Is an Automated Forklift Right for Your Operation?

While all types of operations can likely benefit from warehouse automation, choosing the right automation for your business is imperative to its success. In today’s blog, the material handling experts at Voss Equipment in Chicago answer this common question: is an automated forklift right for your operation?

Consider Your Unique Business Challenges

Does your operation have trouble with high turnover rates? Especially if you’re having trouble finding and holding onto certified forklift operators, robotic forklifts can help cover some of the slack. While automated warehouse robots cannot and should not completely replace human workers, robotic lift trucks can help free up your workers for more valuable tasks, while keeping your operation running smoothly even amidst the very real challenge of sourcing and retaining labor in your warehouse.

Consider Your Shift Cycle

While it’s a common robotics myths that only large warehouses can benefit from automated lift trucks, in actuality, their efficacy is based more on your shift cycle than the size of your operation. Two-, three-, and four-shift operations tend to benefit the most from robotic forklifts.

Consider the Type of Job & Materials

Robot forklifts tend to work best with repetitive tasks that utilize long horizontal runs or vertical movements, making them a great option for distribution centers. They can be especially useful for ground transport, milk runs, parts sequencing, lifting and stacking, towing, order picking, and container handling. While perfect pallets are not needed, counterbalanced stackers can handle disposable pallets, and center riders only require Grade B or better. In general, robotic lift trucks work with gaylords, skids, and CHEP pallets.

Consider Your Warehouse Layout

While improving your workflows and facility for automation is sometimes recommended, it’s often not required. As long as you’re working in an indoor setting, in a single temperature zone over 32-degrees, with clean, smooth, dry floors, with inclines less than three degrees, your space shouldn’t require any immediate infrastructure changes.

Ready to learn more about warehouse automation for your Chicago business? Not only can Voss Equipment help you find the right Yale robotic forklift system for your operation, but our material handling solutions experts can answer all of your questions about warehouse automation. Contact us today at 708-596-7000 to get started. In the meantime, check out our heavy equipment blog where we cover everything from how to increase warehouse productivity to how to prevent common types of forklift accidents using Yale Reliant.