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AGV ROI Starts with a Delivery Commitment

So much emphasis has been placed on features, advantages, and benefits; too little attention has been paid to delivery dates. The best automation solution on paper means nothing if it cannot be delivered in 2022.  Selling the sexy sizzle of new, clever, even remarkable AGVs means nothing if manufacturers and distribution centers cannot take delivery of the product until 2023. Throughout industrial manufacturing and distribution the lead time from many AGV manufacturers is more than a year.  That means product ordered in Q1 2022 will not be delivered until the following year. That is an absurd lead time and reflects poor planning and unnecessary supply chain constraints.
AGV ROI Starts with a Delivery Commitment
The supply chain disruption: most new fork trucks cannot be delivered until 2023

The question several years ago might have been fork truck or AGV?  The average delivery time for most new fork trucks is also 2023. Until now, the question from purchasing was which vendor could best demonstrate the fastest ROI and cost-justification. That question is also dated because ROI can only be calculated from the date of delivery and rapid installation.

Basic AGV Solutions Prove Best Option for 2022

One of the realities of moving materials on a production loop with 30 stops is that well-established, tried, and trusted AGV technologies, will solve the problem.  Likewise, most AGVs are needed for simple A to B location (dock to production cell) delivering raw materials or kitted solutions.
AGV ROI Starts with a Delivery Commitment
K10 One-Way: One-directional movement. Towing capacity of up to 3,000 kg/ 6,614 lbs on wheeled trolley. Dimensions (L x W x H): Up to 1,700 x 500 x 280 mm/ 67”x 19,7” x 11” Magnetic navigation

Tricked-out super-sophisticated AGVs that cannot be delivered until next year are useless.

The need for AGVs is real

Years ago, the efficacy and merit of the technology had to be explained as some feared that fork truck drivers would be replaced. Ask any manufacturer struggling to find workers right now, the ability to order AGVs and take delivery by Q3 2022 is a big deal.  As plant managers, purchasing, and occupational health and safety professionals are tasked with automation objectives, hiring objectives, and production quality and safety process improvement, the standard ROI paradigm has shifted for 2022.

The AGV selection process for 2022: Delivery Commitment

AGV vendors must promise a delivery date with a guarantee not to exceed 180 days from purchase order to delivery. Failing to provide that commitment is unacceptable. Solving the immediate challenges in production by delivering product in Q3 2022 and mitigating the hiring constraints plaguing industrial HR managers are top priorities.
AGV ROI Starts with a Delivery Commitment
K11 Two-Way: Bidirectional movement; Towing capacity of up to 3,000 kg/ 6,614 lbs on wheeled trolley. Dimensions (L x W x H): Up to 2,010 x 500 x 280 mm/ 79” x 19,7” x 11” Magnetic or mapping navigation
About The Author
Mike Kotzian is currently the Managing Director of Kivnon USA, a leading Automated Guided Vehicle supplier with Farmington Hills, Michigan headquarters. He has over 20 years of experience in the AGV industry in various leadership roles. He has a special interest in the history and evolution of the AGV with a passionate look to the future. Follow KivnonUSA on Twitter or contact Kotzian on LinkedIn.

SPOTLIGHT

Kivnon USA

Kivnon researches, develops, designs, manufactures and distributes Auto Guided Vehicles (AGV´s) and systems in order to improve the productivity of internal logistics of its customers. Kivnon is committed to global excellence with a complete range of AGV´s and related products to support its customers in the current transformation in the world of manufacturing (industry 4.0). With the 10 years of experience in the field of the AGV production and related products, Kivnon has become an important player in its segment.

