Hoch Well being Ostschweiz, previously Kantonsspital St. Gallen, in Switzerland, expands its modernization program with automated guided automobiles seamlessly built-in into the campus infrastructure
Automated guided automobiles (AGVs) are quickly remodeling hospital logistics, supporting workers by transporting laundry, meals, medical gear, and waste throughout massive services.
As AGVs grow to be extra widespread in healthcare environments, Schindler is supporting this shift by integrating its elevator applied sciences and digital options with robotic transport methods throughout hospitals in Europe – together with at Hoch Well being Ostschweiz in St. Gallen, one in every of Swizerland’s largest hospital modernization initiatives.
Modernizing hospital logistics
The newly constructed Haus 07A/B is among the main milestones of the hospital’s bold modernization program. The multifunctional constructing options a big working and interventional flooring alongside 96 trendy affected person rooms.
Haus 07A has 20 elevators put in, and Haus 07B presently below development will see six further items. AGV integration, which had already begun in different buildings throughout the campus, was added as a brand new requirement in the course of the mission’s implementation.
Schindler’s specialists responded by increasing the system design and adapting the infrastructure to easily incorporate robotic transport.
Florian Trösch, head of worldwide digital enterprise at Schindler, says: “All our digital options work collectively in a harmonized ecosystem known as Schindler StratOS.
“Every little thing inside it’s interoperable, permitting us to scale initiatives and implement further necessities as they come up. Due to this spine, we are able to stay versatile at each stage, and our clients profit from the complete vary of our digital providing.”
Greater than 30 AGVs, equipped and managed by a accomplice firm, now navigate the buildings utilizing third-party software program that interfaces with the Schindler PORT transit administration system by way of Schindler CoLab, the corporate’s constructing integration platform.
This ensures seamless coordination between elevators and robots, enhancing security, effectivity, and logistical reliability all through the hospital.
Daniel Baumgartner, mission supervisor at Hoch Well being Ostschweiz, says: “It was clear to us that the automobiles wanted to maneuver not simply horizontally, but additionally vertically – that means by way of elevators.
“So we labored with Schindler to seek out the suitable answer. The Schindler PORT system was ideally suited for managing the circulate of individuals and supplies extra effectively.”
With the profitable launch of the system in Haus 07A/B, the mission is now scaling throughout the broader campus. By the completion of renovations in 2027, elevators all through the hospital will likely be absolutely AGV-ready, permitting the operation of as much as 50 AGVs – a milestone that positions Hoch Well being Ostschweiz amongst Europe’s main adopters of automated hospital logistics.
“The extent of automation in hospitals will proceed to extend,” Baumgartner says. “It improves effectivity – and finally, sufferers profit as nicely, for instance by way of lowered ready instances enabled by clever management methods.”
Schindler options at Hoch Well being Ostschweiz:
- Schindler elevators. Numerous modifications of Schindler 2600, Schindler 5000, Schindler 6000, Schindler 5500 machine room-less elevators type the spine of vertical mobility throughout the hospital campus. Schindler is liable for each set up and ongoing upkeep of those elevators.
- Schindler CoLab constructing integration platform. Schindler CoLab permits robots to maneuver between flooring whereas making certain interoperability between elevators and different constructing methods – together with entry and id administration, analytics, and constructing administration platforms.
- Schindler PORT constructing transit administration system. Designed for big and complicated buildings, Schindler PORT optimizes elevator group efficiency to attenuate ready instances and enhance passenger circulate.
Schindler has efficiently carried out AGV integration initiatives throughout a number of sectors, resembling retail and hospitality. Tasks in healthcare services, the place security, reliability, and operational continuity are crucial, symbolize a brand new degree of technological excellence.
