Handling more than 11,000 delivery items each year, over 2,800 individual components and around 7,500 Kanban bins,
Herbert Kannegiesser GmbH has long been one of
Würth Industrie Service’s most established Kanban partners.
For more than 25 years, the laundry‑technology specialist has relied on Würth’s smart supply systems to maintain lean inventories, secure replenishment and identify fluctuations in demand before they impact production. Across seven sites, the company has woven Würth’s system world into every stage of its C‑Parts management — from RFID‑enabled Kanban processes to automated vending solutions — ensuring maximum productivity along its entire manufacturing chain.
Kannegiesser’s rise from a small post‑war operation in wooden barracks in Vlotho to a global force in the laundry‑technology sector is rooted in a consistent drive for automation, ergonomics and process optimisation. Today, the family‑owned company employs around 2,000 people worldwide and develops equipment with high levels of vertical integration at eight manufacturing sites across Germany, the UK and the USA.
Its product portfolio spans flat‑linen systems, garment processing, logistics and data‑driven process technologies, all backed by a global service organisation. Through its SmartLaundry division, Kannegiesser offers automated control and monitoring of the entire manufacturing workflow, supported by more than 140 service engineers in the DACH region as well as international partners and digital platforms.
Even the smallest fastener plays a critical role in these operations. Screws, nuts and washers may outwardly appear insignificant, but they underpin the safety and reliability of every machine. From heat‑resistant components for maintenance work to specially designed elements for bespoke solutions, every item contributes to the structural integrity of Kannegiesser’s equipment.
This makes the procurement of C‑Parts — with their irregular demand patterns, low unit values and vast variety — an administrative challenge. It is precisely for this reason that Kannegiesser has relied on Würth Industrie Service’s automated C‑Parts systems for a quarter of a century, ensuring secure supply across all plants from Vlotho and Sarstedt to Kalletal, Hoya, Aue‑Bad Schlema, Augsburg and Banbury in the UK.
Production supply, in particular, benefits from solutions that trigger replenishment autonomously and proactively. With RFID‑based Kanban systems, Würth delivers exactly that. The compact, battery‑powered iPLACER® module can be placed anywhere — from assembly stations to logistics areas — and automatically initiates reorders as soon as demand arises. When mounted on standard flow racks, it captures goods movements and stock levels without manual input.
Jörg Stichnoth, head of production planning/disposition at the Sarstedt plant, explained: “Our machine requirements are managed in a lean manner. Reordering takes place fully automatically, which saves a great deal of time and significantly reduces the effort needed for coordination and ordering.”
Intelligent iSHELF systemThe same principle applies to the intelligent iSHELF system. As soon as a bin is emptied, the integrated sender‑receiver unit detects the status and transmits it directly to Würth’s in‑house Kanban Management System. Central supply is handled from Würth’s European logistics centre in Bad Mergentheim.
Other RFID technologies are in operation as well, including the iBOX®, which records empty bins instantly when they are placed inside, and the iPUSH, which triggers orders at the press of a button — around 80 of these units are installed across Kannegiesser’s sites. Digital shelf labels, operating entirely autonomously and synchronised with Würth’s ERP system, provide real‑time data from item numbers and filling quantities to stock availability and refill dates.
Mr Stichnoth summarised: “Thanks to RFID Kanban, we benefit from a secure supply, wherein all the required parts are available at the right time, at the right place, in the right quantity. The RFID solutions by Würth Industrie Service have proven to be a real game changer and are ideal for safe and efficient production.” In Vlotho, direct‑production materials are supplied via a 15‑metre‑high shuttle system stocked by Würth specialists — another example of the flexible, site‑specific approaches applied to ensure uninterrupted production.
Material supply is also strengthened through Würth’s ORSY®mat vending technology, which automates the provision, storage and replenishment of auxiliary and operating materials. At Kannegiesser, the latest ORSY®mat WGT models handle the distribution of protective equipment and consumables using integrated weight cells that register withdrawals in any quantity. Once the door closes, the machine updates its inventory autonomously and reports demand directly to Würth — 10 units are in operation, supplying gloves, eyewear, ear protection and tools with complete transparency and secure, authorised access.
Mr Stichnoth noted: “Our employees can take their protective equipment and other consumable materials directly on site using their RFID employee card – independent of a central material issue point. Thanks to the 24-hour availability, they have access to all the required auxiliary and operating materials at any given time.” Alongside these systems, three Kannegiesser sites use Würth’s REFILLOmat 2.0, which dispenses operating materials from large containers into refillable cans, reducing waste and supporting sustainable processes.
In 2025, both companies marked 25 years of Kanban cooperation at a celebratory event in Bad Mergentheim. Jörg Ruppelt, senior account manager at Würth Industrie Service said: “25 years ago, the first Kanban bins were delivered to Sarstedt – from our then site of the Industry division of our parent company in Gaisbach. Since then, around 106,000 bins have been in circulation, with around 1,000 refills carried out.”
As one of Würth Industrie Service’s longest‑standing customers, Kannegiesser is regarded as a valued partner that has contributed significantly to the evolution of the company’s logistics systems. Ruppelt concluded: “We therefore consider it an integral part of our philosophy to duly honour the loyalty of our customers.”