'No cold feet in automation'

"Anyone can automate" is the slogan with which German Still wants to win over doubters. The German intralogistics player is happy to show its comprehensive approach to automation to a wider audience. This has long since moved beyond rolling stock: software solutions figure prominently and the potential of AI solutions looks promising. 

Automation has long been the talk of the town in (intra) logistics circles, but at Still they find that logistics operators often still have some cold feet when the subject is brought up. In its automation hub in Antwerp, the German company demonstrates that this fear is unfounded. Managing director sales & service Florian Heydenreich wants to dispel a few myths. That the technology is too expensive, not reliable or mature enough, or that automation is a 'nice to have' and not a necessary innovation, they don't want to know about that at Still. 

Starting small

Clearly, in these times of digitization and automation, the software aspect of intralogistics is becoming increasingly important. 

Standardization and scalability are the order words when implementing these software solutions. Working with standard solutions reduces the cost price and makes maintenance easier, they know at Still. The scalability of the proposed solutions should ensure that companies can start small with automation if desired, after which the automation processes grow along with the customer's needs, as it were. Nevertheless, customer-specific configurations are always a possibility. 

The various software solutions Still offers bear the name "iGo." The system comes in different variants. iGo Flow coordinates the flow of goods in the warehouse. This software is integrated with the systems already in place at the customer (e.g. warehouse management systems, transport planning, etc.) The fact that the Still software must be easy to integrate into the customer's existing systems - and must also be able to "talk" to hardware other than the Still devices in the customer's fleet - is crucial for the German manufacturer. "The philosophy behind our software is rather that of an open Android system than Apple's closed approach," it sounds. Specifically, the integration of other manufacturers' products, the control of Still devices with software from other operators and the connection to overarching software systems is paramount. 

Variants

iGo has a few more variants. iGo Easy is tailored for companies just starting to automate. The focus is on simple tasks and scalability. The system does not require integration with an existing ERP/WMS. iGo Systems is the "big brother" of the range, focusing on complex and demanding applications. Flexibility and configurability are put forward as its greatest strengths. The "brain" of these applications is iGo Insights, a central data platform that can be used to analyze processes and performance in the warehouse, but can also be used, for example, to predict rolling stock maintenance schedules. 

New generation

For those curious about rolling stock: yes, there is a lot of new hardware on display in Antwerp. The FM-X iGo is a dual-use reach truck for use in warehouses with wide aisles. It can be both driver-controlled and automated, and lifts loads up to ten meters in height. In turn, the new MX-X iGo is a fully automated narrow-aisle truck with a lifting height of up to 14 meters. It is fully compliant with the ISO 3691-4 standard and is designed to be easily integrated into existing environments (brownfield). The EXV iGo stacker is the first industrially produced AGV, which should bring down costs and make maintenance easier. The compact AXV iGo is aimed at companies taking their first steps into automation. Its strengths are its short delivery times and scalability. The cloud-based software on which this AGV runs makes it relatively easy to quickly engage a larger fleet of AGVs. Still's automated trucks are also gradually all being fitted with the standardized VDA-5050 interface. 

One stop shop 

Still is also highlighting its role as a "one stop shop" for intralogistics solutions. Going beyond its role as a manufacturer of rolling stock, the company also wants to assist customers in the design of new (partially or fully) automated warehouse solutions and the accompanying software. In this way, Still is increasingly emphatically becoming an integrator. The focus is on end-to-end solutions. 

Also presented as part of this is the iGo Cube system: a customizable, fully automated, compact warehouse. Fully in line with Still's philosophy of scalability and standardization, this warehouse solution consists of standard components that are flexibly configurable. 

A demonstration of these collaborative solutions is planned for the general public at the Logimat trade fair in Stuttgart from March 11 to 13, 2025. All this with one message: cold feet in automation will no longer be necessary in 2025.