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Efficiently store thousands of pallets, retrieve them at any time and make optimal use of space – that's what automatic pallet warehouses do. Advanced technologies are needed to ensure that the systems remain flexible and deliver high performance.
At LogiMAT 2025 (March 11–13, Messe Stuttgart, Hall 5, Booth C66), SMB will be presenting versatile storage systems that are precisely designed for this.
The CAPtrievers are wireless pallet shuttles with a powerful synchronous motor that recharge in seconds thanks to power caps. They effortlessly transport EUR-pallets, industrial pallets and drum pallets weighing up to 1,500 kilograms.
SMB International from Quickborn, Germany, develops fully automated channel storage systems for pallets - as flat storage, tiered storage or in silo design up to 40 meters high.
Automatic storage and retrieval systems operate on each of the up to 20 storage levels. The AS/RS are called Truck Shuttles, because they combine a transfer cars with pallet shuttles in compact units. The next generation of the product family is called CAPtriever.
The new shuttles use power caps and drive autonomously. Thanks to WLAN controllers and a synchronous servomotor from SEW-EURODRIVE, they do not require a cable connection to the "truck", their mother ship. The system is energy-efficient thanks to recuperation. After returning to the charging contacts on the truck, the shuttles are ready for use again in seconds.
The CAPtriever trucks move on conductor rails through the main aisles of a channel storage system and transport pallets to the storage channels. There, the shuttles take over and store and retrieve the goods in channels up to 25 meters deep. With the wireless storage system, the intralogistics specialists at SMB International can automate warehouses and silo buildings with up to 100,000 pallet spaces - both in new buildings and in existing warehouses.
At 3 m/s in the main aisle and 1 m/s in the storage channel, the rail-bound, cable-free CAPtriever system achieves a high throughput rate and outperforms the cable-bound Truck Shuttle System, which SMB has already used to automate numerous pallet warehouses.
"Our approach of using one truck shuttle per warehouse level has proven its worth," says Andreas Heckel, Managing Director of SMB International. "Our unit consisting of a vehicle and cable-connected shuttle already manages 35 single cycles per hour. With the wireless version, we can increase this performance and offer our customers more freedom when designing their storage areas."
In SMB's Automated Pallet Warehouse, the CAPtriever achieves up to 40 single cycles per hour. Depending on the version, storage capacities of up to 100,000 pallet spaces are possible in fully automated operation. The shuttles are low-maintenance and intrinsically safe. Sensors detect obstacles and stop if there is a risk of collision.
The CAPtriever systems are flexibly scalable and adapt to warehouses of different sizes and capacities. SMB International offers three variants. SMB offers comprehensive intralogistics consulting for all variants and designs special machines from proven standard components.
Our systems grow with your requirements! We can combine CAPtriever with a lifting operating device in smaller warehouses, while we flexibly scale the system with multiple shuttles per truck for high-performance applications.
Boris Motsch, Sales Manager of SMB International GmbH
Optimal solution for smaller automatic storage systems with lower capacity
For pallet warehouses with racking up to nine meters high, SMB equips a small stacker crane with the CAPtriever.
The operating device combined with the wireless shuttle enables pallets to be stored and retrieved automatically in the smallest of spaces, with only the most necessary conveyors and safety technology. 150 to 2,000 pallet spaces are realistic.
SMB International always plans, develops and produces customized system technology. We can reliably implement your requirements in individual system solutions. Our technical sales team will be happy to answer any questions you may have about your intralogistics tasks.
Feel free to contact us about your specific requirements.
