High up in the Tyrolean mountains, something very special is created: ALPQUELL. On its decades-long journey through the rock, the pure spring water is naturally enriched with valuable minerals before it emerges clear, fresh and unadulterated at the surface. It is precisely this originality and quality that Rieder’s Quellen-Betriebe GmbH brings to every bottle as high-quality alpine mineral water. The Tyrolean company is regionally rooted and the mineral water brands ALPQUELL, TIROLER Quelle and ASTORIA are represented throughout Austria in retail.
In the heart of industrial value creation, where complex material flows meet maximum efficiency, something innovative has also emerged over the years: digitalization by ABF. Grown from a deep understanding of intralogistics processes, technological precision, sound experience and innovative ideas combine here to form holistic solutions.
Digital Transparency with the Intralogistics Solution from ABF
This is precisely where the joint project comes in: With the introduction of a state-of-the-art intralogistics solution, ABF supports Rieder’s Quellen-Betriebe in digitalizing their material flows. Against the backdrop of growing sales volumes and increasing demands on delivery quality, the traditional Tyrolean company is modernizing its intralogistics processes. The focus is on the introduction of an integrated forklift guidance and warehouse management system based on the OneBase®MFT software solution, which will transparently map and control all material movements in the future.
The goal of the project is complete traceability of all pallets – from receipt from manufacturing to dispatch. This introduces consistent inventory management at pallet level, which provides maximum transparency and prevents incorrect loading. With the implementation of the system, a central database is created that makes inventories visible in real time and coordinates warehouse and transport processes with system support.
Complete Integration Along the Process Chain
A key component of the project is the integration of manufacturing processes. The receipt of pallets from the filling line will be recorded by the system in the future, with material movements from the equipment to the warehouse being fully tracked. The relevant material data is transferred from the existing ERP system to the WMS via an interface. The technical integration of the labeling robots and scanners at the production exits required for automated material receipt will also be specified during detailed planning.
Another central building block of digitalization is the fundamental restructuring of loading processes. While delivery notes are currently handed over manually and deliveries are compiled in the existing ERP system, these processes will be mapped in the WMS in the future. Loading operations will be organized by the system and subsequently processed efficiently through transport orders to the forklifts. Flexible rule sets, such as for considering best-before dates, can be easily integrated into process control. Storage and retrieval operations are controlled by transport orders to the forklifts. This centrally coordinates and monitors the entire material flow.
3D LiDAR RTLS as Innovation
With the use of OneBase®MFT, Rieder’s Quellen-Betriebe will significantly increase transparency in the warehouse while sustainably improving process quality in dispatch. The complete digital mapping of all material movements reduces sources of error and creates the foundation for efficient control of internal transport with a total of six forklifts. A key technological component of material tracking in this project is a Real-Time Locating System (RTLS), which precisely determines the positions of the forklifts and, based on this, records the movements of the load units in real time. This enables precise material tracking as well as control of transport processes. With the use of 3D LiDAR positioning technology in this intralogistics project, ABF is taking a pioneering role in the market and, through particularly accurate, robust and flexible localization, is creating the foundation for highly automated and future-proof intralogistics.
In the area of tracking manned industrial trucks, the 3D positioning technology developed by technology driver systemrocket GmbH sets new standards and represents an absolute novelty in this application area. A test pilot has already shown that this approach is significantly better suited for the complex warehouse environments typical in the beverage industry than conventional 2D LiDAR positioning. Since the system does not require fixed installed infrastructure, the intralogistics solution can later be easily extended to new warehouse areas.
Fit for Future Growth
As one of the most important project goals, automated electronic dispatch communication (DESADV) is also enabled by the new WMS. This sustainably secures the market position, as seamless integration with customers and trading partners is guaranteed in the future.
The project contributes significantly to aligning logistics with future requirements and the planned expansion of production capacity with a new filling line.
With the planned implementation of the project by the end of 2026, a clear step is being taken toward digitalized, future-proof intralogistics – and thus, together with ABF, the foundation is being laid for maximum transparency and sustainable growth.
We look forward to the joint implementation of the project and to successful collaboration.
