuing to elevate our brand reputation in the market,” says Campbell.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Skype
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • Pocket

You might also like…

Filed Under: Features, Logistics Tagged With: conveyor systems, interroll, rollers for conveyors, supply chain, warehouses

Join the Robotics & Automation News community

Primary Sidebar

Latest articles

  • Apptronik and Terex to jointly develop robots for commercial use
  • Visteon and Steradian partner to develop autonomous car functions
  • Hyundai launches delivery robot pilot programs
  • BMW unveils first battery cell coating line at Leipzig factory
  • Interactive cyber-physical human: Generating contact-rich whole-body motions
  • Robotic nursing assistant market set to expand 15 percent a year through to 2032
  • Bin-picking systems market forecast to grow to $5.6 billion by 2033
  • Material handling robot market predicted to grow to $13 billion by 2033
  • Ottonomy unveils new delivery robot
  • ABB robots help tackle Covid by automating testing, research and diagnostics

Most Read

  • Foxconn plans to build autonomous vehicles on Nvidia computing platform
    Foxconn plans to build autonomous vehicles on Nvidia computing platform
  • Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
    Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
  • Manufactured in the metaverse: Mercedes-Benz designs virtual factories with Nvidia Omniverse
    Manufactured in the metaverse: Mercedes-Benz designs virtual factories with Nvidia Omniverse
  • Why is My Car Key Stuck in the Ignition?
    Why is My Car Key Stuck in the Ignition?
  • Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
    Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
  • Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
    Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific partners with Celltrio to build fully automated cell culture system
    Thermo Fisher Scientific partners with Celltrio to build fully automated cell culture system
  • UPS and Gap units partner to offer ‘unmatched automation and supply chain capabilities’ to apparel merchants
    UPS and Gap units partner to offer ‘unmatched automation and supply chain capabilities’ to apparel merchants
  • Kuka unveils new compact autonomous mobile robot for intralogistics
    Kuka unveils new compact autonomous mobile robot for intralogistics
  • The Best Mechanical Engineering Design Software in 2022
    The Best Mechanical Engineering Design Software in 2022

Overused words

ai applications automated automation automotive autonomous business china companies company control customers data design development digital electric global industrial industry logistics machine manufacturing market mobile platform process production robot robotic robotics robots safety software solution solutions system systems technologies technology time vehicle vehicles warehouse work

Secondary Sidebar

Latest news

  • Apptronik and Terex to jointly develop robots for commercial use
  • Visteon and Steradian partner to develop autonomous car functions
  • Hyundai launches delivery robot pilot programs
  • BMW unveils first battery cell coating line at Leipzig factory
  • Interactive cyber-physical human: Generating contact-rich whole-body motions
  • Robotic nursing assistant market set to expand 15 percent a year through to 2032
  • Bin-picking systems market forecast to grow to $5.6 billion by 2033
  • Material handling robot market predicted to grow to $13 billion by 2033
  • Ottonomy unveils new delivery robot
  • ABB robots help tackle Covid by automating testing, research and diagnostics

Footer

We are…

Robotics and Automation News was established in May, 2015, and is now one of the most widely-read websites in its category.

Please consider supporting us by becoming a paying subscriber, or through advertising and sponsorships, or by purchasing products and services through our shop – or a combination of all of the above.

Thank you.

Independent

Archivists

March 2019
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Feb   Apr »

Complex

Old-skool

This website and its associated magazine, and weekly newsletter, are all produced by a small team of experienced journalists and media professionals.

If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to contact us at any of the email addresses on our contact page.

We’d be happy to hear from you, and will always reply as soon as possible.

Future-facing

Free, fair and legal

We support the principles of net neutrality and equal opportunities.

Member of The Internet Defense League

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT