Development and manufacture of picking, returns processing and conveyor technology for logistics.
TWI GmbH
Karlsruhe (Headquarters and Plant)New on Amplifa
About TWI
TWI GmbH is a developer and manufacturer of logistics systems based in Karlsruhe. The company produces customised picking systems, returns processing technology and conveyor technology that are modular in design and configured according to customer requirements. The product range includes the Pick-by-Light single-station systems AERO and WINPICK, the picking lines PRESSE TOP and TABAK TOP, the returns processing system ASS200 express/MULTI, the small-parts system SP-AERO with a rotating goods tower, the conveyor system FLOWPICK, the MDE solutions MOBILPICK and MDE-FOOD, as well as the multi-storey system NIGHTPACK. All systems are assembled at the company's own plant in Karlsruhe, tested there with real data over several weeks and optionally accepted with real goods; afterwards, TWI supports the systems for life with service and hotline support. The original core markets were the press and tobacco wholesale trade; today the systems are used, among other things, in food logistics, in the FMCG sector and in e-commerce. TWI systems operate worldwide in 24 countries.
- Site
- Karlsruhe
- Processes
- Development and implementation of picking systems (logistics systems), Systems manufacturing / assembly and test phase at the company's own plant ("Made in Germany"), Pick-by-Light picking (AERO), Automatic returns sorting by barcode recognition (ASS200), Pick-by-Light single workstation picking (WINPICK), MDE multi-order picking with pick-by-voice (MDE MOBILPICK), Multi-order picking of small parts with rotating goods tower (SP-AERO), Conveyor technology as picking and sorting system (FLOWPICK)
- Materials
- Pick-by-Light Picking, Pick-by-Voice / MDE, Returns Technology ASS200, Conveyor Technology FLOWPICK, Custom System Manufacturing
- Certificates
- Acceptance with real data at the plant, Weight control and photo documentation, Spare parts available for at least 10 years, 5-minute rule for component replacement
- Founded
- 1983
- Industries
- Press and Magazine Distribution, Tobacco Wholesale, Books, Stationery, Lotto, Confectionery
- 01
Analysis of customer requirements and consulting
- 02
Modular development of the individual solution
- 03
Detailed project planning incl. host interface and hall planning
- 04
Assembly and test phase of the system at the company's own plant
- 05
Acceptance with real data in Karlsruhe
- 06
Installation at the customer's site
- 07
Lifelong service, hotline and spare parts supply
Processes & Systems
Pick-by-Light Picking
Display-assisted picking at retrieval compartments, e.g. AERO, WINPICK, SP-AERO, NIGHTPACK and TOP lines.
Pick-by-Voice / MDE
Voice-guided multi-order picking with a mobile data capture device, suitable for deep-freeze environments down to -30 °C (MDE-FOOD).
Returns Technology ASS200
Fully automatic returns capture and sorting via barcode recognition on the zero-error principle with 2/6/15 sluices.
Conveyor Technology FLOWPICK
Flexibly configurable conveyor line with belts, rollers, pushers, sluices and scales as a picking or sorting system.
Custom System Manufacturing
Made-to-measure special solutions such as the AERO as a horizontal carousel.
Locations
Karlsruhe
DEHeadquarters, Engineering and Systems Manufacturing
- Materials
- Picking, returns processing and conveyor technology
- AERO Picking Station
- ASS200 express / MULTI
- WINPICK
- SP-AERO Goods Tower
- FLOWPICK Conveyor Technology
- TOP Picking Lines
- MDE Devices
- NIGHTPACK
Systems & Facilities
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Development and implementation of picking systems (logistics systems)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Systems manufacturing / assembly and test phase at the company's own plant ("Made in Germany")Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pick-by-Light picking (AERO)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Automatic returns sorting by barcode recognition (ASS200)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pick-by-Light single workstation picking (WINPICK)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| MDE multi-order picking with pick-by-voice (MDE MOBILPICK)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Multi-order picking of small parts with rotating goods tower (SP-AERO)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Conveyor technology as picking and sorting system (FLOWPICK)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pick-by-Light picking line with pick-by-voice (TABAK TOP / PRESSE TOP)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| MDE picking for chilled and deep-freeze areas (MDE-FOOD)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Custom system manufacturing (e.g. AERO as horizontal carousel)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pick-by-Light picking with multiple pickers (NIGHTPACK)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
10 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picking system AERO (Pick-by-Light single station) | TWI AERO | – | 5 sqm footprint, 60 compartments per station | – | Karlsruhe |
| Returns processing system | TWI ASS200 express / ASS200 MULTI | – | 2 sqm per station, 2/6/15 sluices | – | Karlsruhe |
| Picking single workstation | TWI WINPICK | – | – | – | Karlsruhe |
| MDE device (mobile data capture) | TWI MDE MOBILPICK | – | – | – | Karlsruhe |
| Small-parts picking station with rotating goods tower | TWI SP-AERO | – | 8 levels, up to 30 columns each, 240 compartments, small parts up to 400 mm in length | – | Karlsruhe |
| Conveyor technology / sorting system | TWI FLOWPICK | – | – | – | Karlsruhe |
| Pick-by-Light picking line | TWI PRESSE TOP / TABAK TOP | – | – | – | Karlsruhe |
| MDE picking device | TWI MDE-FOOD | – | Suitable for deep-freeze down to -30°C | – | Karlsruhe |
| Pick-by-Light picking system, 2-3 storeys | TWI NIGHTPACK | – | Up to 24/36 titles | – | Karlsruhe |
| Custom system manufacturing | TWI CUSTOM (e.g. AERO horizontal carousel) | – | – | – | Karlsruhe |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
Quality assurance is carried out via barcode scans of the item and compartment, double weight checks and photo documentation in final inspection; acceptance can take place with real data and real goods at the plant in Karlsruhe.
| Evidence | Karlsruhe |
|---|---|
| Acceptance with real data at the plant | |
| Weight control and photo documentation | |
| Spare parts available for at least 10 years | |
| 5-minute rule for component replacement |
Milestones
- 1983
Foundation of TWI at the Technologiefabrik technology incubator in Karlsruhe.
- 1995
“TWI goes overseas” – first picking systems sold to Australia.
- 1998
Equipment of the world's largest press wholesaler Smiths News (United Kingdom) with TOP and HIT systems; complete equipment with ASS200 express two years later.
- 2003
Picking systems for the largest warehouse of Lekkerland; TOP systems pack 250,000 units per day.
- 2012
Lapker (Budapest) purchases several TOP systems to supply 12,000 retailers; complete equipment with returns technology one year later.
- 2014
Presstalis (France) centralises the supply of 29,000 retailers: over 35 sites with TOP lines consolidated to 8 sites.
- 2016
5 million copies per day on TWI returns processing systems worldwide; 194,000 Points of Sale daily; systems in 24 countries.
- 2019
Flowpick picking system in e-commerce: 1,700 packages per hour.
- 2021
Sustainability: 65% of systems built since 1998 still in operation, materials 98% recyclable, 75% of own power from photovoltaic system.