At AGV International, we are able to deliver a powerful combination of AGVs and autonomous shuttles as one working unit. We offer these as one solution, making your warehouse, through automation, more efficient. This combination delivers, among other things: sustainability, safety, optimised space usage and autonomous internal logistics. In the article below, we explain in detail what the benefits of the combination of AGVs and autonomous shuttles can mean for your organisation.
1. Maximum use of space
2. Higher safety in the workplace
3. Making your warehouse more sustainable
4. Autonomous warehouse functionality
1. Maximum use of space
We design 2D-shuttles, lifts and X-tracks in the shuttle/AGV system to be extremely compact. This creates maximum warehouse storage capacity within the cubic metres available for this purpose. In this way, you can use the remaining space specifically to further optimise your operations.
2. Higher safety in the workplace
An AGV system creates a safer working environment in the warehouse. The combination of AGVs and shuttles eliminates the need for manually operated forklifts in certain areas, for example. Because the systems are fully equipped with safety scanners, there is no safer way of working regarding internal logistics.
3. Making your warehouse more sustainable
The AGV system has lower wear and tear than regular forklifts. This results in a longer service life and relatively low maintenance of the system. The AGVs can also run on green electricity that can be generated by solar panels.
4. Autonomous warehouse functionality
All machine movements of the shuttle/AGV system are programmed using special warehouse control software. The Warehouse Management System (WMS) suspended above controls the entire process and routing within the warehouse. The AGV picks up the shuttles completely autonomously, drives them to the right channel and places them on the first pallet position. After this, the autonomous shuttle takes the pallet to its exact final destination.
The iCUBE is an innovative solution for complete warehouse automation. It is designed from the ground up with flexibility and modularity as cornerstone principles. The iCUBE stands out from other automation systems for several reasons. This is because the iCUBE offers the advantage of full automation while requiring fewer machines compared to any other system. In addition, it only needs 2D shuttles and lifts to achieve full automation. This is because the 2D shuttles and lifts use their own sensors to detect people and thus generate maximum safety in the process. The iCUBE can be completely implemented in existing warehouses, new builds and phased warehouse expansions.
Bredabest is a leading player when it comes to supplying both raw groundnuts and semi-finished products to the peanut processing industry. Bredabest successfully uses an AGV system. The system provides Bredabest with a major contribution to achieving optimum safety for employees, maximum utilisation of storage capacity and lowering the cost price of products through fte savings and increased efficiency, among other things. Pieter Stienen, CEO of Bredabest, says: ‘All this means that this AGV system will make a major contribution to the realisation of our business objectives. Engaging AGVs is part of a very big project. We are realising new buildings to prepare for the future. Partly due to the arrival of our new AGV system, we are very confident about this!'
The main reasons why a warehouse can be efficiently equipped by a combination of AGVs and shuttles are the safety you ensure combined with the use of space that is optimised. The extremely compact system naturally creates more pallet positions in any warehouse. Full automation also creates a safer working environment compared to a conventional warehouse. So many advantages, which, looking to the future, really add value to your logistics processes.
Apart from explaining above what the four biggest success factors are, we have also formulated key learning points and other indispensable information for you regarding the collaboration of AGVs and autonomous shuttles.
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