Since 40 Years:
KBS brings light to order picking
When we first became involved in the development of test systems ba-
sed on digital and microcomputer technology 40 years ago, we could
not have imagined the international reverberations of our innovations.
In
our
engineering
office,
founded
in
1981,
the
first
“light-based“
solu-
tions tailored to order picking were developed in the following years:
Pick-by-Light.
Today, KBS is the recognized European market leader as a specialist
for the development, production and implementation of customized
systems for paperless picking. This makes us proud, but also humble.
Because
we
owe
this
success
primarily
to
our
loyal
and
dedicated
em-
ployees and the trust of our customers.
Therefore, today, we would like to say THANK YOU.
Thank you for your trust. Thank you for your spontaneity.
Thank you for your loyalty.
40
YEARS OF
TRADITION
& INNOVA
TION
2
KBS Industriee
lekt
ronik
GmbH
1981
1983
1990
1993
2003
2004
2007
2008
2013
2021
Since 1981
3
The company was founded in Waldshut by the three engineers and
fellow students Wolfgang Klein, Joachim Beck and Wolfgang Schenk
Engineering company specialised in industrial automation and electronics
development.
First major order for a pick-by-light system with over 10,000 compartment displays
via a German general contractor for an English mail order company with next-day delivery
for core England.
With the
first trade fair appearance at LogiMAT 2008
and
further trade fairs, the customer base also became more international.
Today, the company delivers to 42 countries around the globe.
First major order with over 36,000 shelf displays
for a German mail order company.
40th company anniversary
Today, KBS can look back on several thousand successful projects/-
installations in a wide range of industries thanks to its long experience in
Europe, Asia, South Africa and North and South America. Customers range
from small and medium-sized companies to international corporations.
While the first modules were still quite large and expensive to
develop, the 2nd PTM generation has already made it possible
to develop a much more compact and cost-efficient system.
On the road to success with «PickTerm Flexible»
Modern, industrially suitable and highly flexible pick-by-light of the
3rd generation enables versatile use in a wide range of industries.
Pioneering work in the development of
light-based picking solutions
Development of the first light modules with their own micropro-
cessor to support order picking processes at H&M, Carlo Colluci
and Blanco – an absolute novelty on the market at the time.
KBS order picking systems from KBS conquer the European market
Relocation to larger company building and since 2007
ISO 9001 quality management certified company.
OUR COMPANY-
HISTORY
Company headquarters relocated to Freiburg im Breisgau
The first permanent employees are hired. Business activity in the
early years is the development of computer hardware and software,
digital and microcomputer technology and automation engineering -
real pioneering work in the early days of the computer era.
1981
1988
1990
1993
2004
2006
2008
2009
WE SET NEW
STANDARDS
.
YEAR FOR YEAR.
Development of hard- and software for test systems
based on digital and microcomputer technology. Production of SMP
computers based on printed circuit boards and programming of
customized software under first operating systems such as CPM.
First picking solutions using electronic
and data processing components
Specialisation in light-based picking solutions:
Pick-by-Light
Development of the first light displays with own
microprocessor to support order picking – an
absolute novelty on the market at the time.
Paving the way to the modular system
With the 2nd Pick-by-Light Generation (PTM),
a significantly more compact and cost-efficient,
production-ready system with plastic cable duct is launched
Pick-by-Light of the 3rd generation
Based on the experience of the predecessor systems, development of the
modern, compact and highly flexible pick-by-light system «Pick-T
erm
Flexible» with versatile application possibilities in a wide range of industries.
Plug&Pick technology perfects the PickTerm system
for maximum flexibility
This development, based on a bus system, allows a
pick-by-light shelf display to be easily clipped or relocated
onto the base profile at any point, even during operation.
Pick-by-light systems become mobile!
The picking vehicle «PickTerm Cart» with installed
put-to-light system and wireless connection to the control
computer enables mobile multi-order-picking for the first
time, i.e. picking several customer orders at the same time.
New innovation «PickTerm
Tray»
for universal tray illumination of changing container and tray sizes.
4 KBS Industrieelekt
ron
ik GmbH
2010
201
2
2013
201
4
201
5
201
8
2020
2021
With «PickTerm Sentinel», KBS presents the
ultimate solution for zero-error picking
The pick-by-light module with sensor monitors the pick
area and detects removals as well as picking errors.
New compact «PTF-S» series expands the PickTerm product family
New PCB technology enables the development of a shelf display
with only half the height of the original, ideal for picking small parts
and at assembly stations.
KBS presents «Pick-by-Balance»
The pick-by-light system with integrated
weighing device enables to detect the actual
removal quantities and a more precise order picking.
First compact display version PTF-LC-1
with graphic screen
enables for the first time the simultaneous display of texts and
numbers in different sizes directly at the withdrawal station.
Contact-free confirmation becomes possible
With the QRS sensor option, integrated in the compartment display,
KBS enables contactless acknowledgement of a pick or deposit.
The result:
significant acceleration of picking processes.
Presentation of the new PTF-MIU controller unit
Modular controller for large pick-by-light systems with which
several thousand shelf displays can be controlled.
Introduction of the innovative control module PTF-ZCTRL2
2-in-1 module: Microcontroller and zone display combined in a
compact standard display module with new interfaces such as
Ethernet and USB and a multi-colour graphic display with touch panel
functions.
