WINKEL developed the FAST PICK STATION to meet these modern challenges. This innovative system enhances workplace ergonomics, streamlines material flow, and enables efficient mixed packing operations—allowing diverse goods to be picked, sorted, and palletized together with maximum accuracy and care. The result is optimized space utilization, fewer handling steps, and faster order fulfillment.

Designed for versatility, the FAST PICK STATION is ideal for industries where mixed SKU handling is essential, including automotive and supplier logistics, food and beverage, textiles, and healthcare.

Smarter Design for Better Workflow

The FAST PICK STATION features a height-adjustable picking table mounted on a platform, a shaft below for load transfer, and an integrated stretch-wrapping system. Pallets, roller containers, or mesh boxes can be positioned on the table—delivered individually via conveyor or trays for flexible mixed packing configurations.

Operators can easily adjust the table height to their optimal working position, allowing items to be moved horizontally instead of lifted. This minimizes strain, reduces injury risk, and enables efficient handling of mixed product sizes and weights.

When a carrier is full, it automatically lowers through the shaft to the integrated stretch-wrapping machine, which secures the goods for transport—maintaining stability even with heterogeneous mixed loads. A new empty carrier is immediately positioned to keep the workflow continuous, while operators can continue working on an interim surface, eliminating downtime.

Performance That Delivers Results

With the FAST PICK STATION, operators can achieve up to 800 picks per hour—without heavy lifting or complex reconfiguration. Its precise process control virtually eliminates picking errors, ensuring accuracy even in mixed order fulfillment environments.

Two employees can work simultaneously at the same station, and the system’s open design provides easy access from all sides. For further optimization, the FAST PICK STATION can be integrated into fully automated robotic systems, providing continuous, flexible mixed packing capabilities around the clock.

The result: higher throughput, fewer errors, improved safety, and consistent quality—even for complex mixed loads. The FAST PICK STATION not only enhances productivity and ergonomics but also enables smarter logistics by simplifying how varied goods are handled and packed together.

About WINKEL GmbH

WINKEL GmbH is a leading provider of heavy-load linear motion and handling solutions. Based in Illingen near Stuttgart, Germany, WINKEL has been developing innovative linear and handling systems for more than 40 years. As a trusted partner to OEMs, system integrators, and general contractors, WINKEL offers both a proven standard product range and customized solutions tailored to specific industrial applications.

To better serve customers in North America, WINKEL has recently established its new USA headquarters, expanding local support, service, and sales capabilities for U.S. and Canadian markets.

The ProMat theme of “where supply chain pros come together to find solutions” is ringing true with a large number of the Fortune 1000 and top 100 retailers and consumer goods firms registering to attend as teams to connect, learn and source solutions for their operational challenges.

When attendees register for ProMat, they are asked to answer several demographic questions about their industry, product interest, buying authority, and spending plans. Below are some highlights from current ProMat 2025 attendee demographics.

–88% have buying power

–80% are coming to see new products and innovations

–69% are coming to network and learn

–38% plan on spending over $1 million over the next 18 months

–50% are corporate or senior management

–34% are middle management or IT/Engineering

–68% are looking for solutions for distribution centers or warehouses supporting manufacturing

–25% are looking for solutions for manufacturing facilities

When it comes to product interest, ProMat 2025 attendees are looking for a broad range of equipment and technologies. However, there is a heightened interest in AI, automation, robotics, and autonomous vehicles as firms are looking to build resiliency and visibility into their operations. Looking at the current product interest from ProMat attendee registrations, we see several key themes emerging for this event:

The Power of Data and AI for Supply Chains

Attendees are demonstrating an increased interest in using data and artificial intelligence AI to optimize order picking routes, demand forecasting, and to identify bottlenecks. Machine learning algorithms can improve operational efficiency by continuously learning from data patterns. Leveraging this data with AI drives faster decision-making and more accurate operations by providing real-time information and actionable intelligence on operations. These important trends are of keen interest for attendees and will be big news on the ProMat show floor and are also the focus of the event’s March 17 and March 18 keynotes.

