DYCONEX Opts for Automated Guided Vehicles

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DYCONEX AG successfully tests the production use of self-driving transport robots with a view to automating internal goods flows between departments and clean room zones.

Introduction of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) at DYCONEX marks a further step in the company’s methodical automation of production processes. The AGV system’s primary task is to transport materials between departments. “We aim to make good use of automation technology by relieving our staff of time-consuming transport tasks. For example, there is no need for people to step away from operating machinery or exit beyond clean zones,” explains Stephan Messerli, VP of Operations at DYCONEX.

The AGV system is comprised of various components working closely together to enable completely autonomous transport from shelf to shelf. The transport robots have been adapted to DYCONEX requirements and navigate by themselves, aided by a laser scanner. They react to changes in the working environment, avoiding people and obstacles on their own. Each vehicle calculates an optimal route to its destination on the basis of a stored map. The routing integrates processes for opening doors as well as autonomous floor-to-floor transfers via goods lift. Vehicles communicate via WLAN and organize transport tasks among themselves. Panels for entering transport orders complement the infrastructure. After a test phase lasting several months, the AGV transport system has been in productive operation since last December.

About DYCONEX AG

With more than 50 years of experience, DYCONEX AG is an international leader in the supply of highly complex flexible, rigid-flex and rigid HDI/microvia circuit boards and chip-substrate solutions. These products are used in every application where miniaturization, increased functionality, quality and the highest level of reliability play a role. With its headquarters in Bassersdorf, DYCONEX has 180 employees and the company is a member of the Micro Systems Technologies Group. 

About the Micro Systems Technologies group

The Micro Systems Technologies group consists of four high-tech companies that offer innovative components and services for medical devices, in particular implants. Other high-tech industries that demand exceptional performance, quality and the highest levels of reliability also rely on the expertise of MST companies.

The globally active companies that make up the MST group – DYCONEX AG (Switzerland), LITRONIK Batterietechnologie GmbH (Germany), Micro Systems Engineering GmbH (Germany) and Micro Systems Engineering, Inc. (USA) – offer their customers integrated solutions ranging from initial design through to series production.