Automated Guided Vehicle Systems increase efficiency and safety

AGV: FLEXIBLE, SAFE, AND RELIABLE ROBOT

Improving end-to-end solutions with advanced technology and automated systems is proven to achieve the most highly efficient, safe, and reliable factories and distribution centers. Automation safely meets all of today’s intralogistics needs without delays, risks, waste, or damage to products. In this process towards optimizing full Intralogistics operations, different types of Automatic Guided Vehicle systems play a key role. Let’s see why.

Today, AGV robots, laser-guided vehicles (LGVs), and self-driven forklifts represent the most flexible, reliable, and advanced technology to integrate all the supply chain operations. 

That’s why E80’s solutions have become increasingly relevant to customers worldwide. 

E80’s AGV and LGV fleet is wide, comprehensive, and guarantees several benefits:

• Accuracy and speed of movements.


• Customization of the solutions according to the needs and goals of each plant.


• Complete system’s real-time remote supervision thanks to the unique management software that coordinates fleet movements and intralogistics flows, dialoguing with the customer’s ERP.

• 3D mapping technology provides innovative plant layout design that optimizes AGV and LGV trajectories within plants and distribution centers, even when space is limited.

• Top-notch safety level within factories and distribution centers because E80 Group's AGVs/LGVs are built with additional safety devices, well exceeding international standards and regulation.

• Increased plant performance and efficiency due to the latest generation lithium batteries by Flash Battery®.

• 100 percent safe operations because of induction technology and wireless charging, resulting in no contact and no risk of electric arcs/discharges.


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E80 GROUP AMONG THE TOP WORLDWIDE MANUFACTURERS

By customizing state-of-the-art end-to-end integrated systems with the highest level of innovation, E80 Group is leading the Industry 4.0 transformation while benchmarking the future. 

The path to enter among the 20 top worldwide materials handling system suppliers started a long time ago, at the very beginning of factories’ automation process. It was 1992 when the first Automated Guided Vehicle was conceived for Coster Group. 

Since 1980, E80 Group has completed nearly 350 integrated factories worldwide, with more than 2,500 robotic systems and 6,500 laser-guided vehicles installed in manufacturing and distribution centers. The company's continual integration of technology advances has enabled a highly streamlined approach for the operation of material handling systems, which provide significant advantages for improved throughput, uptime, energy management, sustainability, ROI, and safety. 

How? Let’s see how E80 Group helps its customers worldwide thanks to AGVs and automated systems in material handling operations.

E80 GROUP’S AGV and LGV SYSTEMS – HIGHLIGHTS

- OPTIMIZED AND INTEGRATED OPERATIONS THROUGH THE SOFTWARE
Proprietary software custom-designed specifically for the unique needs of each manufacturing and distribution facility manages all AGVs and LGVs movements within the factory. SM.I.LE80® platform coordinates intralogistics flows and hardware systems, as well as manual and robotic activities. It allows dialog with the plant's ERP and guarantees real-time remote supervision of the entire system.

- LAYOUT OPTIMIZATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
3D mapping technology enables E80 Group to optimize AGV and LGV trajectories within running plants and distribution centers without interrupting operations or production, thereby minimizing costs and timing. Layout development and optimization are critical to achieving the most innovative plant layout design, and 3D mapping allows E80 Group's layout experts and its customers to envision the movements of AGVs from the very first design phase.

- CUSTOMIZED SOLUTIONS TO MEET SPECIFIC TARGET
Each solution is designed to meet specific goals and business purposes. E80 customizes its systems according to the plant’s specific requirements, designing AGVs and LGVs that can be used in various industrial sectors: predominantly tissue, beverage, and food, as well as ceramics, plastics, pharmaceuticals, home, personal care, and many others.

And since AGV and LGV solutions are flexible and scalable, they can manage each phase of the flow, from inbound raw materials to the end-of-line area, into warehouses, picking areas, truck loading, and shipments.

- LITHIUM-ION TECHNOLOGY BY FLASH BATTERY®
All E80’s AGVs and LGVs are powered with the latest-generation lithium batteries Flash Battery® technology with induction charging, a technology designed to maximize factory efficiency and reduce battery wear and charging times. 

Using lithium batteries by Flash Battery® on AGVs and LGVs brings considerable advantages, and vehicles with this technology allow industries to increase plant efficiency. Among the benefits, it takes far less time for these batteries to recharge than lead batteries, and working cycles are independent of battery charging times.

Moreover, lithium batteries reduce all the management costs that would instead result from lead-acid batteries. The charging process is flexible, and during the entire lifetime, all operations of the LGVs fleet are daily and automatically remotely monitored through the “Flash Data Center” software. 

Discover all the benefits of AGVs/LGVs powered with Lithium Batteries in this article.

THE SAFEST AGVs/LGVs ENABLED WITH ULTRA-WIDEBAND TECHNOLOGY

At E80 Group, the first goal of every project is safety, a pillar of the company culture. This solid commitment drives the development of advanced technologies that protect people and also enhance operational continuity, ensuring a secure intralogistics process in both factories and distribution centers.  

International regulations require automated guided vehicles to be equipped with proximity laser scanners to detect people in the area, alarm systems and protective covers. Our AGVs have always been designed and developed with advanced systems that comply with current regulations. 

To further increase the level of security within the facilities, we have patented SmartDect: a people detection system that uses ultra-wideband technology to increase the ability of AGVs to detect the presence of workers in the surrounding area, reducing the risks associated with potentially dangerous situations arising from unpredictable behaviour. 

Each AGV is equipped with sensors that communicate with tags worn by operators (no installations on infrastructure needed) within a 15-meters distance. These tags enable real-time monitoring of workers' movements, providing immediate feedback through vibrations, flashing signals and audible warnings. In case of potential collisions, AGVs equipped with SmartDect slow down or stop automatically, ensuring an improvement to safe working environment.  

AGVs IN WAREHOUSES: THE APPLICATIONS

From the inbound of raw materials to the shipments, through the end-of-line area and the warehouse, AGVs offer a rapid response to the needs of factories which require the complete integration of material flows.
This is relevant, especially in warehouses operations. 
LGVs and AGVs can automate the storage of various products, linking up multiple types of warehouses: Block Storage, Flow Rack, Selective, Drive-in, Easy Storage and Twin-Load.
High-bay warehouses solutions with shuttles and cranes provided by E80 are perfectly integrated with LGV/AGV technology, in order to optimize the management, flows, storage, and costs of internal plant logistics.
Moreover, the latest evolution of high-performance Laser-Guided Vehicles streamlines pallet movement also in deep-freeze warehouses, fully integrating with temperature-controlled production, warehouse, and shipping operations. Learn more about the advantages of Warehouse Automation.