As the uptake of autonomous solutions increases in warehouses, integrated mobile weighing specialist Ravas is rolling out its existing tried-and-tested technologies to embrace this growth.
An established player for many decades in the intralogistics sector with its renowned, award-winning weighing solutions, the integration of Ravas’ mobile weighing systems with automated vehicles such as AGVs and AMRs is smooth and logical, as the technology it uses is very similar to that deployed around the world in manual forklifts and other MHE.
In-motion weighing has many advantages, most notably eliminating the need for a separate weighing station. As autonomous trucks are not able to travel at the speeds attained by their traditional manual equivalents, a diversion to a static weighing platform can be quite time consuming. By eliminating this leg of the journey, the Ravas AGV solution captures the data en route, allowing goods to take the most direct path to their destination elsewhere in the warehouse.
Accurate Inventory Control
As with manual trucks, the weighing information gathered by AGVs and AMRs in the warehouse can be used to provide more accurate inventory control and to optimise data collection for real-time
decision-making. “The data collected could be for invoicing, shipping, or for legal-for-trade purposes,” says Rob Ruijs, Sales Manager OEM for Ravas Europe BV. “But we also see it as a tool to give 100% accuracy with order picking. With the extra control, the system will only clear the order line if the right amount is picked. It will notify the user – whether it’s automated or human – that the right amount has been picked and you can move on to the next one.”
Integration of the technology is seamless, and the weighing data gathered can be either communicated directly to the WMS, ERP or TMS, or stored within the AGV. Data can be transmitted physically via RS232 or CAB-456 cables or wirelessly via Wi-Fi, 5G or Ravas’ own RIS software. “We have multiple options, whatever data flow is required by the customer,” says Ruijs. “With our own R&D department here in Zaltbommel (Netherlands), if a customer needs something special which we don’t have at the moment, we can figure it out together and make the required solution. For example, in the cargo business we combine the weighing data together with technology from one of our dimensioning partners to assist with loading and reporting.”
Ruijs says Ravas can deliver a complete package for both existing and newly-developed AGVs, and whilst he works at OEM level, he says the technology can also be retro-fitted at a customer
site. “With automation, it’s more of a solution-based sales than just a typical off-the-shelf product. Between the three of us – the OEM, Ravas and the end customer – together we can make a
solution. As the system we use for AGVs is, fundamentally, the same as we use for manual trucks, should a customer need, for example, ATEX protection, then we already have that technology in
our range and the implementations, it’s just a question of applying the solution to a different type of vehicle.”
Sector Growth
Driven by labour challenges, the AGV and AMR sector is undergoing considerable growth, particularly in those regions where hiring humans is most expensive. “We see a growth in the automation markets due to labour costs and shortages, but also in how it can reduce downtime,” says Ruijs. “After all, unlike a human an AGV can run 24/7 without any breaks. Because we are innovators within the weighing market, we have been targeting that market actively since August last year, and the ball is really starting to roll.”
Ravas is well placed to capitalise on this growth, given the brand’s strong reputation, especially in Europe. “We have over 65 years of experience and we already have a proven product, integrated with all the OEMs, so our base within the market is there,” concludes Ruijs. “Furthermore, we have service personnel all around Europe, and in those countries where we don’t have our own people, we partner up with specialists. Ravas is doing well is because we are fully service orientated, which in our sector is sometimes even more important than just the purchase itself.”
similar news
