Automation in furniture production – Venjakob relies on driverless transport systems from ek robotics

Feb 23, 2025 Warehousing Ireland News, Warehousing Comments Off on Automation in furniture production – Venjakob relies on driverless transport systems from ek robotics

---

How can a traditional furniture manufacturer make its intralogistics future-proof? Alfons Venjakob GmbH & Co. KG in Gütersloh, Germany shows how automated guided vehicles (AGV) ensure greater efficiency, safety and flexibility even in a production environment with varying load sizes and narrow travel paths.

 

Automation for maximum flexibility

Venjakob manufactures furniture in a wide range of shapes and sizes – a challenge for in-house material transport, due to the variety of loads. At the same time, narrow routes require precise navigation of the transport vehicles. A solution therefore had to be both, flexible and space-saving. The choice fell on a customized AGV with two vehicles of the VARIO MOVE series from ek robotics. These transport robots are equipped with extended forks, sensors to detect the width and length of the load and a duplex lift mast. This enables them to transport loads of up to 1,000 kg and store them at heights of up to four meters. A sophisticated safety concept with personal protection laser scanners, acoustic and visual signals enables safe operation – even in areas without a clear overview. “Our employees can now concentrate more on value-adding activities while the AGV takes over the material flow,” explains Fabian Terpelle, Project Manager at Venjakob. An additional advantage: Thanks to the training at the ek Academy, the company can make adjustments to the system independently and continuously develop it further.

 

A future-proof concept

The pilot project shows that driverless transport systems not only play a key role in industry, but also in production environments characterized by craftsmanship. Venjakob is already planning to expand the system to other production areas in order to exploit additional automation potential.

 

Experience it live at LogiMAT 2025

At LogiMAT 2025 in Hall 8, Stand B05, ek robotics will be presenting pioneering automation solutions for intralogistics. Visitors will gain exclusive insights into the use of driverless transport systems –

from customized solutions for the manufacture of construction products and control cabinets to applications in the beverage industry and the paint and coatings sector. AGV experts from ek robotics will be on hand to answer individual questions and discuss the latest technology trends.

---