TractEasy selected to automate outdoor flow for major European manufacturer
TractEasy is a joint venture between the Alvest Group and its company TLD as industrial partner, and technology-provider EasyMile
Blaj, Romania, 27 August, 2024 – TractEasy has been selected by Bosch to automate a critical manufacturing flow at a key facility in Eastern Europe. The EZTow autonomous tow tractor is operating autonomously in 3-shifts, 7 days a week.
TractEasy’s CEO, Richard Reno, “We are proud to be selected by Bosch for their manufacturing operation in Blaj, our first in Romania. Proving the economics work in this competitive environment shows the EZTow is ready for prime time and successfully deploying on a 2.5 km route for a 3 shift flow in only 3 weeks is a testament to the maturity of our technology, deployment process and technical team”. Other benefits include increased efficiency and safety, as well as overall cost-saving.
The driverless vehicle is towing on the 2.5km external circuit at the Blaj, Romania site. The deployment swift, progressing to 3-shift operations within weeks. This first deployment aims to lay the groundwork for potential future integration across different sites.
Bosch Romania’s Sorin Stan, Head of Physical Logistic, expressed enthusiasm for the deployment, stating “We are delighted to be taking an important step towards the future of automotive manufacturing. The deployment was fast and efficient, and the solution easy to integrate. This new relationship represents a powerful fusion of technology and industrial expertise.”
With a load capacity of 20 tons, EZTow uses a range of sensors and cameras with real-time processing through its autonomous towing. This includes centimeter-precise localization at any moment, wide-range perception to handle obstacles and enhanced navigation including vehicle to infrastructure (V2X) communication, predictive control, and decisions at intersections and pedestrian crossings. It promises safety, reliability and efficiency in complex, outdoor environments.
The solution is the most-deployed autonomous tow tractor globally. It also operates on a number of other, major automotive manufacturing plants and logistics centers in Europe and the United States, including the BMW Group Plant Dingolfing and Daimler Truck AG, in Germany. Multiple EZTows are also in use at airports for baggage transport including at Narita International in Japan, Toulouse-Blagnac in France, and in a fleet at Changi Airport in Singapore.
TractEasy is a joint venture between the Alvest Group and its company TLD as industrial partner, and technology-provider EasyMile. It is the independent distributor of the EZTow autonomous tow tractor.
