DC Velocity - October 2018

Automated and flexible production processes are the answer to increasing quantities, smaller batch sizes, and high production speeds. Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and their smaller relatives, automated guided carts (AGCs), were once mainly the preserve of production logistics in the automotive industry. Now, they are poised to conquer the world of intralogistic processes in the field of factory automation. These little masters of logistics on wheels offer considerable potential within the electronics industry for tackling large production volumes, lots of small production stages, variable processes, and production environments with a high degree of protection. By using them, companies are able to respond efficiently to a variety of production specifications. For example, they can accommodate the kinds of custom–made products that are increasingly becoming the norm. As a result, further processing can be individually tailored to workpieces and holdups at individual stations can be avoided. Automated transport systems are responsible for transferring the bodyparts between the assembly islands – a scenario that would also work well in the electronics industry.

Regardless of the industry in which it operates, any company that wishes to remain internationally competitive must increase its degree of production automation. Wherever there are lots of small production stages with lots of variety (e.g., smartphone production), automated guided vehicle systems release companies from their dependence on conveyor belt throughput capacity and station processing rates. Automated production systems constantly record where the products are and what state they are in when they leave the individual production islands. Seamless quality control can be ensured between the production islands thanks to the operational profile of the AGVs.

SICK has spent years helping its customers to develop production and logistics processes that are more flexible and more highly automated. The result? Comprehensive solutions based on intelligent sensor technology and consulting capabilities that bring together mechanical engineering know-how with expertise in electronics. The company has successfully implemented a number of automated guided vehicle systems. These are already showing how an extensive range of sensor functions can be combined for the purpose of transporting products safely in all kinds of processes. SICK offers solutions for all navigation, safety, and detection tasks with its perfectly coordinated sensor products, which are all available from a single source. Code readers and RFID technology automatically detect what an AGC is carrying, laser scanners guide the vehicle, and encoders monitor the speed and direction of travel.

Find out why SICK Sensor Intelligence is more than just a tagline. We’re a trusted partner equipped with the solutions and service to serve you for life. We think that’s intelligent.