Modern Materials Handling - April 2010

BIG PICTUREare unmanned and run on electric power rather than fossilfuels. And because a robot is computer controlled, it is moresmooth and efficient in how it uses power. “That not onlyleads to better energy consumption, we believe you’ll also seea reduction in wear and tear on wheels and other parts,” saysWyland. “That will reduce the total cost of ownership andreduce your overall footprint.” In the future, Wyland adds,Seegrid plans to investigate alternative sources of energy topower the robots. Second, robots enable the move toward“lights out” automation. “When you’re using robotic technology,you can reduce your HVAC costs and the amountof lighting you need in certain areas of the facility,” Wylandsays.Controlled efficiency with AGVsLike industrial robots, automatic guided vehicles use electricbatteries and computer controls to operate more efficientlythan lift trucks. “We do the same tasks as a lift truck, butwe can more precisely control the acceleration and decelerationrates,” says Mark Longacre, JBT’s (215-822-4489, www.jbtc-agv.com) marketing manager. “Because we can controlthe battery cycles, you’ll see longer battery life.” JBT is alsoresearching alternative power sources for its vehicles. Forinstance, the company implemented a nine-vehicle systemthat uses hydrogen fuel cells for a tire manufacturer. “Thevehicle creates a little bit of water vapor that evaporates,”says Longacre. “So far, it has worked well and provides aneven source of power that is rock solid.” The company istesting a methanol fuel cell to recharge a traditional batteryduring operation. “Methanol doesn’t have the energy densitywe need to power the vehicle directly,” he says. “But it doesgive us some efficiency gains, and methanol is considered acleaner and more sustainable fuel.”Green equals lean“For Jervis B. Webb, sustainability is about enabling a leanoperation that reduces waste,” says Sarah Carlson, marketingdirector for Jervis B. Webb (248-553-1000, www.jervisbwebb.com).For the last year, Webb has replaced the standardabsorbed glass mat batteries (AGM) that it used with fastcharging, thin plate pure lead batteries (TPPL). “TPPL batterieslast up to 50% longer than AGM batteries, and they are90%-plus recyclable,” says Carlson. “And, because they chargefaster, you can operate your facility with fewer batteries.” Thattranslates into less energy, less parts and less maintenance. “Tous, that’s part of green in the bigger picture,” says Carlson.Insight that Pushes Creative Boundaries in Plastic©2010 Rehrig Pacific CompanyMaterial HandlingWhen you have a material handlingchallenge, we’re listening with overnine decades of industry experience.Today’s global demands require innovativeboundary-pushing products and person-topersonconsultation from design conceptall the way to commissioning. Our historyof creative, sustainable plastic solutions thatdeliver outstanding value to our customersis unparalleled. Discover the world-classexpertise we can bring to your storage,AS/RS or supply chain needs atwww.rehrigpacific.com.Phone: (800) 546-4993Email: info@rehrigpacific.comWeb: www.rehrigpacific.comCome see usat NA 2010Booth #2211A FAMILY TRADITION OF GROWTH, SERVICE AND INNOVATIONmmh.com MODERN MATERIALS HANDLING / A P R I L 2 0 1 0 31