Pittsburgh, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/23/2012 -- Founded in 2003, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Seegrid Corporation (www.seegrid.com) brings robotic vision-guided technology to the material handling industry. With more than thirty years of innovation and research by the leading robotic scientists, engineers, programmers and logistics practitioners worldwide, Seegrid’s exclusive Robotic Industrial Trucks are revolutionizing the movement of materials in manufacturing and distribution environments. Seegrid’s technology transforms industrial vehicles into unmanned, automated pallet trucks and tow tractors that operate without the need for wire, tape, laser or other costly automated guided vehicle (AGV) guidance systems

In a recent issue of Modern Materials Handling, Associate editor Josh Bond wrote about how automation bridges transportation gaps He shared how facing a decision to add operators or automate, American Packaging Corp., turned to robotic industrial pallet trucks by Seegrid to increase consistency and savings.

Following sizable facility expansions, American Packaging Corp. (APC) determined the length of simple A to B routes was not ergonomically ideal for human pallet truck operators. Facing a decision to add operators or automate, the company turned to robotic industrial pallet trucks to increase consistency and savings.

In 2011, APC completed an equipment and facility expansion, including an additional 100,000-square-foot operating and storage space. New robotic pallet trucks allowed the company to move printed material further distances with speed and safety.

“The robots are easy to work with and have taken very little effort to integrate into everyone’s work style,” says Jon Smick, finishing manager at APC. “Because the robots are so flexible, they fit into each machine operator’s work flow and are utilized as a tool.”

The trucks transport two 3,000-pound printed rolls of work-in-process from the presses to the slitters. Instead of wire, laser, tape or magnet guidance, the robots navigate by 3D vision-guided technology, allowing operators to re-train routes as often as needed. The robotic trucks allow the customer to run multiple presses 24 hours a day with no transportation cost internally. The alternative would be a minimum of three forklifts and drivers on each shift.

Smick also added the consistent performance and behavior of the robots removes many of the safety challenges that come with operator decision-making or fatigue.

About Seegrid
. Seegrid offers solutions that optimize workflow processes by increasing productivity and reducing costs, creating economic and operational advantages. Seegrid will be exhibiting at booth 1531 during ProMat2013 January 21st-24th. Seegrid invites readers (www.seegrid.com/whitepaper) to download the free white paper, The Truth About Robotics.

Seegrid Corporation
http://www.seegrid.com
Amanda Merrell
amerrell@seegrid.com
412-379-4500