Production processes and production layouts are changing in order to be able to manufacture increasingly individualized products flexibly and efficiently. A basic building block for the factory of the future is the transformation from a rigid to a modular, flexible and changeable structure. Individual modules can be added, duplicated or removed depending on their relevance to sales. This means that a factory can be adapted more quickly to changing market conditions. The loose interlinking of processes through driverless assistance systems and intelligent order control enables maximum flexibility.

SEW has founded the Maxolution Factory Automation division to support customers and interested parties on the path to this smart factory. With a diverse portfolio consisting of consulting and planning services, smart services such as simulations, virtual and augmented reality, pre-designed intelligent process modules and driverless assistance systems, the company's experts can realize the factory of tomorrow today.

A modular system for mobile assistance systems makes it possible to offer everything from simple transport vehicles to complex assistance systems and highly customized vehicles. The portfolio ranges from a mobile system with a load capacity of 500 kg to 3 t, from optical and inductive lane guidance to reference-free navigation. Various energy sets consisting of charging technology and energy storage enable the optimum solution for the respective process on a customer-specific basis.

The example of modern automobile final assembly of an e.GO electric vehicle shows mobile assembly assistants for automobile production for transporting vehicle bodies, assembly assistants for transporting material and for assembly on the assistance system as well as transport vehicles for the logistical delivery of material weighing up to 500 kg working together. A transverse transfer carriage is also used, which is suitable for linking stationary conveyor lines in production without a safety fence.

On the control side, the vehicles can receive simple transport orders from the ERP customer interface via the SEW logistics controller. The logistics controller handles fleet and load management. For complex systems with dynamic routing, the logistics coordinator offers the next level of smart logistics. With the new Smart Order, orders can be connected directly to the assistance systems and communicate directly with machines. This means that communication via higher-level ERP systems is no longer necessary, further increasing flexibility in the factory.