Hy-Tek Intralogistics and K.Hartwall partner

Hy-Tek Intralogistics, an automation technology integrator, has partnered with K.Hartwall, a provider of smart logistics solutions for retail, postal and parcel, and automotive industries. With Hy-Tek's enterprise logistics platform and the addition of K.Hartwall's A-MATE solutions, which are laser-navigated Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), customers will begin to find new ways to reduce cost and increase efficiency within their logistics processes, Hy-Tek Intralogistics explained.

"We are excited to start our partnership with K.Hartwall and be able to open the North American markets to them," said Zac Boehm, Vice President of Robotic Solutions at Hy-Tek Intralogistics. "By formalizing our partnership, it allows Hy-Tek to add to its existing solutions with a technology that focuses on eliminating non-value added material movements in today's demanding and ever-changing environment, further enforcing our goal to meet our customers where they are in their automation journey."

K.Hartwall's mobile robotic technologies, specifically the A-MATE FreeLift and Counter vehicles, offer Hy-Tek's customers a means of transporting unit loads without the need for an on-board operator and the use of specialized transfer stands, Hy-Tek noted.

"K.Hartwall's A-MATE solutions offer flexible, autonomous transport and elevation of various loads including GMA-style pallets, which are commonly used in the US market," said Collette Henn, Sr. Manager R&D at Hy-Tek Intralogistics. "The agility, ease of maintenance, and safety features that include continuous safety scanning, speed adjustment, and obstacle avoidance make it an excellent choice for our customers' pallet and cage transfer needs."

K.Hartwall's A-MATE FreeLift is compatible with many cages and Euro-style pallets and offers an omnidirectional drive system for manoeverability in the tightest of spaces. It also has the capability to stack loads, as the scissor-free lift design and pallet detection functionality automatically adjusts to skewed pallets.

With K.Hartwall's A-MATE Counter, Hy-Tek added that its customers across all industries will benefit from a fully electric mobile robot that has cantilevered forks and counterweight to move various load carriers like GMA pallets and cages.

"The partnership with Hy-Tek is an important step for K.Hartwall to establish a local presence with the A-MATE mobile robots in the US market in addition to our already successful solutions like our roll cages, foldable cages, and Lean equipment," said K.Hartwall's Eero Heinonen, Head of Automation. "Hy-Tek has many years of experience in the field of logistics automation and has a nationwide commissioning and after-sales service. Now, in combination with K.Hartwall's A-MATE™ mobile robots, which have already been proven successful in the European market, our US customers are getting the best possible entry into the world of efficient and flexible automated intralogistics."