Automatic Guided Vehicles
Reduce Labor Needs at
Container Terminal
Features and Benefits
Quick ROI - via reduced Labor
needs, Scrap and Maintenance
Costs
Flexibility - Layout and Routing
changes can be done by the
customer without assistance
Industry Group: Automatic Guided
Vehicle Systems (AGVS)
More than 3 million containers are handled annually, making it the
busiest transshipment terminal in Europe.
transport pallets of Signature
AGVs help Transshipment Terminal
Starting out in 1966 with just a single crane and 116
employees, this company is now the largest and
most advanced container transshipment company in
Europe. An important factor in this growth was the
decision to automate the process using more than
180 automatic guided vehicles (AGVs). This number
will continue to grow as all future expansions will be
automated terminals as well. The world is also
catching on after nearly ten years of operation.
Automated terminals are under construction in other
European ports as well.
Direct payback through efficiency
People cannot work 24 hours a day. But automated
equipment can. By taking sick days and vacation
into account, and an operation running in 5 shifts,
there are a total of 5.5 workers per job. Therefore,
automation translates directly into cost savings. The
flexibility in routing changes was also a major
benefit of the AGV system. Route and stop point
changes can be done with the simple point-and-click
of a mouse.
AGV Material Movements
AGVs transport the containers between the quay
cranes and the storage location. In the storage
location, the containers are picked and put away by
the rail-guided Automated Stacking Cranes. There is
sufficient docking space for eight large container
ships. There are typically three to four cranes
dedicated to each large ship and eight AGVs per
crane.
Vehicle Paths
The AGVs travel routes consisting of straight-line
sections and 90o curves. The vehicle is entirely
symmetrical: forward and backward speeds are the
same, 11 km/h, and there are powered wheels on
both axles.
Frog AGV Systems
691 North Squirrel Road
Suite 115
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
info@frogusa.com
www.frogusa.com