Automated Guided Vehicle Applications & Examples

There are various types of AGVs available, but the nature of manufacturing and assembly processes means that towing AGVs and unit load AGVs tend to be the most popular type of AGV used within the industry, closely followed by AGV forklifts.

Within manufacturing, AGVs tend to be utilized on critical, but repetitive supporting tasks, such as towing mother-daughter carts and raw materials to production lines, transferring work-in-progress parts through production stages and moving finished products off the line.

All of these tasks are critical to the assembly process, but across these applications, the AGV is supporting the process.

The second main way that AGVs can be utilized in industrial manufacturing is in becoming the system that drives, or powers, the production line.

Increasingly, manufacturers are looking to move away from traditional chain driven production lines and conveyors, turning their attention to AGVs to power their production line.

In this type of use case, automated guided vehicles are used as the production line, moving products through the various assembly stages.

In manufacturing, AGVs not only optimize material flow but reduce manual labor and streamlining operations, freeing up staff to work on more productive tasks.

Through the integration of AGVs, facilities can achieve faster and more efficient workflows, enabling just-in-time manufacturing and supporting lean principles for flexible production.

Whether they’re used to support the production process, or to power assembly lines, AGVs deliver a flexible, scalable and reliable solution for manufacturers.