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During the forecast period of 2022-2029, the Air Cannon System market size is expected to develop revenue and exponential market growth at a remarkable CAGR. The market's expansion can be attributed to rising demand for Air Cannon System in construction, industrial, mining, and other applications on a global scale. At the country level, the report provides insights into the lucrative opportunities in the Air Cannon System Market. The report also includes a precise cost, segment, trend, region, and commercial development of the major key players worldwide for the projected period. The comprehensive report on the Air Cannon System Market will analyse data changes and their global market impact. It also examines the overall growth of companies in the market as well as their ability to manage and control profit levels, which is critical for any investor looking to open and expand a business in the same market. The report aims to provide investors with an accurate prediction of market development over time by providing a detailed analysis of current trends and key changes that serve as a framework for the company to calculate market growth potential in the near future. The report also tracks and records significant events such as business combinations, joint initiatives, accomplishments, new product developments, or market activities. The main purpose is to provide a growth map from which the benefits can be calculated. It includes Porter's Five Forces analysis, which explains the five forces: customer bargaining power, distributor bargaining power, the threat of substitute products, and the degree of competition in the Air Cannon System market, as well as a market overview, which includes market dynamics. It describes the various market ecosystem players, such as system integrators, middlemen, and end users. Another major topic covered in the report is the competitive environment of the Air Cannon System market. The research also provides in-depth details about the COVID-19 scenario and its impact on the market to help with decision-making.

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Even though Silicon Valley has built its reputation on innovation, it is believed that it has lost its edge. Business entrepreneurs were encouraged to focus on gleaming venture capitalists, to sell bigger dreams to the most popular technology. The future of the American manufacturing industry is predicted to have more growth than the past two decades, and here are the reasons why: Excluding the Middleman: From ancient times, manufacturers sold through retailers who acted as middlemen in the distribution process, but with the upgradation of the industry, manufacturers can now directly connect to the consumers and the government. Rising Demand for US Made Products: The US population leans more towards products that are made in America. Hence, the manufacturers make extra efforts to produce high quality premium products for their customers. Customer Loyalty and Support: Customers love to connect with the brand and understand the brand’s struggle to manufacture and create excellent products. Engaging customers in the journey will help manufacturers gain insights and feedback, and improvise accordingly. People today are more keen towards seeing improvements sooner, and it has become much easier to hear from customers, iterate, fail, pivot, and improve quickly. Conscientious Capitalism’s Rise: When you take into account the carbon cost of transportation imports, there is another clear advantage to the growth of domestic production. Important financial advisors are also raising this alarm. For instance, the polypropylene required for the majority of PPE is manufactured in the U.S., transported to China, used to make masks, and then returned. Additionally, since at least 18% of air pollution is caused by ocean freight, domestic product manufacturing may benefit both the environment and consumer demand. Energy Costs: The cost of energy consumption in the United States is declining, which is crucial when competing with foreign companies. For the first time in modern history, domestic production has a strategic advantage because electricity is the second-highest cost after labor. Automation: The strategic advantage of cheap labour possessed by international competitors is eliminated by the growth of automation. Over the next ten years, robotic automation is expected to challenge enterprises that have relied on cheap labour as a competitive advantage, paving the way for a revival of American manufacturing.

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Read More
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Smart Manufacturing with IoT & Industry 4.0

