RESULTS
- Digitalisation of processes
- More transparency about the distribution of the rack pool
- Reduction of search times
- Clear assignment of responsibilities and faster problem resolution

STARTING POINT
The challenges in façade construction are many. Increasing demands on the overall energy efficiency of buildings is one of the key issues. In addition to the need to concentrate on the core business, the ability to integrate automation and networking, ventilation, and solar elements into façade solutions is also required, without losing sight of safety. To avoid wasting time on peripheral issues, Metallbau Windeck is striving to drive digitalisation in all areas of the company. During the release of transport racks from a glass supplier, employees in the logistics department noticed QR codes from BOX ID on the third-party racks and became interested. This small diversion led to a collaboration with system provider BOX ID Systems.
Transparent management of transport racks
In the metal construction and glass industry, transport racks play an important role in the production and shipping process, as the formats and material properties of the manufactured products place special demands on transport. The finished façade and glass elements must be loaded onto transport racks to ensure smooth and safe logistics. The management of the entire rack fleet is becoming increasingly important to ensure that there are always enough racks available for production and shipping. In the past, Metallbau Windeck organised the management of the racks using internal Excel lists, but this solution proved to be increasingly sub-optimal and too error-prone.
A solution that ideally complements the facade manufacturer’s existing enterprise resource planning system was developed in collaboration with BOX ID. The transport racks were equipped with a cost-effective mix of active and passive trackers, enabling shipments to be allocated to individual construction sites or customers. Based on a jointly developed workflow across the standard portfolio, the logistics processes can now be transparently mapped in the BOX-ID software.
At the touch of a button, employees at Metallbau Windeck now have a transparent overview of where individual transport racks are located and can call up automated reports on individual construction projects. As a result, the considerable amount of time previously spent searching for racks is now a thing of the past. The improved overview of the exact location of the transport racks also makes it easier to pinpoint areas of responsibility in the event of problems. Disruptions in the process can now be analysed and improved much more quickly.
Cost-optimised system design and proactive support
The control centre of the BOX ID solution has become the new hub of merchandise management. At a glance, it shows the distribution of the racks in different zones. The customised notification system ensures that logistics staff are always up to date with the current status of the transport racks. The fleet of racks is equipped with 13% active trackers, supported by 87% passive trackers in the form of QR codes. The mix of tracking technologies delivers high reliability with manageable investment costs.
However, it was not only the attractive price/performance ratio that was decisive for choosing the BOX ID system, but above all the appreciative and very open communication throughout the entire process. The cooperation within the project team was always on an equal footing and characterised by a strong solution focus and short response times.
As Metallbau Windeck continues to digitise in order to maximise the value of its workforce, it is expected that the proportion of active trackers in the racking fleet will continue to increase.
» Since the introduction of the BOX ID system, we finally know which rack is where, for how long and why. For us, this means better control and finally clear responsibilities. «
» The cooperation with Metallbau Windeck has shown us once again that the requirements and processes in medium-sized companies can be very different and that the flexibility of the BOX ID system allows us to map these in a customised way. The excellent cooperation between Metallbau Windeck and BOX ID enabled a quick and successful integration of the system. «
About Metallbau Windeck
More than a century of experience combined with advanced techniques make Metallbau Windeck a successful company with a long tradition in façade construction. Over 100 highly qualified employees take on construction projects from a single source in a wide range of areas, from steel and aluminium/glass façades to skylights, shop windows, conservatories, and classic doors and windows.
www.windeck.de