Almost every industry has some kind of material handling. Whether it’s to get a product off a warehouse shelf, loading and unloading inventory from cargo trucks, or preparing orders for shipment or delivery. In the past, these orders were filled and prepared by human hands. Today, robotic forklifts can help with productivity.
Automation has long been a boon to productivity in manufacturing plants, processing facilities, and other commercial applications. Assembly lines using pre-programmed robotic arms to perform repetitive tasks over and over again. Many production jobs still need to be performed by humans, but robotic technology is becoming more sophisticated every day.
Robotic Forklifts and Material Handling
In recent years, automated material handling has been improving to the point of real-world uses as part of a warehouse management system. Small material handlers have been tested for automated storage and retrieval applications in Amazon warehouses and elsewhere. But larger robotic forklifts are beginning to make inroads into everyday use.
In order for these robotic material handlers to be of any use, however, an infrastructure needs to be in place. Readable barcodes, tracks, and other guidance systems need to be designed, built, and tested before implementation. After all, a computer is only as good as the information it’s given.
Safety Concerns
At this point, no major warehouse or industrial facilities are completely autonomous. As such, you’ll find humans working side by side robotic forklifts and material handlers. That’s why special safety steps need to be addressed when implementing robotic forklifts. Storee Construction can upgrade your building with these safety measures in mind.
Sensors can be installed that slow or stop robotic forklifts completely when there is an unplanned obstruction, such as a person or misplaced materials. Signals that alert pedestrians to autonomous vehicles, signage that directs workers to designated traffic areas, and so forth.
Work With Experience
Are you in the market for automated guided vehicles but unsure if your current facility is properly equipped to handle them? For decades, Storee Construction has been helping plants upgrade the processes, supply chains, and floor plans to improve productivity. And we can upgrade your buildings to prepare them for robotic forklift implementation.
While the short-term implementation of robotics can be costly, the long-term benefits of such a move can reap huge dividends. Storee Construction facility contractors will ensure your investment is protected by designing upgrades to your facility to use this new technology. Today, robotic forklifts can help improve productivity.
For more than 50 years, Storee Construction has been upgrading facilities, improving productivity, and building facilities all over the Midwest. From installing HVAC systems to meet code specifications, performing safety audits, or moving heavy equipment for servicing, we can upgrade your plant with as little interruption to your work as possible.
Have a large project on the horizon, or want to start preparing for a fast-approaching future? Get in touch with Storee Construction. Our design-build process will cut down on miscommunications, improve construction time, and save you money. We look forward to hearing from you.
