Logistics Solutions Integration is getting TMH Belgium ready for Industry 4.0

In 2017, Toyota Industries Corporation announced the takeover of the large North American integrator of automated material handling systems Bastian Solutions. This acquisition led to Toyota establishing Logistics Solutions Integration, an organisation that provides turnkey solutions in the automated material handling industry, mainly focusing on five European countries: Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and Belgium.

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of logistics in providing services to all sections of society. At the same time it has exposed many limitations, which will accelerate the pace of evolution towards Industry 4.0 – a world in which all systems are interconnected and communicate with one another. Before Covid-19 struck, Toyota Material Handling had already decided to stimulate this transformation with the purchase of the American company Bastian Solutions. In the meantime, that company’s knowledge has been transferred to the Logistics Solutions Integration department of Toyota Material Handling.

“The history of Logistics Solutions began in the eighties when the first automatic machines were launched. With over 30 years’ experience, we are now more ready than ever for the transition from traditional material handling to automation and advanced logistics solutions,” says Hugues Van Espen, Managing Director at Toyota Material Handling Belgium.

It was during this quest to offer added value that Bastian crossed the path of Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO). Toyota’s goal is, after all, to offer a range of alternatives within automation for completely unmanned vehicles. This means integrated systems, robotics, conveyor belts, augmented reality, unmanned vehicles with software able to plan, coordinate and carry out fully automated operations, and so on.

“We are responsible for our customers’ future,” Van Espen adds. “The COVID-19 crisis has presented us with a number of opportunities in this respect. So it gives us a tremendous advantage being able to add these new solutions to our offer.”

“Our goal is to diversify Toyota’s automation portfolio,” says Luis Sullivan, National Head of Systems Integration for Belgium. “Our ambition is to design and deliver turnkey solutions for customers in the automated material handling industry.”

“Our customers face new challenges every day: from social distancing to the rise of e-commerce and micro-fulfilment. For them, innovation paves the way to success. Toyota is committed to taking new and existing customers to the next level, by offering turnkey material handling solutions that can be applied across a wide range of industries.”

First applications in Belgium

“We have already got two systems operational and are currently working on an interesting project for an automated high-bay pallet warehouse, with the necessary automation of inbound and outbound operations,” says Philip Van Oevelen, Logistics Solutions Senior Consultant at Toyota Material Handling Belgium. “We are seeing a lot of interest in the Belgian market – and not just for automated pallet warehouses. There is a trend towards storage per box, bin or unit with the associated automated storage and picking systems.”

“Companies showing the most interest are often SMEs with a large logistics flow, where one or more sections (receiving & shipping – warehousing – order preparation – sortation) can be the subject of a study, with small or large automation as the solution.”

News release from Toyota Material Handling Belgium, 16/11/2020

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