SCIO Update

Sustainable impact through autonomous tugger trains in industry

Written by SCIO Automation | Aug 8, 2025 5:45:00 AM

Autonomous tugger trains are shaping the future of intralogistics – and at SCIO Automation, we’re leading that change. Powered by the ATi-M from our subsidiary 4am Robotics, we offer a fully automated goods transport solution that remains flexible thanks to its dual-mode capability. Manual or autonomous – the choice is yours. The result? Maximum flexibility, peak automation, and measurable sustainability.

 

How?
Let’s take a look inside our current project together.

As part of a recent project with a leading automotive manufacturer, we expanded the existing fleet of autonomous tugger trains by nine ATi-M units. Operating five days a week across two shifts, they now bridge the supply center and production line seamlessly.

🍃Ecological Sustainability Through Automated Material Flow

  • The result: up to 12.78 metric tons of CO₂ saved annually. That figure is based on data from Germany’s Environment Agency, tied to eliminating commutes (approx. 25 km) for up to 18 employees.
  • On top of that, fewer internal transport runs mean fewer emissions and real progress toward the plant’s climate targets.
  • At the same time, an intelligent algorithm ensures that each route is optimized for time, environmental impact, and cost. This results in reduced wear and tear on the vehicles.

👥Social Sustainability: Safer Work, Greater Appreciation

Automation is NOT about replacing people – it’s about empowering them. Our autonomous tugger trains take over repetitive transport tasks, so employees can focus on what truly adds value.

  • With nine ATi-M units running in two shifts, up to 34,560 working hours can be reallocated per year – to tasks that matter more.
  • Smart scheduling through optimized routing also improves workplace safety, reduces the risk of accidents, and ensures smooth operations.
  • In industries facing labor shortages and high turnover, autonomous solutions provide lasting relief – and send a strong signal of appreciation to existing teams.

Take a closer look here.

📈Economic Sustainability: Efficiency, Availability, Profitability

Today’s industry demands an average technical availability of 98,5%. With the ATi-M, we deliver exactly that – and often exceed it.

  • Our tugger trains are exceptionally reliable, regularly achieving near-100% availability (99,5+%) in real-world applications – surpassing the market standard.
  • Personnel-related production downtime due to illness, vacations, or labor shortages is significantly reduced. This increases independence and boosts competitiveness.
  • Operating costs also go down: fewer manual interventions mean fewer errors, less wear and tear, lower maintenance costs – and overall, a more stable material flow.

Conclusion?
 Automation with Sustainable Impact – Today and Tomorrow 

Together, we are helping to lead the shift in  intralogistics toward full automation. With solutions like the ATi-M autonomous tugger train from 4am Robotics, we’re enabling companies to take the next step in true sustainable transformation – across all three dimensions:

 


Beyond ensuring supply chain reliability, addressing labor shortages, and protecting the environment, our customers benefit from flexibility and scalability – two key success factors in Industry 4.0.

 

Whether you’re looking to scale automation or solve specific intralogistics challenges – let’s talk. The 4am Robotics team is ready to help you take the next step.