10 Benefits of Utilizing AGV Electric Tuggers
1. Better Utilization of People
Eliminate or reduce the need for your staff to spend time moving materials. AGV solutions make the movement of equipment and materials more efficient and allow your people to spend more time doing tasks of greater value-add.
2. Allows Precise, Accurate Movement
AGV solutions are ideal when working in tight spaces, or when moving a load through areas with minimal clearance.
Autonomous vehicles utilize line-following capabilities or high-accuracy navigation systems to ensure the exact same route is followed time after time, making the environment safer and reducing the risk of damage to high-value loads and the surrounding premises and people.
3. Repeatability
AGV’s deliver repeated movement with repeated precision, which matters in a busy manufacturing environment.
Having an AGV carry out repeated movement – following the same route, taking the same steps as it interacts with the surrounding environment – helps the Health & Safety team to manage risk, and ensures there are no variables being created that could cause problems.
4. Eliminate Human Error
Ultimately, many incidents in industrial manufacturing or logistics environments are due to human error due to factors such as fatigue, misinterpretation, or misunderstanding.
AGV material handling equipment eliminates this risk by taking control away from a human operator. Safety sensors ensure a programmed response to any detected risk, stopping movement until a hazard has been cleared or moved away.
5. Maximize Safety
AGV electric tuggers and other equipment should feature a range of safety features, all designed to manage risk. As previously mentioned, safety systems such as laser scanners will detect hazards and dangers and act accordingly.
Likewise, AGV electric tuggers can be programmed to take action such as reducing speed in certain locations when visibility is reduced, or when the surface becomes wet and traction is impacted.
AGV navigation technology will also ensure the same, or most appropriate, route is taken (depending on your solution and the environment) each and every time.
6. Better Efficiency
In addition to driving more ROI from your people resource, AGV material handling equipment helps to drive operational efficiency by carrying out tasks on time, at the optimal speed.
An AGV will travel to its destination at a set speed, faster than if the movement was conducted manually, or by pedestrian operated equipment by a person who could be delayed or distracted.
7. Cost and Redundancy vs Fixed Automation Systems
AGV electric tuggers are more cost-effective than fixed automation systems, such as conveyors or crane systems. Such systems are designed to do a single job, but any breakdown or fault can put the entire operation behind.
Electric tuggers, however, are more flexible in terms of being able to carry out a wider range of tasks. Additionally, they are more redundant as they can easily be swapped out to minimize any disruption caused through faults.
8. Maximizing Investment ROI
As covered above, through driving efficiency and safety benefits, AGV solutions deliver a greater return on investment. This is supported further by more effective use of people resources, better redundancy in the case of mechanical failure, and by offering greater flexibility in terms of being able to carry out a wide range of activities across the operation.
For example, MasterMover AGV electric tuggers can be switched to manual operation, so if the need arises, the machine can be taken off its typical tasks and utilized to move any wheeled load within its weight capability.
In addition, some AGV’s – such as the MasterMover PowerSteered Range – are designed to be scalable. This means that one machine can be used for lighter, less complex loads, but more machines can be used together through our MultiLink technology.
9. 24/7 Operation
AGV electric tuggers and other material handling equipment that is battery-based offer 24/7 operation. The only consideration is battery charging and replacement (if using multiple batteries).
MasterMover electric tuggers can be supplied with spare batteries, which can be stored and charged whilst the machine is in operation. This battery can then be swapped out in between tasks for minimal downtime.
10. Consistent & Reliable
Not only are AGV’s consistent in their function, but they also have relatively consistent costs compared to manual labor and are affordable to maintain. MasterMover electric tuggers are made to the highest standards, so they are reliable solutions that deliver day after day.
