Koninklijke Van der Most upgrades production process with Toyota’s Swarm Automation
With the third and fourth generations of the Van der Most family at the helm of the all-round communication provider, Koninklijke Van der Most continues to invest in sustainable innovations and efficient processes, ensuring they remain a reliable partner for future generations. Thanks to advanced automation, such as Toyota AGVs, they can optimise their production process and keep it running smoothly.
About Koninklijke Van der Most
Van der Most is a family business founded in 1904 and therefore they have borne the Royal title since 2004. Koninklijke Van der Most facilitates and produces high-quality communication and graphic services in-house, from design to product, from concept to delivery. Continuity is paramount at the family business, taking future generations into account. Naturally, this is done in the most sustainable way and every strategy is based on craftsmanship.
Facts and figures
- Company: Koninklijke Van der Most
- Location: Heerde, Netherlands
- Industry: Graphic industry
- Solutions: 7 AGVs (automated stacker SAE)
The next level of automation
Over the past few decades, Koninklijke van der Most’s journey from a commercial printing company to a leading player in the graphic industry has been marked by continuous innovation.
In 2001, they introduced automation into their operations, which significantly enhanced production capabilities.
Now, 24 years later, there was clearly a need for a comprehensive upgrade. The evolution of technology and the demands of modern production workflows required Van der Most to rethink their infrastructure and embrace a new generation of automation, i.e. Swarm Automation.
A unique challenge
“One of the unique challenges we faced during this upgrade,” explains Renee Van der Most, project manager at Van der Most, “was maintaining visibility for our Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs). Our site includes a bridge over a road that connects key areas of our facility, and we insisted that this bridge remain open to give visibility to the uninterrupted AGV movement between the buildings.
Toyota Material Handling responded with a clever solution for the AGVs to drive across the bridge: a transparent tunnel.” QR-based navigation allows the AGVs to read QR codes placed throughout the tunnel, enabling precise location tracking and route optimisation.
Toyota Dojo: testing diverse applications
Sites like these are dynamic environments, hosting a variety of applications and navigation systems tailored to specific tasks and workflows. Each method is selected to best suit the demands of the application it supports. This diversity allows for flexibility and responsiveness to changing production needs. “In this specific project,” comments Niek Lammersen, sales development manager at Toyota Material Handling NL, “we dealt with the integration of a wrapper, a new warehouse management system (WMS) and two elevators with a bridge connecting two buildings.
By using our automation dojo - a dedicated space where new specifications can be tested, refined and prepared for seamless integration into live projects - we were able to thoroughly assess and test these various specifications and applications, ensuring smooth integration and supporting adaptability.” This proactive approach ensures that every innovation is thoroughly tried and tested before deployment.
Smooth and continuous flow
Efficiency remains the cornerstone of Koninklijke van der Most’s production philosophy. The upgraded AGVs are a testament to this commitment. “As an all-round communications supplier, it's crucial to maintain the efficiency of our production processes,” says Renee Van der Most, “Toyota's AGVs have significantly increased our speed, improved productivity and ensured fewer disruptions. These vehicles ensure a smooth and continuous flow of materials and products across the entire operation.Operating 24 hours a day, 5 days a week, they eliminate bottlenecks and minimise downtime, allowing us to meet customer demands with precision and reliability.”
This investment in automation not only future-proofs the company’s operations but also reinforces its position as a major player in the graphic industry.