Experience
in Construction and Automation
Robotic
Parking Systems and Gerhard Haag
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In
1981 Haag started an engineering consulting firm specializing
in industrial design. Projects included the ramp for
the European rocket Ariane 4, developed new designs
for gypsum silos with special mechanisms for loading
and unloading the large size tubes of 60 feet diameter
and 200 feet height together with routine steel structures
for power plants, bridges, parking garages and automobile
factories. He also designed and supervised construction
of more than twenty automated plywood manufacturing
plants in Europe and Asia for German Babcock.
It
was at that time when he teamed up with his former
employer Krupp and provided designs for Krupp, the
then undisputed world leader in automated parking.
Haag then bought a division of Krupp in Stuttgart
employing 200 workers producing and erecting over
15,000 tons of fabricated steel per year. Projects
included the Munich airport Franz Josef Strauss, the
Hitachi Chip (wafer) factory in Landshut, the Mercedes
Benz assembly line for the new S- class and the new
Volkswagen factory in East Germany, Zwickau. In the
years of his ownership of Krupp manufacturing in Stuttgart,
he increased annual revenues from 40 million to over
100 million. At the same time he teamed up with the
automated parking division of Krupp to develop new
concepts for automated parking as the advances in
automation worldwide made it possible to adjust the
old warehouse technology and to implement knowledge
he gained installing the assembly lines at the automobile
manufacturers.
In
1993, due to the recession in Germany Krupp decided
to streamline its company structure to include exiting
the automated parking industry. Haag then sold his
company and moved to the USA to continue the development
of the automated parking system. In 1994 he incorporated
Robotic Parking in Florida to work on the drawing
and parts adjustments to the US standards. The patent
work was completed and in 1996 a prototype was installed
and tested during the next two years.
The
production for the first commercial installation in
the US in Hoboken, New Jersey was started in 1999.
Soil contamination and political delays in the notorious
Hudson County together with government red tape and
attempted theft delayed the opening until October
7, 2003. In the first year of operation over 60,000
completely successful parking transactions were performed
in the 312 car parking facility. History was made
in Hoboken for the US by a fully automated garage
built by Americans, for Americans.
The following are comments from users of the Hoboken
Garage:
"It
works like a dream." L.K.
"Everything
is great. Easy to use and convenient. Life is better.
Thanks for all your help." J.M.
“The
garage is fantastic and simple to use. It has made
our parking situation a hassle free experience. We
are so delighted to be a part of this historic event.
It is truly going to change the way we see parking
in the future.” J.K.
“I’d
give up food before I’d give up this garage.”
E.H.
“I
was skeptical at first. After using the garage for
over 30 days now, my conclusion is. . . It’s
dynamite!” G.T.
“We
are thrilled with the garage. The people are wonderful.”
J.T.
"I
know that I am not the only one that feels fortunate
to be a part of this great inception in the U.S."
R.B.
“This
is terrific. It is truly a breakthrough for parking.”
--R.B., architect
“You
have a real fine system.” --D.R., President
of automation firm
“I
have seen other systems around the world and there
are none like this. This is impressive “ T.K.,
Developer
“’Robotic
Parking’ is becoming a household name, and will
soon be recognized by all.” (B.D., business
owner)
"At
first I was skeptical. . . I now love it. . .It's
great." -E.K.
"It
is working out better than I expected. It is a joy
to park my car (and fun).” -J.Y.
Senator:
"I enjoy parking in your garage and am very pleased
with the service."
It is no overstatement that Gerhard Haag can today
be considered to be the most experienced active individual
in the field of advanced automated parking systems
worldwide. Before moving to America, he was one of
the most profiled steel engineers in Germany –
his buildings and designs speak for it.
Some of the recognitions Haag has received:
·
Letter
of Recommendation of the Ministry of Economy in Bonn,
Germany
· Promoted Person Status
by the Minister of Tourism and Council of Ministers
in Albania.
· Special Recognition
by the CEO of Hitachi, Tokyo, Hitoshi Horimuki
· Recognition letters
from Volkswagen, ABB, Krupp and Mercedes
· Acknowledgement by
Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, USA
· Recognition by Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute. Summer 2002
· Parking Symposium at
the Texas A&M recognition as the pioneer and US
expert in automated parking. March 2002
· Author of the book
“Changing the Dynamics of Land Use – Automated
Parking”
·
NY Times statement about Gerhard Haag : “..Appreciate
the articulateness ... eloquent parking architect”,
“ . . . the Hoboken garage displays a stunning
agility – it lifts and carries cars about on
computer-controlled steel pallets as if they were
delicate ballerinas, moving with precision and speed
inside a structure that is remarkably compact.”
Sept. 2003
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