KBS integrates a newly developed sensor for contact-free
distance measurement to the PickTerm Flexible system
This extends the application possibilities of the system to
include electronic level detection of flow racks (eKanban).
WE SET NEW
STANDARDS.
YEAR FOR
YEAR.
Since 1981
5
High engineering know-how, innovative technology, creativity and pas-
sion for tinkering have been the pillars of our success for four decades.
Everything
from
one
source
–
all
under
one
roof:
we
develop
and
manu-
facture the complete hardware and software in-house.
Quality and customer benefit
have the highest priority in product development and guarantee
a fast return on investment.
Our strength
Never resting on a successful product.
With our eyes and ears on the market and our customers, our team of
excellent skilled developers and logistics experts develops with the
latest technologies available on the market.
DEVELOPER
& TINKERER
PASSION
6 KBS Industrieelekt
ron
ik GmbH
What comes out of it?
Industrial-grade, future-proof
Pick-by-Light-Systeme with smart features,
that optimize our customers‘ processes and increase their efficiency –
in other words
, real added value.
A
KBS-SYSTEM
RUNS, AND RUNS
AND RUNS...
Quite a few of our client
systems still run reliably
for more than 20 years
by now.
The pick-by-light system runs and runs
and runs, this is really great. I‘ve never had
a single problem, it‘s like a Swiss watch!
Thank you very much for your good work!
Hr. Gorbunov, Argen Dental GmbH, Düsseldorf
HERE`S WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Since 1981
7
FE
RTIGU
NG
MADE IN
GERMANY
KBS products are “made in Germany“ and are manufactured at the
Freiburg site. Assembly and final testing of all components is carried
out in our own in-house manufacturing department.
We use only high-quality components, wherever possible from German
manufacturers / suppliers with whom KBS has a long-standing partner-
ship. This keeps quality and delivery reliability high, distances short in
an environmentally friendly manner, and ensures the longevity of the
system and the business location in Germany.
Unique product quality: The design of our shelf displays is continu-
ously optimized and optimally tailored to the requirements and needs
of modern high-performance order picking systems and their
operators.
8 KBS Industrieelektr
onik G
mb
H
Good is not good enough for us.
That‘s why we have developed our own specialized testing procedures,
thereby guaranteeing the highest and most consistent quality
standards.
HIGH QUALITY STANDARD
PUTTING IT THORUGH IT‘S PACES
Since 1981
9
„For safe and error-free use in order picking“
„No component leaves the house untested“
We guarantee: every component of our pick-by-light systems run
through several testing processes. This ensures the highest possible
system availability for our customers right from the start.
Since the successful initial certification of our quality management
system in 2007, regular audits guarantee compliance with documented
processes and the highest standards.
Customized Software
For each of our systems, our IT specialists develop application software
which is programmed with customer-specific picking processes and
implemented with an interface to the leading warehouse or order
management system.
Our years of experience not only benefit us, but also our customers:
this allows us to make helpful suggestions for optimized processes
and efficient alternative solutions during specification meetings.
10
KBS Industrieelektronik GmbH
Assembly &
Production
for assembly
workstations
Automotiv
e
for material supply /
assembly preparation
Retail, Publishing
& E-commerce
for warehouse and
goods picking and
sorting stations
Cosmetics,
Pharmaceuticals,
Medicine
Logistics /
Intralogistics
Our pick-by-light systems can be used in many industries and are
applied wherever goods and components have to be picked or
assembled. Whether for shipping to the customer or for internal
processing within the production chain.
Our customers include all well-known logistics companies, virtually all
European automotive manufacturers and their suppliers, numerous
order, publishing, pharmaceutical and medical technology companies,
as well as manufacturing companies from all kinds of industries.
FOR EVERY
APPLICATION THE
RIGHT SOLUTION
Since 1981
11
From the first
generations ...
... to the current
product family:
12 KBS Industrieelektronik G
mb
H
THE PICKT
ERM
FLEXIBLE
SYSTEM
AT A GLANCE
Leading Supplier throughout Europe
Pick-by-Light systems are our core competence.
Decades of experience with several thousand installed
systems. We know the requirements. We have the right
solution for every application across all industries.
1
10-Year Delivery Guarantee
Future-proof system: You will receive all spare
parts, if ever necessary, or compatible successor-
units for at least 10 years. Guaranteed.
3
Maintenance-free and durable
Our systems are virtually indestructible,
extremely robust and recyclable and run
reliably and safely for many years.
4
High Flexibility
We are flexible: We realise customized solutions
and offer unlimited modifications.
You remain flexible:
Adaptations and extensions
are possible at any time. Changes to hardware
or zones can also be carried out by yourself.
5
Made in Germany
Developed and produced in Germany avoids
interface losses and saves time and costs.
6
Committed Team
Good work is not done by companies,
but by people. Our team. We ensure that
you receive the best possible advice and
the solution tailored to your application.
7
7
GOOD REASONS, FOR
KBS AS YOUR PARTNER
Since 1981
13
High Spirit of Innovation
We think pick-by-light further: Smart products for
simple order picking – simply smart!
2
We would like to take this opportunity to express
our sincere thanks to our suppliers, partners and
customers for the valuable and long-standing
cooperation over four decades and look forward
to many more successful years together.
KBS DELIVERS TO
42 COUNTRIES
ROUND THE GLOBE!
A WARM THANK YOU
TO OUR PARTNERS
