NORD and KNAPP Set New Milestone with First AeroBot Robotic Warehouse System in Germany

NORD Electronic Drivesystems has invested in cutting-edge automation technology from KNAPP for the expansion of their manufacturing and warehouse logistics facilities in Aurich, Germany. The innovative robotic warehouse system, AeroBot, will provide the electronic drive systems manufacturer with a solid foundation for future growth while strengthening their existing partnership with KNAPP. NORD is the first company in Germany to opt for this groundbreaking technology. The system go-live is planned for the second half of 2026.

Automating logistics processes drives growth

NORD Electronic Drivesystems, a member of the NORD Group, has tasked KNAPP with implementing a highly automated logistics solution at their newly expanded location. The heart of the expansion is the innovative AeroBot robotic warehouse system, which stores and retrieves electronic components for frequency converters while supporting production logistics for PCB assembly and final assembly. Once completed, the new storage system will include quadruple-deep storage on 29 levels and a total of 25,500 storage locations. Conveyors will also connect the system to six picking stations and two goods-in work stations. KNAPP’s logistics software, KiSoft One, will control the new system. The software includes an interface to NORD’s SAP® EWM system.

Flexible, future-proof logistics solution for NORD

The logistics solution is modular and designed so that it can be expanded with Open Shuttle autonomous mobile robots in future extensions. Since the storage system will be in a hypoxic environment, fire doors will also be integrated into all of the solution’s import and export conveyors. By expanding the manufacturing and logistics area from 7,500 m² to 20,000 m² (from 80,700 to 215,000 ft²) and adding the automation solution, NORD will be able to double their production capacity to a total of 400,000 frequency converters per year once the expansion is complete.

Expanding on a successful partnership

NORD and KNAPP’s many years of collaboration are characterized by mutual trust and technological expertise. As a supplier, NORD has been supplying KNAPP’s warehouse systems with drive technology for years. As a customer, NORD has been using a highly dynamic shuttle storage system by KNAPP at their location in Bargteheide since 2021. KNAPP, too, is both a customer and a supplier of NORD – a great example of close and dynamic collaboration. NORD supplies their powerful drive systems to many other customers in the logistics sector, underlining their strong position on this market. The new project in Aurich is the latest step in the expansion of this successful partnership between the tech companies.

About NORD Electronic Drivesystems

NORD Electronic Drivesystems GmbH is a member of the NORD DRIVESYSTEMS Group and specializes in the development and manufacturing of electronic drive systems. Since the early 1980s, the company has been manufacturing frequency converters, motor starters and other electronic components for drive systems in Aurich, Lower Saxony, Germany. With around 200 employees and a production capacity of up to 400,000 units per year, the plant in Aurich is one of the NORD Group’s technology leaders.

For more information, visit www.nord.com