A Low-Cost Alternative to Automated Guided Vehicles

Motion Controls Robotics, Inc. (Fremont, OH), a leading provider of fully integrated material handling robotic systems, recently signed a SmartCart Automatic Guided Cart (AGC) Value Added Reseller Agreement with the Jervis B. Webb Company (Farmington Hills, MI), a subsidiary of Daifuku Co., Ltd. (Osaka, Japan). Jervis B. Webb is a world leader in automated material handling systems and developer of a new category of Automatic Guided Vehicle known as the SmartCart® Automatic Guided Cart.

?At Motion Controls Robotics our mission is to keep our customers competitive through quality robotic solutions, and this agreement improves our ability to deliver on that promise,? said Earl Raynal, Jr., sales manager, Motion Controls Robotics. ?With SmartCart AGCs, we extend the scope of products we offer to automate end-of-line packaging, palletizing and warehousing solutions. We can also improve the return on investment for our customers. We?re excited to partner with Jervis B. Webb since they are so well respected and can help us provide unique solutions to our customers.?

HOW SMARTCARTS WORK
The SmartCart AGC is a low-cost alternative to traditional Automatic Guided Vehicles with many of the same capabilities. SmartCarts are guided by magnetic tape, allowing users to quickly install or modify the guidepath in as little as a few hours. In many cases, minor but meaningful changes can be made in minutes.

SmartCart AGCs are ideal for moving products on an assembly line or transporting goods throughout a plant or warehouse. Because they're automatic and durable, automatic guided carts provide reliable and consistent point-to-point movement of everything from small parts to heavy pallets. The routes and functions of a SmartCart AGC are easily configured without the need for programming, allowing for very fast setup and installation time, and rapid system changes.

In conjunction with FANUC robots, this equipment allows manufacturers to respond to constant changes in production and packaging at lower cost and in a shorter time frame. SmartCart Automatic Guided Carts are very effective for delivering case goods and other products as well as packaging and shipping materials to a Motion Controls Robotics-supplied palletizing cell, moving completed pallets from the palletizing cell to a centralized stretch wrapping operation, and delivering these pallets to warehouse and shipping.

SmartCart AGCs also have a high return on investment and provide unique flexibility in progressive assembly systems for products such as lawn tractors, low volume automobile assembly, recreational vehicle assembly, and copier machine and other equipment assembly operations.

Different types of SmartCart AGCs can be mixed in a single system to perform multiple related, or supporting job duties such as fork-type pallet handling, case handling, trailer towing for multiple pallet handling in long haul applications, and tunnel/drive under for quick swap just-in-time delivery of Kanban type containers.

For assembly operations, SmartCart can be customized with a load handling carrier or a scissor lift to meet specific needs. For warehouses and distribution centers, SmartCart offers a wide range of tuggers, which can tow loads anywhere from 60 lb to 6,000 lb (based on a trailer friction factor of two percent). The tunnel/drive under SmartCart AGC configuration supports order picking and returns handling and can provide efficient load transportation to and from palletizing and depalletizing robots in a distribution center. The SmartCart also includes options for a single or dual roller conveyor AGC, which is useful for delivering pallets to and from roller conveyor systems. In addition, the counterbalanced fork SmartCart is perfect for picking up and dropping off pallets from conveyors, stretch wrappers or the floor.

Jervis B. Webb Company is a subsidiary of Daifuku and leading developer of innovative material handling technology such as Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs), conveyors, baggage handling systems and Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS). Webb specializes in the design, engineering, installation and support of integrated systems used in the automotive, airport, food/beverage, bulk handling, warehousing and manufacturing industries.

Motion Controls Robotics is a leading provider of automation solutions to manufacturing industries and has been in business since 1995. The company provides full service robotic solutions from concept to installation and service/support that keep manufacturers competitive. Motion Controls Robotics creates solutions for Fortune 500 and small to medium-sized manufacturers in general industries, plastics, food, building materials and tier one and two automotive suppliers.

They also automate small production shops and machine job shops. Motion Controls Robotics provides automation solutions to manufacturers for a variety of applications including material handling (case packing, palletizing and machine tending), material removal, sanding, deflashing, arc welding and vision-guided systems.

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Motion Controls Robotics, 1500 Walter Avenue, Fremont, OH, motioncontrolsrobotics.com.