Automated Guided Vehicle Material Handling Forklifts Info
Automated guided vehicle material handling forklifts are also known as AGVs. What are they and are they right for your warehouse? Read on to learn more about automated guided vehicle material handling forklifts. They can help you streamline your operations and improve your business’s productivity.
Automated Guided Vehicle Material Handling Forklifts
As the name suggests, an automated guided vehicle can handle your material handling needs --- without the aid of a material handler. These machines are designed to follow a guided path and a repetitive pattern --- such as lifting skid, moving them, unloading them, and then going back for more skids. Many units use buried wires or utilize laser technology to facilitate their movement. They don’t need an operator as they are programmed to do their job without intervention.
In an operation that’s large, busy, and repetitive this can be an excellent machine that saves on manpower. These machines can work on what’s nearly a “set it and forget it” mentality. It is a technology that can reduce the need for people and improve your order cycle time for order picking for loading and unloading and other tasks as well. Some AGVs have various controls to set up the operation of the machine. Some even have touch screens, making it easy to get them ready for a day’s work.
Are AGVs Right for Your Business
AGV technology may seem at first like a large investment to make but the return on that investment could be well worth it. Saving on labour as well as increasing productivity could make it worthwhile. Another benefit of using these machines is that most companies experience a dramatic decrease of damaged product losses. These machines gingerly handle goods, reducing the potential for breakage.
A large number of industries utilise this type of technology, including (but not limited to): automotive, hospitality, the medical field, warehousing and logistics, electronics, and more. Many companies even use these units for electronic mail delivery as well. They are known, by many, as office robots because they move about the office delivering mail. Mobile robotics is a field that’s increasingly popular with many large and recognized companies, including Caterpillar who are developing driverless machines to meet the increasing need and desire. Caterpillar’s autonomous vehicles are often used in areas such as mining, for example.
A look at your current infrastructure as well as your desires for streamlining your operations should be considered when purchasing new equipment and this type of equipment may be something that is good for your business and your bottom line profits.
Safety Issues with Automated Guided Material Handling
Staff need to be aware of safety precautions, for large and for small AGVs. These machines need to be operated according to manufacturer specifications. AGV training is important. Just as companies need to train employees for equipment that they handle, such as with OSHA forklift training, it’s also important to be sure that everyone in the building understands enough about automated guided vehicle material handling forklifts to allow them to work safely.
