LTW Intralogistics

3D Spare Parts Catalog as Part of the Digital Service Platform  

LTW Intralogistics gets everything flowing for its customers. To ensure that spare parts information also flows seamlessly between suppliers, service technicians, and customers, the full-service provider for intralogistics solutions uses Quanos SIS.one. This catalog system forms the basis for digital 3D spare parts catalogs and increased flow in spare parts management. 

Custom intralogistics solutions from Austria 

When it comes to reliably controlling material and goods flows in companies, LTW Intralogistics is on hand to help. The firm from Wolfurt, Austria has made a name for itself as a full-service provider for custom intralogistics solutions in more than 40 years of company history. Since it was founded in 1981, the company has been part of the Doppelmayr Group, whereby the manufacture of components to ropeway installation standards is just one of LTW's most outstanding quality features.  

A total of 320 LTW employees at four sites serve the needs of customers from over 35 countries. Products range from simple storage and retrieval systems to complex intralogistics projects, with which LTW is pursuing three important goals: maximum system availability, optimum use of space, and secure storage of products.  

Challenge: translating a variety of data into structured spare parts information  

During its existence of more than 40 years, LTW Intralogistics has amassed a wealth of knowledge and data—and there is no end in sight. “We are always on the move and so is our spare parts catalog,” says Abraham Sohm, head of Technical Account Executive Service at LTW.  

As a result, together with his colleague Lisa-Maria Burtscher (technical writer), he has digitalized spare parts catalog management at LTW to make searching for spare parts easier for customers. In doing so, they were supported by the Quanos SIS.one spare parts catalog system. Burtscher and Sohm defined exactly which challenges the software should resolve in advance. “Above all, we wanted to optimize and simplify our ordering process,” says the account manager, summing up the most important goal for the use of Quanos SIS.one.  

Requirement: clear 3D models and human expertise  

“In the intralogistics industry, not only do the customer requirements vary greatly depending on the project, but also the systems,” says Burtscher. For that reason, until now it was often time-consuming to identify the correct spare part in the parts lists.  

If a guide roller needed to be replaced, for example, maintenance personnel of LTW customers could describe the installation position of the roller or send pictures of the parts they were looking for. However, to identify the correct article number, additional information such as material or diameter is required.  

“This is why we wanted 3D models that every customer can use to easily find and order the spare parts they are looking for with article numbers,“ explains Sohm. It soon became apparent that the new spare parts catalog should not only be digital, but also 3D-capable. It was also important for the LTW team to have the option to select parts directly in the electrical circuit diagram.  

Another requirement for the spare parts catalog was the balance between automation and human expertise, which plays a key role at LTW: “It has always been important to us that our aftersales team is on hand to provide advice and check whether additional parts need to be replaced as part of the installation. This is added value that we would like to offer our customers in the future as well,” explains Sohm. For that reason, the ordering process should not be fully automated, but rather semi-automated. 

When it comes to creation and maintenance of the catalog, efficiency was the primary concern for LTW. Management wanted a simple creation process that conserved resources and used—and standardized—information already available in the company. 

Solution: flexible views and standardized parts lists 

With Quanos SIS.one, Abraham Sohm and Lisa-Maria Burtscher have succeeded in implementing the requirements for the new digital 3D spare parts catalog and in achieving important improvements in various areas. 

Standardized parts list formats  

At LTW Intralogistics, many departments and some suppliers work with parts lists from the electric diagram, CAD model, or ERP system. However, for historical reasons, these were available in different formats. It was necessary to standardize the parts lists for the new spare parts catalog.  

LTW has therefore analyzed all available parts list formats and, together with colleagues and suppliers, found a common denominator: the article number. A binding parts list structure was then defined for all departments and suppliers and the exports from sources such as the ERP system and electric diagram were adapted accordingly.  

In the process, the LTW team has also revised and replaced the “dummy assemblies” used in the old 3D models. These dummies were used as placeholders for specific components (e.g., purchased parts), but did not have the correct article number, which varies depending on application area. However, the correct article number is required to link the 3D model and parts list properly.  

“We finally have standardized parts lists that can be easily entered in Quanos SIS.one and have resolved the dummy issue,” says Lisa-Maria Burtscher.