Driverless Forklifts
Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) provide many impressive benefits to warehouse facilities including reduced labor costs, reduced product loss due to real-time data, and potentially improve safety. The use of AGVs is not entirely without safety hazards though and this is where ALERT Safety Products provides solutions.
There are several types of AGVs including those for pulling carts & trailers, unit loaders for pallets, and driverless forklifts for extremely heavy loads. Each of these uses a different type of guidance system – some use floor tapes or wires, and others use laser technologies for dynamic, adaptive navigation. Although technology can be predicted and controlled, AGVs often work alongside people, who are not as easily predictable. We are easily distracted by our own thoughts, cell phones, and reading reports as we walk from one meeting to another. It is quite easy to cross over the wrong side of the tape in the aisle and there may not be time for the AGVs to stop.
Perhaps this is one reason there is still some hesitation in the industry about AGV use. Despite these concerns, it is hard to argue AGVs are not the way of the future. AGVs can work in hazardous areas which would expose humans to chemicals or extreme temperatures. It’s also no secret that many manufacturers struggle to find reliable labor, especially for routine, lower-skill level jobs, and even when labor is available AGVs allow facilities to run more shifts with fewer people which saves costs.
ALERT Safety Products recognizes the importance of AGVs to manufacturing and warehouse facilities but also the potential safety hazards, which is why we continue to research and develop cutting-edge safety solutions with smart-trigger technology to ensure the highest levels of safety. For example, the dome Mirror ALERT has sensors that detect approaching forklift and AGV traffic, turning a passive mirror into an active alarm. Our Dome Mirror ALERT is available with an optional flashing LED floor spotlight too. Office ALERT is a 10˝ x 6˝—Small LED display for offices and doorways to warn pedestrians of approaching forklifts or AGVs before they step into the active Forklift aisle. Most recently, we’ve added Line ALERT Floor Lighting & Warning System which projects a virtual line on floors to replace conventional taped or painted lines and can also be activated by smart-trigger sensors to flash when a forklift or AGV is approaching to warn workers in the area.
ALERT Safety Products is constantly developing new products with innovative technology to keep your warehouse employees alert and safe because protecting your employees is our only business. We truly believe that active ALERT Safety Products are the solution to improved workplace safety by turning passive safety products into active alarms. If you have any questions about our products or are looking for forklift safety solutions, please call us at (513) 791-4790, email us info@alertsafetyproducts.com, or check out our website to learn more: https://alertsafetyproducts.com/ .