Article | July 8, 2022

Industry 4.0 is a new phase of the Industrial Revolution that emphasizes interconnectivity, automation, machine learning, and real-time data. Industry 4.0 and IIoT combine physical production with smart digital technology to create a holistic and better connected ecosystem for manufacturing and supply chain management. Industry 4.0 is about revolutionizing the way your entire business operates and grows by investing in new technology and tools to improve manufacturing efficiency. In most cases, businesses are deploying iIoT devices and machinery linked by communication technologies to help industries collect, monitor, analyze, and deliver valuable insights. The specifics of how this technology is used vary from company to company, but the goal is always the same: to improve operational efficiency through analytics, automation, and connectivity. For example, The manufacturing sector is already undergoing a revolution. According to an IDC report, the sector spent $178 billion on the iIoT in 2016. Also, as per MarketWatch, iIoT investment in the manufacturing sector will grow at a CAGR of 29.68% until 2020. Amazon paid $775 million for the robotics company Kiva in 2012. It crosses our mind: why such a big investment? It made more sense for them to use robots to locate products and deliver them to their workers than for their workers to find the products themselves. Smart Manufacturing Use Cases: Industry 4.0 technology is being implemented by a North American tool manufacturer in order to improve efficiencies and productivity in its global manufacturing operations. Caterpillar recently collaborated with industrial analytics firm Uptake to develop technologies that will assist their customers in monitoring the health of their equipment. They used a variety of IoT and augmented reality technologies to provide machine operators with an instant view of vitals such as fuel levels and when the air filter needs to be replaced. When an air filter needs to be replaced, the technology sends detailed instructions to the machine operator. Siemens' factory in Amberg, Germany, personifies the company's passion for technological innovation. The plant was created as part of a collaboration with the German government to create a series of fully automated smart factories. The plant itself manufactures parts for BMW and is said to be approximately 75% automated. The purpose of going over these use cases is to help you imagine and consider how smart manufacturing could be integrated into your own organization.

Read More
MORE ARTICLE

SPOTLIGHT

Kivnon researches, develops, designs, manufactures and distributes Auto Guided Vehicles (AGV´s) and systems in order to improve the productivity of internal logistics of its customers. Kivnon is committed to global excellence with a complete range of AGV´s and related products to support its customers in the current transformation in the world of manufacturing (industry 4.0). With the 10 years of experience in the field of the AGV production and related products, Kivnon has become an important player in its segment.

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Fortify Ships FLUX CORE 3D Printer to IERUS Technologies

Fortify | October 06, 2022

Fortify, provider of advanced composite-photopolymer printers, announced today that IERUS Technologies received a FLUX CORE 3D printer and Flux Developer materials onboarding software for design and engineering of Defense Systems. The 3D printer will be used to realize complex RF (radio frequency) applications. "Placing a printer at the IERUS Technologies headquarters provides a critical resource to support the growing need for additive manufacturing solutions in electromagnetics for Defense, Fortify's printers are uniquely positioned to print low-loss 3D printing materials, enabling performance advantages where traditional manufacturing falls short (due to machining, weight, and size)." -Eric Versluys, Director of Defense Programs at Fortify. IERUS Technologies, a provider of engineering and design solutions for Defense and commercial customers, such as sensors and strategic systems, is designing novel RF structures such as Graded Refractive Index (GRIN) lenses leveraging Fortify's FLUX CORE system. The Flux Core system enables companies like IERUS to take advantage of the design freedoms enabled by RadixTM, a 3D printable low-loss material developed by Rogers Corporation. "The Fortify 3D printer line will enable IERUS Technologies to develop complex RF structures that push the limits of traditional RF architectures with novel electromagnetic phenomenologies." -Jason Keen, CEO of IERUS Technologies This announcement comes a few months after Fortify's strategic investment from In-Q-Tel and the development of a portfolio of electronic 3D printing materials. IERUS will leverage the FLUX Developer toolkit, an open platform for the development of viscous and filled resins, to optimize printing of RF devices. Fortify will be showcasing 3D printed RF structures printed on the FLUX CORE 3D printer at Array 2022 October 11 - 14 in Waltham, MA. About Fortify: Fortify is transforming the 3D printing industry with its patented DCM (Digital Composite Manufacturing) platform. DCM delivers new levels of additively manufactured part performance by introducing functional additives to photopolymers. By combining a deep understanding of material science with high performance mixing, magnetics, and polymer physics, Fortify is able to produce custom microstructures in high-resolution 3D printed parts. The company is currently focused on applications ranging from injection mold tooling to high performance end-use parts with unique mechanical and electromagnetic properties. Founded in 2016 and based in Boston, Fortify4 technology enables material properties and components unattainable using other additive or traditional manufacturing processes.

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