In many sand, gravel and bulk material plants, warehousing and loading processes are still largely manual. A lack of transparency and inaccurate inventory data lead to waiting times, inefficient transfers and unnecessary production orders. Two established providers – Sachtleben Technology, a specialist in sensor-based material detection, and Axians IAS, a provider of digital plant logistics solutions – have now entered into a strategic partnership and are addressing this challenge with an integrated solution that makes real-time data on material availability available for the automated control of loading processes.
OWL EYE +VAS Yard Management
Sachtleben’s OWL EYE® system uses LiDAR sensors to continuously measure the volume of stockpiles and record material flow on conveyor belts. This material inventory and flow data is retrieved in real time via an API from Axians IAS’s VAS® Yard Management, where it forms the basis for automated decisions, such as selecting the loading point with the highest fill level or controlling loading with pinpoint accuracy.
‘The combination of continuous material inventory tracking and intelligent logistics control shows how digitalisation creates tangible added value in the building materials industry,’ says Quirin Krauss, Managing Director of Sachtleben Technology GmbH.
For Marc Graner, Managing Director of Axians IAS, the collaboration with Sachtleben Technology demonstrates the importance of integration with partner companies: ‘Thanks to our partner integration, we can access additional valuable data and thus further automate and optimise our customers’ processes.’
Practical application examples
- Warehouse measurement and loading point control: OWL EYE® records material quantities in real time using multiple sensors. These LiDAR sensors can be permanently installed at the loading point or used for mobile measurement by installing them on a wheel loader that measures a stockpile as it passes by. VAS® uses this material inventory data to select the best loading point for a delivery based on rules – for example, the one with the highest fill level.
- Loading via conveyor belt: The OWL EYE® system measures the material flow with LiDAR sensors. Once the target quantity previously transmitted by VAS® Yard Management has been reached, the OWL EYE® conveyor belt is automatically stopped – without manual intervention.
The advantages for bulk solids plant operators
- Transparency: real-time data on material stocks and loads
- Efficiency: automated processes reduce waiting times and personnel costs
- Sustainability: fewer empty runs, more precise planning, lower emissions
- Integration: seamless integration into existing processes
Common perspective
The solution is scalable and suitable for both large and medium-sized plants. Initial projects are already running successfully at leading building materials manufacturers. In addition to the above-mentioned applications, the combination of automatic material inventory recording and digitised plant logistics offers great potential for use in other areas such as management dashboards, automated production planning and just-in-time loading.
Sachtleben Technology and Axians IAS would be happy to show you how you can benefit from this integration.
