Efficient On All Floors: Transport Robots Use Otis Elevators For Automated Material Flow

Robots are now riding elevators at W. Gessmann GmbH: at the new production site in Schwaigern, Baden-Württemberg, Gessmann and Otis are jointly advancing intelligent factory automation. Otis(NYSE: OTIS), the world’s leading elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation and service company

The robots, developed in-house by Gessmann and manufactured locally, are called GESSbot®. They have been in use for seven years and have also ensured automated material flow in production at the new plant. Now, the robots ride elevators to move seamlessly across all levels of the site as they transport parts from the warehouse to the assembly lines on a just-in-time basis, completely independently. This automation streamlines logistics, improves efficiency and flexibility, and frees employees from time-consuming transport tasks so they can focus on higher-value work.

Using the cloud-based programming interface Otis Integrated Dispatch™ they can now autonomously call elevators and navigate independently between the lower and upper floors.

"With GESSbot, we have created a solution that makes our production processes more flexible and efficient. Thanks to the Otis Integrated Dispatch interface, we can now use our robots seamlessly across multiple levels – this is another step towards Industry 4.0," says Steffen Kuhnle, Head of Robotics at W. Gessmann GmbH.

"Until recently, robots required hard-wired solutions to use elevators independently. Otis Integrated Dispatch, our state-of-the-art, cloud-based API, provides a solution. The API interface makes it easy to connect additional robots - even different models from different suppliers. It enables robots to call elevators independently, select their destination, and use them safely, without any human intervention. The technology is compatible with most Otis elevators built since the 1990s and can also be retrofitted into existing elevators," explains Christoph Sengstschmid, Senior Director of Sales & Marketing at Otis in Central Europe.

The market for autonomous transport and service robots is growing: according to the International Federation of Robotics, global sales rose by 30 percent to over 205,000 units in 2023. Skills shortages and an aging population are driving demand further – smart automation solutions such as GESSbot^® and Otis Integrated Dispatch show how companies can overcome these challenges.

For more information about Otis products and services, visit www.otis.com.

About Otis
Otis gives people freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world. The global leader in the manufacture, installation, service and modernization of elevators and escalators, we move 2.5 billion people a day and maintain approximately 2.5 million customer units worldwide – the industry's largest Service portfolio. You’ll find us in the world's most iconic structures, as well as residential and commercial buildings, transportation hubs and everywhere people are on the move. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, Otis is 72,000 people strong, including 45,000 field professionals, all committed to manufacturing, installing and maintaining products to meet the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories. To learn more, visit www.otis.com and follow us on LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook @OtisElevatorCo.