Features/Benefits Provided: Flexibility - layout and routing changes can be done by the customer without assistance. Time savings: complete system delivery in 6 months. Quick ROI: costs were recouped 6 months faster than projected.

Transport system crucial element of design of new Morganton facility: This company has 22 state-of the-art facilities spanning across Europe, South America and the USA. When the production facility in nearby Asheville, NC had reached its capacity, the Morganton, NC facility was built. Although manually driven vehicles were being used in Asheville, Morganton opted to go with an automated system. An essential requirement in the choice of a system was that the assembly stations and production lines link up seamlessly with each other. Flexibility was also vital due to the frequent modification layouts.

Choosing a navigation system: Each navigating vehicle has a map of its environment stored onto an on-board CPU that allows it to know where it is at all times. Through radio communication with the mater operating system, jobs are communicated to the vehicles along with pick-up and drop-off destinations. An external grid is used to calibrate the vehicle allowing for an accuracy of up to 1/8th of an inch in most applications. The 7-vehicle AGV system operates in a 30,000 square meter clean room environment. The AGVs cover a distance of some 1,500 meters in total routes along the assembly lines.

Station/vehicle interaction: The AGV is able to carry 2 loads of 110 lb. steel boxes with delivery to both passive and active (with powered roller conveyors) stations. The vehicles handle at passive stations through the use of a telescopic roller conveyor fitted on each side of the AGV. This generated high cost savings for the pick up and delivery stations.

Success spreads across the globe: After the successful implementation of AGVs in the Morganton facility, their plan in Frankfurt, Germany soon followed suit.

is a proud member of the AGVS Manufacturers Association of Material Handling Industry of America

9309 Monroe Rd., Suite F
Charlotte, NC 28270
Phone: 704-847-6474    Fax: 704-847-6714
Website: www.frog.nl