(Greenville, N.C. – Americas Division Headquarters) — Hyster Company, one of the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of lift trucks, and AGV Products Inc., a leading manufacturer and integrator of Automated Guided Vehicle Systems (AGVS), have teamed up to develop the automated warehouse. Together, they manufacture and install AGVS solutions designed for the automatic transport of goods throughout a variety of manufacturing and warehousing environments.Moataz Eldib, consultant accounts manager for Hyster Company, describes the system as the warehouse of the future. “What makes our system exclusive is that we have the capability to interface with the client’s warehouse management system,” he says. “The other unique aspect is that this is a complete system and not just a vehicle that can be automated.” Numerous automated systems have been in operation for several years now. System expansions are common, proving that Hyster Company and AGV Products have brought a viable and dependable solution to the market.“Hyster Company provided AGV Products with warehousing lift trucks that fit our application perfectly,” says Mike Rodriguez, Regional Sales Manager for AGV Products. “Hyster Company also has an extensive dealer network that allows for convenient servicing. Since 1999, they’ve been our exclusive lift truck provider.”Plastics manufacturing company benefits from automated warehouse A major plastics manufacturer in the Midwest recently discovered how adopting the “warehouse of the future” results in big rewards today. After installing a system of Hyster® lift trucks automated by AGV Products, the plastics manufacturer has increased throughput by 100 percent. With swelling sales and limited space to store finished goods, the plastics manufacturer hired AGVP to replace its manual lift truck operation. The company had originally intended to install an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) that would utilize cranes to speed operations and increase capacity. But after consulting with AGVP, it was determined that an automated Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) lift truck operation would be a more versatile and cost-effective solution. The new system allowed the company to increase its storage capacity by approximately 380 percent. In addition, its warehouse aisle was decreased from 12 feet to less than six feet, thus creating space for additional racking. Automated VNA vehicles require only 68" to operate, as opposed to the 12 feet required by manually operated lift trucks.The major plastics manufacturer’s third shift order staging process has become virtually a “lights out” operation with only a skeleton staff necessary. This is thanks to the fleet of eight automated guided lift trucks manufactured by Hyster Company, and four smaller fork style AGVs built by AGV Products, which service more than 10,000 storage locations throughout the facility.How do the automated trucks work? First, workers box, palletize and manually transfer finished goods to conveyors as they come off the assembly line. There, they are labeled, wrapped and moved to designated pickup points. Along the way, special sensors are used to determine the load's physical size. Automated VNA trucks then move into action, transporting pallets to the appropriate storage location. The process is designed to ensure that each pallet is stored in the space that most closely matches its size, so that warehouse space is used most efficiently. The entire operation is coordinated by the system’s Traffic Routing AGV Command Executive (TRACE) operating software, a Windows-NT compatible program created by AGVP. The TRACE traffic routing system synchronizes material movement with production demands; coordinates traffic control and collision avoidance; generates new orders and pickup and drop-off locations; and communicates with existing warehouse management systems. AGVP equips the Hyster® VNA trucks with on-board software that is controlled by TRACE. This allows TRACE to automatically determine the closest appropriate storage location, communicate these locations for the trucks to transport finished goods, and then “remember” them for future order staging. The operation even accommodates the need for “kitted” pallets, or pallets that require configuration with assorted product before they are sent out. When a kitted order enters the system, TRACE notifies the automated trucks, which bring full pallets to a special station. There, new pallets are manually consolidated according to specific orders. Once product is taken from the original pallets, the “leftover” pallets are transported to conveyers where they are re-wrapped and fitted with newly generated bar code labels. These pallets are then automatically re-warehoused by the Hyster VNA trucks, while the new, kitted pallets are delivered to the shipping area to fulfill orders.“The Automated Warehousing System can be as simple or as complex as our clients require," says Rodriguez. The AGV system further simplifies complex operations by enabling users to visually map out guidepath routes for automated trucks. An easy point and click, drag and drop system has replaced the old method of performing tedious calculations created on paper and typed in. The result – lean manufacturingThere are multiple cost savings associated with installing a “warehouse of the future,” including a reduction in labor costs, reduced product and plant equipment damage, and reduced lift truck costs. Indirect cost savings come via improved material tracking, reduced material costs, timely delivery of inventory, reduced downtime and increased plant safety. AGV Products provides complete Automated Guided Vehicle system solutions used for material handling and material transport in a variety of industries such as warehousing, automotive, manufacturing, newspapers, aerospace and specialty applications. AGV Products has been in business since 1988 and currently has over 1,100 AGVS operating worldwide. For information, phone 1-704-845-1110 or visit www.agvp.com.Hyster Company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of lift trucks. The Hyster® line includes more than 130 models designed for a wide variety of applications, from pallet moving to container handling. With North American headquarters in Greenville, N.C., Hyster Company is world-renowned for its quality and leading edge approach to technology and ergonomics. As a leader in the materials handling industry, Hyster Company has been ISO 9001:2000 certified for their documented quality manufacturing processes. The Hyster Dealer Network provides customer support before, during and after the sale in the form of fleet management, financing, parts, service and training. For more information, phone 1-800-HYSTER-1, fax 252-931-7877 or visit go.hysterusa.com/pr.
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