Crown Equipment has unveiled two new automation technologies designed to increase productivity in warehouse distribution services: the auto positioning system enables a forklift to take the most effective route to the desired rack location, while the auto fence operator-assist technology increases safety and minimizes damage.
When a pick location is entered manually or shared through a linked warehouse management system, the auto positioning system controls the truck’s lift and travel to optimize the time required to reach and automatically stop at the required rack. Trials indicate that productivity gains of up to 25% are achieved, compared with operators carrying out the task manually.
Alongside this, the auto fence technology’s use of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags increases safety levels in the warehouse, and reduces the risk of damage to the product, the vehicle or the facility. The tags allow for speed or height limits to be automatically applied when travelling down particularly narrow aisles or where lower ceilings and doorways are positioned.
“Each of these technologies stands to help our customers realize several desired outcomes ranging from improved productivity and enhanced operator safety to optimized facility layouts and reduced damage to racks and products,” said Jim Gaskell, director of global technology business development at Crown Equipment Corporation.
“Because the technology is integrated into the forklift as opposed to a bolt-on approach customers gain a truly scalable and flexible solution equipped to solve current challenges while positioning their investment to pay dividends well into the future regardless of how it uniquely manifests itself within their company.”
The new technologies will first be implemented in Crown TSP series turret trucks.
April 21, 2017
