NEWS
Smart movers
How autonomous mobile robots transform transportation of heavy payloads
Heavy work – Applied Integration can provide solutions to even the most challenging payload transport problems .
T he stretched supply chain issues that have dominated the news cycle in recent months have underlined how important it is to make production processes as efficient and agile as possible . Industry 4.0 and digitalisation technologies such as autonomous mobile robots ( AMRs ) are the driving force delivering operational efficiency and productivity improvement in the same way as mechanisation in the late 1800s .
These “ smart movers ” provide a means to transport goods from process to process and can even clean and disinfect hospitals . They allow us to do more in less time and keep up with market demands . However , most are focused on payloads up to 1,000kg – so what about heavy payload transport ?
Applied Integration ’ s AMR specialist Peter Moore , the company ’ s business development manager for Industry 4.0 and Robotics , tells us more about heavy payload transport challenges and AMR options ...
What are the challenges of heavy payload transports ? Heavy payload transport and positioning is often a specialist , timeconsuming , labour-intensive , and potentially hazardous business .
Components to be manoeuvred through the production process can be physically large or present awkward dimensions . Workflows may need precise positioning , sometimes in very challenging environmental conditions . Moving such items requires time , experience and skill .
Despite these challenges , heavy payload transports are predominantly handled manually either by pedestrian tug , driven tow tractors , overhead cranes or remote-control vehicles . In the age of digitalisation , manual transport of heavy payloads risks limiting productivity gains , with the potential of creating bottlenecks . The result ? > Lost time managing heavy component changeovers > Lack of cohesion between transports
Peter Moore , business development manager
and production schedules > Minimal movement tracking / traceability > Limited process agility preventing change for small bespoke batch builds
> Potential heavy reliance on fixed
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