Automated lattice girder transport at Gebrüder Ott

Modernizing the precast element production process is the key to business success. This is also true for Gebr. Ott, a family-run business that has evolved from manufacturing simple concrete girders and floor blocks to producing state-of-the-art precast elements and prefabricated garages. The new, highly automated system from Progress Group makes it possible to transport lattice girders across the factory floor without having to interrupt production, and to install them directly in a fully automated process exactly to CAD specifications. This new technology provides significant time savings for two employees.

Automation is the key to efficiency

A major step forward on the shop floor is the introduction of state-of-the art production equipment, which requires groundbreaking automation concepts. The Wire Center plays a vital role in this regard. This system places the steel reinforcement automatically in accordance with CAD specifications. “Thanks to the automation of the Wire Center, we no longer need to manually pull lattice girders through two bays of the building. In the new setup, the robot is moving across the factory floor, saving us time and labor,” explains Leon Baumgärtner, the managing director of the business representing the fourth generation of the owner family. Automation not only improves production output and dimensional accuracy; it also contributes to enhancing safety at work.

The Wire Center

Two columns were removed from the factory building to install the automated system. In the new setup, the sophisticated system allows for continuous production while, previously, it had to be interrupted for transport. The Wire Center is a fully automated, customized solution for rebar prefabrication embedded in a modern pallet carousel system. This unit makes it possible to produce and install lattice girders and straightened rebar from the coil in a fully automated process based on CAD/CAM data. The Wire Center thus optimizes the entire production process, improves dimensional accuracy, and minimizes errors. In addition, the system’s compact, modular design ensures a high degree of flexibility in its use.

Prefabricated concrete garages – a success story

Besides the manufacture of precast elements, Gebr. Ott also specializes in producing prefabricated garages. Boasting over 50 years of experience, the business is one of the leading prefab garage suppliers in Germany.

Success drivers and challenges

“Collaboration with Progress Group was sound, and the installation process went very smoothly,” Baumgärtner adds. Challenges such as adapting the channel underneath the lattice girder storage facility were mastered with great skill, which underscores the flexibility and problem-solving ability of both companies. The business’s long-term approach and focus on continuous improvement ensure that Gebr. Ott will remain competitive in the production of precast elements.