Rapid Growth in Mobile Automated Vehicles Cannot Leave Safety Behind
Article from MHI Solutions Magazine
As warehouses and distribution centers increasingly aim to incorporate automation into their operations, the interest in Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) has escalated, leading to robust growth in the industry. For MHI’s Mobile Automation Group (MAG), it is essential that growth is accompanied by an emphasis on safety. In fact, MAG leaders said, growth cannot happen without safety remaining the chief priority in the field of mobile automated vehicles.
“We all see this industry starting to really explode,” said Kai Beckhaus, co-vice chairman of MAG and general manager of strategy and business development of MHI member Jungheinrich. “There are a lot of new technologies entering the market. Deployment is rapidly scaling. That is only able to happen if the systems are safe and continue to be safe. Because otherwise, there would not be any acceptance of the technologies, and there would be no interest in rolling these technologies out.”
Brian Keiger, chairman of MAG, agreed, noting that for warehouse and distribution center operators, “Anytime you introduce some new technology, the first question is, ‘Is it safe for my people to operate around?’ Because if it’s not, it’s an immediate showstopper.” The efficiency gains that AGVs and AMRs can offer, after all, are lost without safety…
