Components for carried or towed loads in intralogistics
Automated guided vehicle (AGV) systems flexibly connect incoming goods, production, storage and shipping. mk provides tailor-made load handling equipment for a wide variety of load carriers and transport units.
In intralogistics, automated guided vehicle (AGV) systems impress with their flexibility and versatility. Typical tasks of the vehicles are:
- Material replenishment on the production line
- Loading flow racks
- Connecting individual process stations
- Transport products to the warehouse
They perform particularly well on long and variable transport routes with long cycle times and product downtimes. A distinction is made between automated, track-guided AGVs (automated guided vehicles) and autonomous, contour-navigating AMRs (autonomous mobile robots).
AGV only complete with adapted load handling equipment
However, an alone standing automated guided vehicle is still incomplete. It only becomes a complete transport system with a suitable attachment for carrying the load, the so-called load handling equipment. Thanks to individual constructions, especially for the respective purpose, AGVs can safely transport the material picked in load carriers or in other transport units.
mk offers tailor-made components from standard mk profile and conveyor technology products that can be flexibly adapted to any AGV system. This can be a simple frame with levelling feet, a mobile trolley or a structure with an integrated conveyor system. An individual solution can be developed for every application and every type of automated guided vehicle.
Also the tailor-made transfer station and the power supply for the actuated load handling equipment are also constructed by mk. From project planning and construction to integration into the existing logistical processes – mk implements the appropriate interfaces for an optimal material flow in a customer-oriented manner.
Low-platform vehicles are, for example, vehicles with a flat structure that can carry a wide variety of load handling equipment. For example, you can drive under shelves, jacked-up containers and pallets or simple frames, lift them with the integrated lifting unit and transport them. Alternatively, the vehicles can drive under trolleys or other mobile units and tow them to their destination.
Piggyback vehicles are equipped with various powered load handling equipment, such as roller conveyors, timing belt conveyors, chain conveyors or belt conveyors. These pick up the load carrier, such as a box or a pallet at a corresponding transfer station and transport it to its destination. In order to compensate for height differences at the transfer stations, the vehicles should be equipped with lift systems.
And as the name suggests, universal vehicles are very flexible and can be modified. They can be used both as a piggyback vehicle and as a low-platform vehicle. They have mechanical and electrical connections to handle a wide variety of load handling equipment. In addition to the load handling equipment mentioned above, they can handle components with robots including power pack or individual workpiece holders for assembly automation, for example.
And for the transport of higher loads and quantities, towing vehicles that pull mobile load handling devices can also be used. Pallet trucks replace the classic forklifts here.
AGV or classic conveyor technology?
Comparing the performance of automated guided vehicles and fixed conveyor technology
The increasing focus on Industry 4.0 has helped automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to gain momentum. But how do the autonomous vehicles improve production and automation? Can they replace classic conveyor technology? And how do engineers find the optimal conveyor system?
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