With the successful acceptance of a fully automated DER100 shunting robot at the Treul Group in Austria, Vollert has implemented another high-performance automation solution for the raw materials and construction materials industry. The long-established family-owned company is one of the leading producers of gravel, crushed stone, and raw material products in Austria and supplies numerous infrastructure and construction projects with high-quality mineral raw materials.
At the heart of the new facility is a fully automated shunting and loading process for ballast and gravel cars. The shunting vehicle handles the exact positioning and movement of the cars within the loading facility—precisely, efficiently, and without manual shunting intervention.
Automated processes for maximum efficiency
The entire process is controlled via a higher-level external control system. The operator simply enters the relevant information such as the number, type, and order of the wagons to be loaded into the system via a mobile tablet. The entire shunting and loading process then runs fully automatically.
The shunting robot communicates continuously with the control system via a bidirectional radio link. All control and feedback data are transmitted in real time. Depending on the process requirements, the DER100 receives either target speeds for controlled movement of the railcars or exact target positions for precise alignment under the loading area.
Thanks to an integrated diesel generator, the vehicle operates completely self-sufficiently and independently of an external power supply. This makes the system particularly suitable for demanding industrial environments where robust, flexible, and low-maintenance solutions are required.
Precise railcar positioning with high throughput
With a throughput of approximately 400 tons per hour, the railcars are then automatically guided through the loading process at precise intervals. The precise positioning ensures a continuous material flow as well as uniform and efficient loading of the individual railcars. For plant operations, this significantly simplifies process workflows. Manual shunting work is virtually eliminated, while process reliability and loading capacity are significantly increased. The wheel loader operator simply ensures that there is sufficient material in the feed hoppers—all other processes are handled by the automation system.
Digitalization and automation in raw material handling
The Treul Group is consistently committed to the digitalization and automation of logistics processes in raw material handling. Automated shunting and loading solutions are becoming increasingly important, particularly in the area of bulk material loading. They not only enable higher throughput rates and reproducible processes, but also reduce labor costs and potential sources of error during ongoing operations.
With the successful commissioning in Austria, Vollert once again underscores its expertise as a specialist in automated shunting and loading solutions for heavy-duty and bulk cargo applications. The goal is to make processes more efficient, safer, and more sustainable—and thus meet the growing demands of modern industrial and logistics sites.
