AGV / AMR’s: The Future of Material Handling Equipment.
Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) are robots that assist with production and material handling in industrial facilities. They move products with ease and glide across the production floor without causing accidents or losing products along the way. They increase production flow while enhancing fulfillment rates. AGVs offer the benefit of performing mundane tasks freeing up operators to improve product delivery speed.
Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are more sophisticated robotic solutions that can navigate their production facility with less supervision than an AGV. They function more like a GPS system, finding the best route around a facility for maximum output. We integrate our AMRs with our Warehouse Control System Software (WCS) to allow the AMRs to intelligently interpret their environment, map their own route for transporting materials, and avoid obstacles while maintaining their intended route.
Our design and control engineers can help you decide which system would operate best with your current warehouse configuration.
Benefits of the AGV/AMR System:
- Increase efficiency and productivity
- Reduce errors by using an SKU system
- Improve safety for employees
- Perform routine tasks so operators can focus on more strategic efforts
- Enhance revenue by improving order rates, speed, and customer satisfaction
- Boost corporate branding by the implementation of technology
- Learn by collecting and analyzing data
- Low maintenance
- Protect property from damage and collision decrease
- Allow for narrower aisles in distribution centers for increased inventory capacity
Why choose an AGV or AMR System?
Production in order fulfillment centers has seen a drastic increase in the past few years due to the exorbitant increase in online shopping. As a result, companies have been racing to keep up the pace for consumer demand. An AGV or AMR System can help keep production flowing quickly. A suitable robotic system will allow the increase of output without sacrificing output quality. Both AGVs and AMRs can avoid accidents resulting in property loss and damage. The AMR can bypass an obstruction whereas an AGV system may need an operator to redirect due an obstacle. In this industry, AGV and AMR Systems aid in moving materials from raw materials to palletizing operations. AGVs are guided along the distribution floor either by magnetic tape or magnetic strips and are easy to control. AMRs are guided by maps in the connected Warehouse Control Software or via preloaded facility drawings.
AGV and AMR Systems Improve the Supply Chain
Robotic Systems drive the supply chain by reducing operating costs and increasing revenue. Specifically, these robotic systems can help solve a variety of distribution problems:
- Increase efficiency and productivity by using guidewires to choose quicker fixed routes
- Reduce error and rework with a scanner system to ensure products arrive on time
- Improve safety for employees by avoiding collisions
- Perform mundane tasks so operators can work to focus on more strategic efforts
- Enhance revenue by improving order fulfillment rates, delivery speed, and customer satisfaction
- Boosts corporate branding by the using innovative technology
- Collect and analyze data
- Low maintenance
The Functions of the AGV & AMR
Material handling equipment involves product movement, whether it be manually or by other means. The AGV and AMR work on the warehouse floor to move products and to eliminate product damage. They keep products from getting lost using an SKU system and can free up operators. The second purpose of material handling equipment is to reduce the costs involved in the production process. This is achieved by getting products to the shipping area faster and safer. The third purpose is it collects data so that it is always outperforming itself and making even fewer errors. Our AGVs and AMRs allow distributions to increase space, improve customer service, and improve working conditions.
Both robotic systems function by allowing gravity to assist in moving heavy materials across the floor. AGVs use guide wires to minimize routes. Because of this, the robot can move products faster than traditional methods. With its built-in collision technology, it will choose a path so that damages do not occur. It also features a technology that scans products to ensure products don’t get lost. The robotic technology will not need as many routine maintenance checks as other material handling equipment. The system requires less maintenance because it is programmed to need minimal checks. It is helpful in distribution because it decreases the time products take to be shipped out.
AVG & AMR material handling equipment
Material handling equipment is the term for the machines and equipment used to make cargo handling work more efficient and use fewer labor resources. The burden on workers is in the cargo loading process of any distribution. The tools used for material handling includes but is not limited to:
- Pallet jacks
- Forklifts
- AGV’s
- Palletizer
- Conveyors
- Hand trucks
With robotic technology ever-increasing, the distribution process demands are slowly decreasing while the need for automated solutions increases. Russell Conveyor & Equipment provides the latest technology to meet the market’s requirements within the industry. Russell Conveyor & Equipment builds the best Automation Solutions to provide our customers products that will eliminate storage handling issues.
Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS or ASRS)
Automated storage and retrieval systems are robotic units that work together with conveyor systems to automate the process of picking items from warehouse shelving. This type of automation is designed to improve efficiency, reduce labor costs, and increase space utilization in warehouses and distribution centers. AS/RS systems can be used for a variety of applications, including inventory management, order picking, and packaging.
AGVs and AMRs are often used in conjunction with AS/RS systems to move goods around the warehouse or distribution center. AGVs can be used to transport goods to and from the AS/RS system, while AMRs can be used to pick items from shelves and load them directly into the AS/RS. This type of automation can help to improve accuracy and efficiency in the picking process, as well as reducing labor costs.
Automated Guided Vehicles & Autonomous Mobile Robots
AGV and AMR Systems, in many ways, support processing needs throughout a distribution. They move products throughout the assembly production process and right into shipping. They transport pallets to loading zones and collect parts required for assembly. The AGV or AMR System can pick ordered products from platforms to trailers. They can utilize towing trailers to deliver extra items at once.
The AGV and AMR track products making sure they never get lost or misplaced. It can balance many tasks at once to assist in balancing out assembly lines. Their costs will remain the same to maintain while labor costs continue to increase each year. The AGV and AMR Systems create a safer environment as its collision avoidance capabilities preventing costly facility damage. The paths are flexible and will change depending on the fastest and safest route throughout a facility. Finally, they can fit into tighter spaces, and because of their reliability, they can improve scheduling. Without a quality AGV or AMR System, distribution can not operate efficiently with the rising increase in production needs.
At Russell Conveyor & Equipment, we promise to offer only High-Quality Products, develop long-lasting relationships, and offer the latest technological advancements so that production continues to run smoothly. We provide the latest technology to meet the distribution industry’s growing needs. Russell Conveyor & Equipment prides itself on building the best Automation Solutions to provide our customers with products that will work.