Articles

Rethinking automatic guided vehicles
AGVs create new freedom in manufacturing plant design.
Post Date: 02/19/2013
Author: J. Stanton McGroarty, CMfgE, CMRP, senior technical editor

How can you marry guidance systems to conventional lift trucks?
Michael McCormick, director of project management at Raymond, talks about the use of ALTs in assembly.
Post Date: 02/13/2013
Author:

What are the benefits of intermediate automation?
John Hayes, national account manager at Seegrid, says many users are choosing to automate only parts of their plants, rather than buying large expensive automation packages, making AGVs accessible to smaller organizations.
Post Date: 02/12/2013
Author:

Are you giving your equipment proper guidance?
Michael McCormick, director of project management at Raymond, talks about the technology behind the ALT's guidance system.
Post Date: 02/11/2013
Author:

What is the difference between an AGV and an AGC?
Chuck Russell, vice president, AGV Systems, at Transbotics, talks about the use of AGVs and AGCs in assembly.
Post Date: 02/08/2013
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What are the advantages of a customized AGV?
Plant Services Senior Technical Editor Stanton McGroarty talks with Doerfer's Mick Stiers about customized AGVs and the innovative Wheelift.
Post Date: 02/07/2013
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Is your automated guided vehicle being used to its full potential?
Mark Longacre, marketing manager at JBT, says AGVs can move anything from raw materials to manufactured goods and much more.
Post Date: 02/04/2013
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What can an automated guided vehicle do for you?
Manfred Hummenberger, managing director and CEO of DS Automation, says AGVs improve flexibility in your assembly process.
Post Date: 02/01/2013
Author:

What advantage does an AGV have over a conveyor or a fork lift?
Jeff Baker, global category manager, industrial lifting, global production management, at Ingersoll Rand, talks about how AGVs in the main assembly have changed industrial lifting.
Post Date: 01/31/2013
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What is your AGV telling you?
Don Holdenrid, vice president of systems sales at America in Motion, says automated guided vehicles can be used to gathering data about products and track worker efficiency.
Post Date: 01/30/2013
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Automated guided vehicles: The future of material handling
This collection of videos outlines the role of AGVs in your plant.
Post Date: 01/29/2013
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Cost and training impact technology
How automated should a material-handling operation be?
Post Date: 01/17/2013
Author: Mike Bacidore, chief editor

A safe plant is a happy plant
Forklift operator training is a good start on the path to productivity and profitability.
Post Date: 10/23/2012
Author: Mike Bacidore, chief editor

Material handling meets energy efficiency
In this installment of What Works, lift trucks and conveyors combine forces to quadruple production in a LEED Gold-certified facility.
Post Date: 03/16/2012
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Lift truck power, naturally
In this installment of What Works, hydrogen fuel cells provide an alternative energy source for a material-handling fleet.
Post Date: 11/11/2011
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Product Roundup: Material handling is moving forward
Tools that assist plant floor transport.
Post Date: 08/22/2011
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Propane-fueled material handling
In this installment of What Works, a Chicago manufacturer powers its forklifts with propane.
Post Date: 07/26/2011
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Unauthorized modifications to material handling equipment can be trouble
In this edition of In the Trenches, Acme learns that unsafe production processes prove expensive.
Post Date: 07/20/2011
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Real-time data improves lift truck purchase planning and maintenance management
In this installment of What Works, Bunzl North America monitors its lift truck fleet for maintenance and replacement.
Post Date: 05/06/2011
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High-tech material handling
Sheila Kennedy, contributing editor, explores cranes, drum movers, walkers, lift carts and air conveyors.
Post Date: 03/01/2011
Author: Sheila Kennedy, contributing editor