Alois-Müller-Gruppe, Gutenbergstraße 12, 87781 Ungerhausen, Germany

At Alois Müller, service engineers use the Hänel Lean-Lift with the S-Anywhere smart management tool to access tools and necessary materials at installation sites

With its headquarters in Ungerhausen, Alois Müller GmbH is a leading system provider of energy and building services engineering. The company offers comprehensive solutions in the areas of heating, ventilation, plumbing, refrigeration, air conditioning, and electrical engineering as well as renewable energies. Alois Müller focuses on state-of-the-art technologies and efficient processes to fulfill high quality standards and address individual customer requirements in a targeted manner.

The company has been using four Hänel Lean-Lifts® in its warehouse for compact storage and supply of tools and maintenance equipment for use in production.

While on site, the service engineers need to access a wide range of tools. To address their needs, Hänel partnered with Schindler Solutions to develop a custom-fit solution for use at local installation sites. The solution, which is integrated in Alois Müller’s processes, is a combination of two Hänel Lean-Lifts® extending to over nine meters in height. The intuitive S-Anywhere management tool provides the guarantee of fast and reliable processes that the service department needs.

S-Anywhere offers a solution for the management and supply of tools and materials which can be combined with Hänel’s innovative lift systems. Storage management is further boosted by web-based deployment planning, which optimizes project coordination and reduces stock levels.

The successful integration of the Hänel Lean-Lifts® in the S-Anywhere software solution at Alois Müller ensures seamless communication between hardware and software. This enables efficient and intuitive operation of storage systems and optimally supports all warehouse and tool management processes.

The direct connection of the Hänel Lean-Lifts® to the S-Anywhere platform is of particular benefit to Alois Müller. The Hänel MP 14 N controller runs in HostWeb operating mode, which means that the S-Anywhere user interface can be directly displayed and operated on the controller display. This seamless integration enables intuitive management of all processes without the need for middleware. Tool retrievals and returns can be booked in S-Anywhere directly at the Hänel controller. Therefore, all stock movements are fully transparent.

The Hänel vertical lifts also enable optimal use of the available storage space and ergonomic handling of a wide variety of tools. Together with the S-Anywhere software solution and RFID-based management, the entire tool and material flow is automated and recorded in real time.

Tool output is conveniently handled by the Hänel Lean-Lift®. Warehouse employees use an RFID transponder to authenticate themselves at the Hänel MP 14 N controller, selecting the required tool from the list of available stock and placing it in a virtual shopping cart. The lift then automatically transports the relevant multifunction containers to the retrieval point. The process of returning tools is just as straightforward: the RFID or QR code scanner identifies the tool and automatically assigns it to a fixed storage location. If no fixed storage location exists, the system uses an intelligent algorithm to propose the ideal storage location.

The task of picking and sorting tools is just as easy. Pick lists created at the office workplace can be directly accessed at the Hänel controller, with the Lean-Lift® automatically supplying the required tools for retrieval in the optimal sequence. All of the tools to be retrieved are clearly identified with the aid of the Hänel Pick-o-Light® Vario, enabling the warehouse employees to quickly assemble customized packages for the individual service engineers.

The service engineers and fitters can drive to the retrieval point and load the prepared toolboxes into their service vehicles, returning them directly at the Hänel Lean-Lifts®.

The S-Anywhere app also enables flexible ordering of tools on the move or directly at the construction site. Service engineers can seamlessly take delivery of the tools from a colleague, ensuring that everything runs smoothly.

The combination of S-Anywhere and the Hänel storage solutions offers a host of advantages for Alois Müller. Vertical storage ensures that the available storage space is optimally utilized, while digitalization of the processes delivers significant time savings since search times are eliminated and all put-and-pick operations are recorded in real time. In addition, the automatic supply of tools at an ergonomic height ensures a healthy work environment. The clever integration of both systems significantly optimizes all storage and logistics processes.

Choosing such a forward-looking solution is a clear sign of Alois Müller’s commitment to innovation and efficiency. The integration of the Hänel Lean-Lift® with the S-Anywhere platform not only optimizes processes but also maximizes flexibility and improves long-term operations. 

The combination of Hänel Lean-Lift® and S-Anywhere ensures intelligent storage processes, fast access, and maximum transparency. This enables a rapid response by service employees, a sustained increase in productivity, and optimized and digitalized processing of orders.