Emergence of integrated material handling systems
Some years back the Material Handling Industry was not like it is now. The equipments then traditionally consisted of trolleys, conveyors, forklifts, overhead traveling cranes etc. which had quite a few drawbacks like manual intervention, low speed, handling problems like scratches, chipping, breaking, difficulty to monitor material flow etc.
The times are changing now and the companies now need to be lean, agile and highly automated in order to meet complex customer demands and meet the pressure of increased competition and customized products.
With changing times, there has been an emergence of new material handling systems like automated storage & retrieval systems, carousels, rail guided & automated guided vehicles, intelligent flexible modular conveyors, pick & place units, gripper/holding devices for fragile / delicate / super finished components, etc.
The market has become complex and so has the logistics. With this have emerged integrated material handling systems which can not only communicate with each other but also with processing machines, inspection devices, assembly stations etc. The integration of various material handling devices into an efficient system is plant-specific, and can be done best by the organization itself. The integrated material handling systems have the advantages of better inventory control, faster throughput, less time for changeover, less defects during material handling, more utilization of space -floor space as the space up to ceiling and the capability to maintain them oneself
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