Utilizing Automation for Connected, Scalable Warehouse and DC Operations

Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Warehouse Execution Systems (WES), Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), Autonomous Forklifts, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), and Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) are now seen as interconnected solutions for facilities. Attendees are interested to see how these solutions can work together to build smarter, scalable, and more agile warehouse and DC operations.

Collaborative and Humanoid Robots 

Humanoid and collaborative robots (Cobots) are of keen interest due to their enhanced precision and adaptability. The ability of these solutions to collaborate safely and efficiently with human workers as they provide real-time operational data has the attention of ProMat attendees.

Wearable Tech

From smart glasses to headsets and advanced gloves and wrist wearables, these solutions are enhancing worker efficiency and safety. Wearables streamline warehouse workflows by removing manual steps from day-to-day processes. They also improve worker satisfaction by empowering workers with real-time information and feedback. Wearables also work to reduce worker strain as they monitor physical activity, location, and health.

In addition to ProMat’s 1,200 exhibits, the event includes a conference with four keynotes and over 200 educational sessions. This powerful combination of exhibits, education, and networking makes ProMat an event like no other, one that will give you the tools and knowledge you need to sharpen your competitive edge and take your operations to the next level of excellence in 2025 and beyond.

The leading global parts and solutions provider to the independent aftermarket was also experiencing storage capacity constraints at its distribution center in Olive Branch, Mississippi. MAHLE looked for a high-density storage solution that would enable it to adapt to the shift in customer order profiles and is scalable for future growth.

Having examined a range of options, MAHLE Aftermarket invested in the AutoStore empowered by Kardex solution. The project has been hailed a success by MAHLE, helping the company store more products in less space and ship small orders more efficiently.

Working together proves successful for MAHLE and Kardex

MAHLE chose Kardex to implement the intelligent goods-to-person automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) tailored to MAHLE Aftermarket’s material flow, with market-leading inventory storage density and processing. The complete AutoStore solution at the Mississippi facility comprises 42,000 bins, 7 ports and 18 robots, in addition to a connected conveyor solution with 18 gravity lanes used for consolidation.

Designed and planned by the experts at Kardex, the AutoStore solution was built and commissioned on schedule and ramped up quickly and smoothly. Kardex FulfillX maximizes the capabilities of AutoStore robotic cube systems to optimize resources and processes, delivering the fastest order fulfillment solution per square foot on the market, increasing storage capacity by up to 4 times and enhancing performance by up to 10 times compared with traditional methods, without additional workforce.

MAHLE praises density, scalability and hands-on support

MAHLE Aftermarket has hailed the support Kardex provided throughout the project. Lorraine Hinderer, MAHLE Aftermarket Head of Business Innovation and Excellence, says, “One of the reasons we chose Kardex is because compared to the other integrators they were able to provide an end-to-end solution tailored to our material flow, whereas the others were focused on selling their solution and not a holistic approach. I would recommend Kardex to other companies – and have actually – just due to the way that they support in the whole initial design and sizing… but also in actually implementing the system on-site.”

Rhiannon Fisher, MAHLE Aftermarket Head of Business Excellence for the North America region, adds, “The support provided by Kardex exceeded expectations. During the design process they were very hands on. They provided support on-site during the entire process and ultimately delivered a turnkey solution.”

Fred Fox, Director of Project Success for the Kardex Solutions AutoStore team, explains that Kardex offers clients the flexibility to either leverage Kardex FulfillX, the purpose-built software package designed specifically for AutoStore end-user solutions, integrate other warehouse management systems (WMS), or utilize their own software. In the case of MAHLE Aftermarket, it chose to integrate with its existing SAP Warehouse Management System. “Together we got a really good solution in place and that’s just part of who we are and what we want to do,” Fox states.

MAHLE Aftermarket prepares for the future with AutoStore empowered by Kardex

Following the success of the Olive Branch project, MAHLE Aftermarket automated a second operation in Décines-Charpieu (Lyon), France, including 22,440 storage bins, 7 robots and 2 workstations. MAHLE continues to evaluate its other locations worldwide to assess if AutoStore empowered by Kardex can enhance customer service, increase efficiencies, and standardize its operations.

