Friday, January 11, 2008
Still introduces new hybrid and new electric forklift
Still GmbH has introduced what it claims is the most economical forklift in its class and the world’s only hybrid forklift. The RX70, sold in Still’s global markets, is available in 2.2, 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 tonne load capacities. Manufactured in Hamburg, the RX70 was the world’s only forklift with hybrid technology, a Still spokesperson said. Still claims the forklift, which took two years to develop, consumes 2.5 litres of fuel an hour and is thus the most economical forklift in its class. The forklift is built at the Hamburg-Billbrook facility. The German forklift manufacturer also has added the RX60 to its electric forklift family. Manufactured in Hamburg and available worldwide, the RX60 has “low noise volume, fast battery change, optimised views and cabin layout, AC technology for travel and pump motors, reduced power consumption and increased performance”, the spokesperson said.Comments
As we can see from the case above, the recent trends of material handling is to built more enviromently-friendly equipment such as forklift truck that consume lesser fuel and reduced power consumption. The newly introduced hybrid and electric forklift have all these characteristics. I believe with this innovation, many companies can not only go "green" but also reducing their operating costs in term of lesser energy consumed by forklifts.
1) Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV)
--AGVs do not require an operator and is suitable for frequent movement on set routes.
--Good for high labor cost, hazardous, or environmentally sensitive conditions
AGVs good for low-to-medium volume medium-to-long distance random material flow operations (e.g., transport between work cells in a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) environment)
Two means of guidance can be used for AGV systems:
Fixed path: Physical guidepath (e.g., wire, tape, paint) on the floor used for guidance
Free-ranging: No physical guidepath, thus easier to change vehicle path (in software), but absolute position estimates (from, e.g., lasers) are needed to correct dead-reckoning error
1a) Tow AGV
Used to pull a train of trailers
Automated version of a tractor trailer
Trailers usually loaded manually (early type of AGV, not much used today)
1b) Unit Load AGV
Have decks that can be loaded manually or automatically
Deck can include conveyor or lift/lower mechanism for automatic loading
Typically 4 by 4 feet and can carry 1–2,000 lb. loads
Typically less than 10 vehicles in AGV system
1c) Assembly AGV
Used as assembly platforms (e.g., car chassis, engines, appliances)
Greatest development activity during the 1980s (alternative to AEMs)
Typically 50–100 vehicles in AGV system
1d) Light Load AGV
Used for small loads (<>
--AGVs do not require an operator and is suitable for frequent movement on set routes.
--Good for high labor cost, hazardous, or environmentally sensitive conditions
AGVs good for low-to-medium volume medium-to-long distance random material flow operations (e.g., transport between work cells in a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) environment)
Two means of guidance can be used for AGV systems:
Fixed path: Physical guidepath (e.g., wire, tape, paint) on the floor used for guidance
Free-ranging: No physical guidepath, thus easier to change vehicle path (in software), but absolute position estimates (from, e.g., lasers) are needed to correct dead-reckoning error
1a) Tow AGVUsed to pull a train of trailers
Automated version of a tractor trailer
Trailers usually loaded manually (early type of AGV, not much used today)
1b) Unit Load AGVHave decks that can be loaded manually or automatically
Deck can include conveyor or lift/lower mechanism for automatic loading
Typically 4 by 4 feet and can carry 1–2,000 lb. loads
Typically less than 10 vehicles in AGV system
1c) Assembly AGVUsed as assembly platforms (e.g., car chassis, engines, appliances)
Greatest development activity during the 1980s (alternative to AEMs)
Typically 50–100 vehicles in AGV system
1d) Light Load AGVUsed for small loads (<>
1e) Fork AGVCounterbalanced, narrow-aisle straddle, and side loading versions available
Typically have sensors on forks (e.g., infrared sensors) for pallet interfacing
posted at 1:17 AM