Reference Project · Logistics

Process Control System: Palletizing Plant

Fully automated process control system for a tyre palletizing plant — SAP integration, robot palletizing with Rick-Rack/Stove-Pipe patterns, collision control, and integrated safety zone management.

Fully Automated Production Handover

The process control system (PCS) manages the production handover from a major tyre manufacturer to logistics. Tyre information is fed from the plant's SAP system to the PCS. Tyres are identified via scanner systems and routed to multiple palletizing robots — fully automated according to prescribed stacking patterns.

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Fully Automated

Robot palletizing with Rick-Rack and Stove-Pipe stacking patterns.

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SAP Integration

Master data, production plans and transport orders via SAP REST.

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Safety Zones

Zone-based safety concept with an operator access request system.

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Collision Control

Automated collision prevention for robots and transfer carriages.

From Production to Pallet

Tyre information is provided by the plant's SAP system and the production SOAP interface. Scanners identify each tyre and the PCS determines the target — diversion, intermediate buffer, or final pallet — then controls the conveyor accordingly.

Original Equipment (OE) tyres receive a marking, which is quality-checked and positioned so it always faces outward on the finished pallet.

  • Target determination based on age and quality attributes
  • Fully automated palletizing using Rick-Rack / Stove-Pipe patterns
  • OE marking with point inspection and orientation control
  • Two transfer carriages (TC) for pallet logistics
  • Feedback of KPIs and pallet contents to SAP

Collision Control & Safety Zones

The plant is divided into safety zones. Operators can request access to a zone via the PCS — the system clears all open orders for the zone before granting access.

Both transfer carriages and robots have overlapping movement ranges. Dedicated collision control in the PCS prevents conflicts automatically, without manual intervention.

  • Zone-based access system with automatic order draining
  • Safety door integration within the PCS
  • Automated collision avoidance for robots and transfer carriages

System Integration

The PCS communicates with SAP, production systems, robots, and hardware components across multiple protocols.

SAP (REST)

Master data, production plans, transport orders. KPIs and pallet contents fed back to SAP.

Production System (SOAP)

Tyre data from production to palletizing plant via SOAP.

Diverters (OPC UA)

Control commands to conveyor components via OPC UA.

Robots (TCP/IP)

Direct communication with palletizing robots via TCP/IP datagrams.

Transfer Carriages (OPC UA)

Pallet logistics control of transfer carriages via OPC UA.

Barcode & Light Barriers

Tyre tracking via barcode scans and light barrier signals.

Technologies Used

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