Kardex delivers a wide range of potential solutions for both logistics and manufacturing operations. MAHLE Aftermarket employs AutoStore empowered by Kardex to pick parts to take to kitting for the on-site production of engine gaskets and the system offers manufacturers the potential to put picks in a specific order for kitting to substantially improve production line efficiency and productivity.

About Kardex

Kardex is a leading global partner for intralogistics solutions in an attractive and growing market. The Group offers premium automated products, standardized systems, and life cycle services that guarantee high availability and low total cost of ownership. Kardex provides an intelligent entry into automation with its dynamic storage and retrieval systems, offers integrated material handling systems, small parts storage systems, and automated high-bay warehouses, and acts as a global AutoStore partner, offering flexible and modular storage and order fulfillment solutions. The Group employs around 2,500 people in over 30 countries. Kardex Holding AG has been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 1989.

About MAHLE Aftermarket

MAHLE Aftermarket, the business unit specializing in spare parts, uses the expertise from the series production of original equipment in its product range and supplies trade, workshop, and engine repair partners. The portfolio also includes products developed by MAHLE Service Solutions for workshop equipment as well as comprehensive services and customized training programs. MAHLE Aftermarket is represented at 25 locations and other sales offices worldwide, with around 1,700 employees. In 2020, the business unit achieved a global sales volume of about EUR 898 million.

Seegrid Corporation, global leader of robotic vision-guided automated guided vehicles (AGVs), announced the introduction of Seegrid Supervisor, an AGV software system for fleet optimization. Seegrid Supervisor communicates with a network appliance via wireless network and is configured through a local web browser to connect, monitor, and control vision-guided AGVs within a facility.

Seegrid Supervisor is designed to provide visibility, improve efficiency, and optimize material flow using three components: Fleet Status, Intersection Manager, and Switchboard. The AGV software technology provides real-time visibility, control, and automation of the AGV fleet.

The architecture of Seegrid Supervisor allows for integration with external control devices like PLCs (programmable logic controllers) or existing software systems such as Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES). The software system is a dynamic tool for vehicle notifications, creating rules and command configurations, and tracking and dispatching AGVs for material transport.

“Seegrid Supervisor offers unprecedented visibility into the operation of Seegrid AGVs and enables customers to quickly create more powerful and integrated applications with their fleet than ever before. We’ve taken our philosophy of simplicity, affordability, and flexibility to empower our customers to take control of their operations in new ways, which will multiply the value of their Seegrid AGVs,” explained Jeff Christensen, Director of Product Development.

“Facilitating an effective use of vision-guided AGVs, Seegrid Supervisor enables facilities to customize activity, increasing throughput by maximizing efficiency of material transport on the manufacturing and distribution center floor,” said Christensen. “We are thrilled that we can offer this AGV software solution as a product to customers.”

About Seegrid:
Seegrid Corporation, global leader of robotic vision-guided automated guided vehicles (AGVs), designs, engineers, and manufactures AGVs for the materials handling industry to operate with simplicity, flexibility and affordability. The company’s state-of-the-art navigation technology requires no infrastructure for navigation—no wires, lasers, tapes, or magnets. Seegrid vision-guided AGVs are revolutionizing the movement of materials in manufacturing and distribution environments. Creating economic and operational advantages, robotic pallet trucks, tow tractors, and walkie stackers optimize workflow processes by increasing productivity, and reducing labor and operating costs. Seegrid AGVs improve workplace safety, reduce equipment and product damage, and deliver a rapid return on investment. Maximize efficiency and productivity of vision-guided AGVs by utilizing Seegrid Supervisor, a network appliance, connecting, monitoring, and controlling a fleet of AGVs within an operation. Recent acknowledgements include a 2014 Edison Award, Manufacturer of the Year award, and chosen as one of Food Logistics Top 100 software and technology providers. Seegrid was named to the list of Fast Company 50 Most Innovative Companies and Top 10 Most Innovative Robotic Companies 2013.

For more information, please visit:
www.seegrid.com