Apparel distributor outfits warehouse with multi-functional AGVs
A UK-based retailer of clothes, footwear and accessories sought to maximize efficiency in its new warehouse in order to ship products to more than 500 stores on three continents. The customer turned to automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) to autonomously move product, resulting in productivity around the clock with improved speed and organization.
The company deployed 16 AGVs coupled with user-friendly software that provides system monitoring. The units are easily reprogrammed in the event of facility changes or expansion. The AGVs are now responsible for storing and replenishing full pallets of goods in the warehouse picking area, removing empty pallets, and moving completed pallets to the shipping area. The vehicles also remove trash bins and move trolleys containing mixed goods from the picking area to the packing area.
The AGVs are laser-guided and completely integrated into warehouse operation, receiving commands from the warehouse management system (WMS). They can carry 1,100 pounds while traveling at 300 feet per minute.
Even while fully loaded, the AGVs travel with the accuracy of a quarter inch. The WMS-integrated software ensures all material movement requests are completed in accordance with a given priority level to allow optimum material flow.
JBT Corporation
215-822-4600
http://www.jbtc-agv.com
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About the Author

Associate Editor
Josh Bond is an associate editor to Modern. Josh was formerly Modern’s lift truck columnist and contributing editor, has a degree in Journalism from Keene State College and has studied business management at Franklin Pierce.
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