Dematic, a supplier of logistics systems for the factory, warehouse, and distribution center, and lift truck manufacturer Crown Equipment Corporation, announced an alliance to collaborate on the research and development of new products for warehousing and distribution. The first product resulting from the alliance was introduced at ProMat in Chicago this week: LaserTrucks+. This is an integrated product that applies Dematic’s picking and voice software suite and Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) guidance technology to a Crown PC 4500 Series rider pallet truck.
“Our recent acquisition of HK Systems and its advanced AGV technology made this solution possible,” said David Berghorn, Dematic’s chief technology officer, “LaserTrucks+ specifically addresses mixed case order fulfillment.”
Tim Quellhorst, senior vice president of Crown Equipment, added, “We believe emerging technologies will provide opportunities for our customers who want to implement scalable elements of material handling automation. Our alliance with Dematic is another step in this direction for Crown that helps us fill a gap in the global marketplace with a fully integrated pallet truck system for order picking.”
As some facilities move toward automation, the LaserTrucks+ offering from Dematic is a viable solution that leverages one of our most technologically advanced lift trucks.”
Mats Herrstromer, vice president of AGV Technologies for Dematic, told MH&L that by decoupling the operator from the lift truck, picking efficiency can increase by 40 to 80 percent. The solution includes dynamic voice picking.
