Rental Robot Provides Safety Technology Without the Need for Human Interaction

The Rental Robot by Dräger (Germany) automatises the release and return of safety-related equipment. It makes masks, portable gas measuring devices and consumables available at any time – without the need for human interaction. The Rental Robot keeps records of how often devices are used and, thereby, supports the material planning process.

In the petrochemical or chemical industry, employees generally receive their personal protective equipment at central supply points which have restricted opening hours. Via the Rental Robot, materials - whether rental or inventory devices - can be obtained at any time. The employees log on at the service station using a barcode or the RFID. Based on the respective user data, the Rental Robot identifies which devices the employee may access and displays them on a screen. In addition, optional information on the products’ range of performance can be displayed. Via the touch screen, the user selects the desired product and takes it out of the device
compartment. The return of the equipment is similarly easy: After identification, the user puts the device back into the compartment. With the Rental Robot, consumables such as disposable masks can also be supplied which will be registered and recorded. The Rental Robot can be filled with products of the Dräger product line as well as with external devices or tools.

The devices are released to registered users only with existing identification systems such as company ID cards etc. being able to be used for user identification. The list of authorised employees as well as stored user data can be extended or reduced, if needed, allow contractors working on the premises for the period of a shutdown to be registered for a defined time period.

The Rental Robot stores all releases and returns and automatically generates a trend analysis of device utilisation. Regular maintenance ensures that Dräger products are always operational. When the device is running short of supply, it can send a signal to the control station to ensure the required supply is replenished. Thereby, the material planning can be organised cost-effectively and the Rental Robot can be charged according to demand. In case devices are damaged or lost, the user data records provide information on the last application. When not in use, the devices are stored safely in a lock box.

The financing of the Rental Robot can be arranged in a variety of ways depending upon customer requirements. Various solutions can be provided to calculate the costs for a year, project-related or according to the actual use.