Automated Guided Vehicles & Autonomous Mobile Robots

RM Group’s industrial robotic offering extends to AGVs and AMRs in our extensive product portfolio of packaging machinery and robotic automation solutions.

Our partner for AGV and AMR mobile robot technology is ABB (formerly ASTI Mobile Robotics).  ABB Mobile Robotics provides automated intralogistics solutions for many sectors, creating opportunities to optimise productivity, streamline production processes and cut operational costs. As specialists in the most demanding industries, including automotive, food & beverage, cosmetics, pharma, retail and aeronautics among others, ABB Mobile Robotics’ strategic mission is helping their customers be more competitive, flexible and faster to market.

AGVs & AMRs are best suited to following industries:

Automotive, e-commerce and retail, pharmaceutical and cosmetics, manufacturing, metals and machinery, logistics and aerospace.

They can provide ideal solutions for:

Reception – warehouse – shipment, intralogistics, outdoor applications, picking, full kitting, assembly line material delivery – end of line, robot cells, assembly lines and special (heavy loads & custom solutions).

Our towing line of AGVs are a proven automation solution for modern intralogistics processes. Based on proven technology, the Flexley Tug AMRs are easy to install, manage and maintain, delivering higher productivity and lower operating costs. Their robust design provides reliability 24/7, with loads up to 10 tonnes. A flexible guidance and control model enables layouts and stations to be modified easily – important in production and manufacturing applications where Continuous Improvement is king.  Although the primary use case for an automated tow tractor is a Milk Run or similar process in a production/line side environment, the Flexley Tug is equally at home in high-volume pallet movement operations within a warehousing and logistics environment.

The Flexley Tug are most suited to Kitting, Manufacturing & Production Line applications and will excel almost anywhere a wide range of wheeled containers and load carriers can be found.  Almost any design or type of trailer can be hitched, enabling the transport of cases, cartons, cage & pallets. Trailers can be equipped with powered rollers to enable automatic loading and unloading.

The platform-type Flexley Mover line is our most versatile range of AMR, with a payload capacity between 350 Kg to 1.5 tonnes.

From the P204 to the P604, a platform AMR can transport everything from cases and cartons through palletised loads to large sub-assemblies. The compact physical design and the multi-directional ability of the Flexley Mover to turn on the spot enables a standard UK pallet to be handled in a 1.9 metre diameter circle. An omnidirectional movement capability also enables routing through places other larger automated vehicles often cannot.  A range of platform interfaces can be configured, enabling secure transport of a variety of pallet and stillage types, rolls and other types of load.

The Flexley Mover is entirely suited to intralogistics with manufacturing – the size and movement capability making all the difference in the UK’s portfolio of legacy manufacturing facilities that otherwise may not have the available manoeuvring space for safe and efficient automated transport.

A range of AMR-specific accessories such as a chain transfer station, pallet dispenser & load stands enable full integration with our robotic palletising cells and automatic wrapping lines further drive the benefits and returns of adopting an AMR solution from RM Group.

With advanced SLAM navigation, the light and versatile Flexley Mover P103 enables flexible and easy integration into light production environments.  A 50 Kg payload with variable height transfer enables single euro containers, trays or customised boxes up to 600 x 400 mm be handled.  Transfer stations can be active or passive, thanks to the powered transfer included with the P103.

A full safety suite with obstacle avoidance and lightweight design mean that safe collaborative working is possible, with some adjustment to working practices and employee awareness.

Our range of Flexley Stack counterbalanced AMRs can provide a scalable, robust and reliable solution to many handling applications. Almost any palletised, container or cage application can be considered – whether it is racked, stacked or line-side. A range of chassis, fork and mast designs can almost guarantee a right-sized fit to a given set of requirements – down to operating in a 3-metre stacking aisle.

Vertical operations are also a strength, with the F702 model able to lift to heights of 8.5 metres, whilst still capable of block-stacking loads on the ground – even with closed-boarded UK-style pallets.

As with the rest of our AGV/AMR range, our forklift line are equipped with full object detection and safety equipment for secure integration into your operation.

Just as with fixed automation, there’s much more to an AGV/AMR installation than the robotic unit itself.  There’s a whole “stack” of enabling technologies, software & hardware that we’ll employ to ensure success of any project that includes an AGV or AMR:

• Deposit & Collection conveyors & stands.
• Cell & light barrier integration.
• Communications with end-user systems for monitoring, status & order/task management.
• AGV/AMR Fleet Manager.
• Online, automatic charging.

For any given project, we’ll recommend and supply the right mix of these items to ensure project success.