Seegrid to Unveil Affordable AGVs at March Trade Show

Seegrid Corporation — the Pittsburgh-based manufacturer of Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs) — announced recently in a news release that during the March MODEX trade show in Atlanta it plans to unveil a new line of flexible, affordable vehicles that do not require modifications to the work environment and are simpler to use for manufacturing and … Read more

Toyota Introduces AGVs for Handling Cargo Containers

Automated Guided Vehicles, which essentially are driverless heavy equipment vehicles, have been sold by Toyota to Japanese cargo handling companies for many years, but now the company wants to offer the vehicles in the US, according to news reports. The decision was made to offer the vehicles to US markets after Toyota determined that port … Read more

Battery-Free AGVs Allow Heavier Loads, Longer Work Time

Automated Guided Vehicles, which essentially are driverless forklifts, have been used for many years in industrial and warehouse applications to carry lighter loads along preprogrammed pathways. But up until now, because they are battery-powered, they have been limited in the amount of weight they can carry and how long they can remain on the job … Read more

What Robot System Best Serves Your Warehouse?

Everybody is thinking about automating their business. And that also holds true for warehouses. In the warehouse trade the two automated systems most considered are Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) and Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR). Which one is best suited for your warehouse operation? What’s The Difference Between AGV And AMR? Both systems have only one … Read more

Automated Equipment That Combats Labor Shortages

Technology is a grand thing. Thanks to these cool items we live a more comfortable life and businesses can dodge such issues as labor shortages. A variety of new-guided vehicles have been introduced recently that assists warehouses overcome productivity problems when there are labor shortages. Lack of skilled labor has been plaguing the warehouse trade … Read more

Staples DCs To Roll Out Automated Pick-and-Pack Nationwide

“That was easy!” Now office supply retailing giant Staples is applying its signature catch phrase to its distribution centers throughout the US with an innovative new automated pick-and-pack system. Traditionally, DCs and warehouses have used a “person to goods” system that uses human workers to pick and pack orders so they can be delivered to … Read more

New Vehicle Paint Warehouse Has Zero Human Employees

A truck backs into a dock at the BASF warehouse in Breuil-le-Sec, France, just north of Paris. As the truck’s driver remains in his cab, an unmanned automated guided vehicle opens the truck’s gate and goes to work removing pallets of vehicle paint products. The AGV transfers the pallets to a conveyor system, which moves the … Read more

Cyber Security the Next Concern for Material Handling Industry

Today, operations in warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing facilities and other businesses are more wireless than ever before. People can direct material handling machinery from their desktop, or even their tablet or smart phones. Some machines, such as automated guided vehicles (AGVs) or driverless forklifts — can even perform an increasing number of task autonomously. Then … Read more

Survey: Businesses Plan to Spend More, but More Frugally in 2015

In the coming year, businesses plan on spending more for material handling equipment and supplies, but they are going to paying closer attention to where their money is being spent so they can make sure they are getting full value from every dollar. That’s the feedback received from the Peerless Research Group’s (PRG) 2015 State … Read more

Why are Robots Suddenly More Prevalent in Warehousing and Distribution?

Editor’s Note: In today’s Thursday Feature, we are going to examine the rise of the machines, or why robots have suddenly made the leap from manufacturing to widespread use in material handling in warehouses and distribution centers. Just a few years ago, robots were widely used in manufacturing but rarely — if ever — seen … Read more