New AGV for pallet transport
With forklift operating costs in Australia among the highest in the world, a new range of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) from Nanchang IKV is said to offer manufacturers and distributors the opportunity to significantly reduce materials handling operating costs and virtually eliminate the potential for workplace incidents involving conventional pallet trucks, forklifts and reach trucks.
Single or double pallets of stock and a wide range of production materials like reels of paper can be handled and transported safely and accurately around the clock by driverless AGV in manufacturing and distribution centre (DC) environments. Benefits include significantly reduced labour costs and ongoing damage to equipment and stock, together with improved supply chain reliability and traceability.
For businesses running multiple shifts, the return on investment is rapid.
Dematic manufactures a comprehensive range of AGV including forklifts, unit load, very narrow aisle (VNA) and specialty vehicles to reliably move materials, stock and finished goods through DC and production environments in a timely, cost-effective, safe and flexible way.
Dematic AGV are suitable for unit load handling in sectors such as cold storage, food and beverage distribution, fast moving consumer goods, grocery retailing, third-party logistics and a variety of manufacturing operations.
Suitable applications for AGV include:
- Multi-shift pallet handling operations, in which payback can be as little as 18 months.
- Where loads need to be transported over long distances.
- Servicing storage systems up to 10.7m high, with special masts available for even higher applications.
- Operations requiring a consistent, reliable flow of goods.
- In process automation applications.
- Transporting, sorting and staging loads for despatch.
- As a consistent, reliable interface to Automated Storage & Retrieval Systems (ASRS).
- End-of-production line palletising.
- When the use of conventional forklifts is not appropriate.
- Where AGV contribute to a safer working environment.
Dematic AGV are available in a wide range of configurations and capacities, and are available with a variety of battery and charging options including automated battery changing systems and opportunity charging during operation to optimise battery life between charging cycles.
Customisable safety features including auto-stop proximity sensors eliminate the potential for collisions with equipment or personnel, ensuring workplace safety in even the busiest of operations.
The AGV Pallet Management System (PMS) runs on a Windows PC over a standard wireless network, assuring integration into any Warehouse Management System (WMS).
The AGV PMS controls the flow of product from production to storage to despatch, automatically tracking all product movements, providing accurate and up to date data at any time. The system also interfaces directly with associated production and materials handling systems including robotic palletisers, conveyors and automated truck loading systems.
With an installed base of more than 500 AGV across over 110 sites in Australia, NDC has been the leading manufacturer and supplier of AGV in Australia for over 25 years. Dematic announced it had acquired NDC Automation Pty Limited on March 21, 2016, adding further to its range of integrated logistics and supply chain automation products.
