Dutch IT Channel – Siemens Netherlands and VDL intensify collaboration

The specialized knowledge and experience of Siemens and VDL are combined to further develop the required infrastructures, such as energy and network, and a virtual simulation (the so-called digital twins) for the second generation of electric AGVs.

VDL: from the port to industrial applications

VDL has been building AGVs for use in port areas for years. They are deployed at the largest, most modern container terminals in the world. Since 2017, VDL has also focused on smaller AGVs for industrial companies with so-called ‘mixed traffic’ at their plants. This hybrid form of automated and non-automated transport is becoming increasingly relevant in the European market, due to its many application options.

With the second generation of AGVs, VDL and Siemens are responding even better to current challenges that companies face. The increasing tightness on the labor market and the shortage of drivers is one of them. The available drivers can carry out more ‘outbound’ transports, while an automatic vehicle – with an availability of 95% – can carry out journeys on site. This also results in higher process stability and continuity.

Electric transport also helps companies to achieve their energy goals more easily, to become more sustainable and to reduce their CO2 emissions. The number of damages is also lower, as shown by previous pilots.

Siemens: from drive to digital twins

Siemens supplies the complete drive, automation and digitalization, from the electric motors to the visualization software. The Siemens software consists of tested, certified building blocks that can be used for various functionalities in the vehicle. In addition, Siemens also supplies the security solutions required within an automated system.

The complete system is first built in a virtual environment. The logistics process is then simulated in this ‘digital twin’. For example, people walking around in the environment can be simulated, the speed of the vehicle can be increased to achieve a certain performance or charging stations can be added.

Dirk De Bilde, CEO Siemens Netherlands: ‘We are pleased that we have confirmed our intensive collaboration with our partner VDL today. The combination of both our expertise and the platform approach – eco-system thinking – can further accelerate innovations in the field of automated transport for industrial applications in half the time.’

Karel Smits, business unit manager VDL Automated Vehicles: ‘The state-of-the-art technology of this second generation of AGVs helps industrial companies to make logistics at their plants more sustainable, more efficient, safer and more reliable. We look forward to further developing this technology in close collaboration with Siemens in the coming years for successful, broad application in many sectors.’