Columbia Machine partners with OTTO Motors

Feb. 19, 2018 – Columbia Machine has recently become a certified OTTO Motors Integration Partner, allowing it to incorporate the OTTO 1500 Self Driving Vehicle (SDV) into current and future applications. The OTTO 1500 is a heavy-duty self-driving vehicle that is designed to move pallet loads that weigh up to 3,400 pounds.

“Columbia is excited to now have a SDV to include into the palletizing solutions that Columbia provides. With more companies implementing multiple pack lines, yet having fewer workers available, the SDVs offer a more flexible means to transport loads throughout a manufacturing process,” said Ted Yeigh, sales director.

The company describes the OTTO 1500 SDVs as creating free, open access to the discharge point, as well as to other equipment in the area, such as case erectors. Further, they navigate autonomously, independent of sensors embedded in the floor or laser reflectors on the walls, and use LIDAR and encoder wheels to determine their location based on a map is stored onboard the vehicle. The SDVs are directed by OTTO M, the software used for managing the day-to-day operation of a fleet. OTTO M also provides real-time monitoring, remote back-ups and Cloud access. Workers can interface with OTTO via an optional tablet interface, allowing requests to be sent to the SDV fleet.

Columbia manufactures inline high-speed, high-level, floor-level and robotic palletizers, load transfer stations and provides system integration, and features flexible, upgradeable designs to speeds up to 200 cases per minute.