This article is part of an ongoing series on how to buy different types of automated guided vehicles and autonomous mobile robots. Already published: how to buy a tugger AGV (webinar), how to buy a pallet truck AGV.
The human-operated forklift truck has been a mainstay of manufacturing and warehousing operations for decades. But in these challenging times of shrinking labor pools, rising wages, and in-shoring, many organizations are looking to automate their material handling operations to boost efficiencies and remain competitive.
The goal is simple: use forklift AGVs to ensure dull transport tasks happen reliably, on time, and without causing accidents or expensive damage, while in turn allowing existing human workers to focus on higher value tasks.
With forklift AGVs often costing hundreds of thousands of dollars however, this technology is not an investment to take lightly. The ROI of these systems must be positive (and provable), and installations must run seamlessly from day one, without causing costly delays and downtime.
So, how can your business achieve this? What does best practice look like? And how can you, as a forklift AGV buyer, maximize the chances of project success? We spoke with four leading AGV producers to find out.
Note: The term ‘forklift AGV’ is used throughout this article to describe any forked AGV or AMR system, including automated forklifts/automated guided forklifts/AGFs (i.e., automated versions of existing manual lift trucks).
Are you interested in automating your business' pallet transport processes? If so, browse forklift AGVs or contact our expert team to book a free consultation.