Renault Launches 100% Automated Facility Using Exotec Robots
Renault Group have positioned themselves ahead of the field with their new-generation logistics facility in Villeroy.
The facility is fully automated, harnessing technological and robotics systems from Exotec.
The French collaboration marks a world-first for a car manufacturer and aims to eliminate human error, reduce lead times and improve efficiency across the supply chain.
Renault, which sold 2.2 million vehicles across 130 countries in 2023, is embarking on value-generating transformation.
This focus on the development of new technologies, whilst pursuing carbon neutrality by 2040, led them to partner with Exotec on their Villeroy facility.
Exotec designs robotic solutions for world-leading warehouses and has worked with over 50 industry leading brands to improve and future-proof their logistical operations – and are now adding Renault to the list.
Their approach will use 191 Skypod robots to automate the flow of parts from receipt to shipment, ultimately dividing processing time by six. Furthermore, the site will benefit from a reduced energy consumption of 30% compared to traditional sites.
Prioritising adaptability in fast-paced environments
The partnership’s solution is characterised by its adaptability to changing production needs as it is able to adjust in real time by adding storage modules, robots or modifying conveyors.
These robots are equipped with advanced navigation and handling capabilities in a compact design to ensure agility and safety in the busy logistics environment at Villeroy.
Each of the 191 robots at the site are tailored to their specific requirements – picking, inventory, put-away or compaction. This creates a scalable solution adaptable to the type of product flow Renault experiences.
"We are proud to collaborate with Exotec to equip our supply chain with Skypod® robots, positioning our Villeroy site at the forefront of innovation,” says Xavier Lhors, Director of After-Sales Logistics at Renault Group.
“Thanks to this solution and the teams in place, we will be able to increase the number of orders served by 25% and strengthen our commitment to customer satisfaction, which remains a priority for us," Xavier continues.
Villeroy is a high-performance logistics site
The facility has 14 picking stations which can prepare nearly 4,000 order lines per hour at its peak of activity.
The time from the beginning to the delivery of the package to shipments is 20 minutes, where this previously took two hours.
The elimination of handling equipment makes a 30% reduction in energy consumption possible, as this is replaced by robots that consume less energy.
The site processes up to 40,000 order lines per day, with 110,000 references, including 20,000 references managed by the new logistics tool.
It covers both the Group's latest models, such as Scenic and Rafale, as well as older models, in order to tackle all types of customers maintenance or repair solutions with the highest level of service.
"The collaboration between Renault Group and Exotec combines a flagship of the national automotive industry with an emerging leader in French robotics logistics," Thomas Genestar, the Managing Director for Western Europe at Exotec, says.
"Together, we have gathered French industrial know-how and the desire to bring it into a new era. We are proud to work with Renault Group, a major player in its sector, whose trust demonstrates Exotec's ability to meet the complex and specific needs of its customers.
"The flexibility and agility of our Skypod® system, which allows us to adapt to changing production, is an asset for those in the automotive sector who want better operational comfort and greater efficiency,"
Renault's new facility will contribute to the improvement of working conditions and safety at Villeroy and provides a tailor-made solution to Renault Group's supply chain needs; reduced delivery times and increased efficiency.
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