SEW-EURODRIVE and SAFELOG enter into a strategic partnership

SEW-EURODRIVE and SAFELOG announced a strategic partnership to jointly develop and establish a high-performance software system for controlling mobile and stationary processes in intralogistics. The collaboration combines the software expertise of SAFELOG, a specialist in software for controlling intralogistics processes, with the drive and automation expertise of SEW-EURODRIVE.

As part of the collaboration, SAFELOG will serve as the software provider and will further develop its existing system in a targeted manner to meet specific requirements. SEW-EURODRIVE will continue to focus on the development of mobile and, now, stationary robots, as well as other automation solutions that can be integrated into the software system in a modular and highly productive manner. In the future, SEW-EURODRIVE will be able to market this as a standalone product, as a bundle with drive technology, or as an integrated solution. Under the MAXOLUTION brand, the Bruchsal-based family-owned company will also implement complete projects as a system integrator.

“The goal of this partnership is to establish a software system on the market that sets new standards in the control of intralogistics processes – one that is flexible, scalable, and consistently tailored to user requirements”, emphasizes Dr. Hans Krattenmacher, Managing Director of Corporate Innovation Mechatronics at SEW-EURODRIVE. This allows both partners to focus on their strengths and benefit from a forward-looking, collaborative approach.
Michael Wolter, owner and Managing Director of SAFELOG, is also convinced of the added value of the collaboration: “We are combining our strengths to develop a state-of-the-art software system for the automation of the future. This allows us to offer customers perfect solutions today for goods-to-person applications as well as for classic logistics processes – with powerful mobile and stationary robotics.”

The solution is intended not only for use by customers but also, step by step, in SEW-EURODRIVE’s own plants to demonstrate its potential in real-world operation. “With this collaboration, we are taking a decisive step together toward a software-defined factory based on powerful mobile and stationary robots and powered by SEW-EURODRIVE’s MOVI-C automation module, regardless of the application”, adds Dr. Hans Krattenmacher.

Within the Krones Group, the planning and implementation of intralogistical solutions had hitherto been handled both in System Logistics S.p.A. in Fiorano (Italy), and in Syskron GmbH in Germany (Wackersdorf). Effective 1 July 2019, the Intralogistics Division of Syskron GmbH has been incorporated into System Logistics GmbH, headquartered in Wackersdorf, as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Krones Group.

With this streamlining of its market presence, Krones is uniting its entire intralogistics portfolio under the family brand of “System Logistics” and offering clients worldwide holistic solutions for intralogistical applications. This synergising of corporate capabilities will additionally ensure even closer networking for intralogistical projects.

The newly founded company employs around 100 people, and possesses in-house engineering, design, IT, automation and project management capabilities, plus its own after-sales service operation.

System Logistics GmbH will still be headquartered in Wackersdorf. The German/Austrian/Swiss market, as the single biggest market for automated warehousing systems in Europe, plus clients from the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, will be handled from there in future.