WHY AUTOMATE?
Automatic Guided Vehicles have a place in the material flow process where repetition, accessibility, reliability, flexibility, costs, and safety are an issue. A prime use of AGVs is for the transport of products with medium throughput over long distances, especially if there are multiple destinations. But there are many more reasons to implement an AGV System.
You never know the path manual trucks will follow. With AGVs, you can be sure of the guide path, therefore safety is greatly improved.
IMPROVE SAFETY
An AGV system will pay for itself rather quickly, while salaries tend to increase over time with inflation. Typical return on investment is 6 months to 2 years depending on your industry
CONTROL COSTS
An AGV is equip with top of the line safety sensors and will stop for an obstruction in its path unlike a manual vehicle.
PREDICTABILITY
Scrap products and waste caused by rough handling will be reduced with an AGV system.
REDUCTION IN PRODUCT DAMAGE
AGVs require less space than conventional forklifts with greatly reduced aisle widths. The restrictions of access created by conveyors and rail guided vehicles is not an issue with the free roaming nature of AGVs.
REDUCE RESTRICTIONS
By leveraging control intelligence inherent to the operation of AGVS, overall production is more orderly and the facility cleaner.
IMPROVE LOGISTICS
Manual trucks will collide with something sooner or later. AGV systems use collision avoidance capabilities to eliminate this from happening.
FACILITY MAINTENANCE
AGVs provide a level of product and material tracking that is unmatched by forklifts and manual handling. With an AGV system, once you have a product on-board you have the ability to track it every step of the way.
ACCOUNTABILITY
AGVs are a prime candidate when repetitive tasks are a large part of material movement.
