Continuous AGV operations with robust Vulkollan® wheels

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are the workhorses in modern warehouses. These transport robots pick up, move and deliver heavy loads and materials - and do it all with high precision. Part failure is simply not an option when automotive production or a complex warehouse setup depends on transport equipment that runs 24/7. High-pressure environments demand high-performance AGV wheels that offer day-to-day wear and tear resistance and cope with repeated acceleration, deceleration and tight turns.

DS Automotion is a developer and producer of high-quality driverless transport systems and autonomous mobile robotics headquartered in Linz, Austria. The firm has specialized in the field for almost 40 years, starting in the automotive sector and is now also active in intralogistics, health care and other industries where agile automated transport is becoming the norm.

When sourcing heavy-duty wheels for their automated guided vehicles, DS Automotion turned to RÄDER-VOGEL; wheel manufacturing experts who produce a range of AGV wheels and material rollers based on our Vulkollan® polyurethane elastomers.

AGV wheels must cope with continuous around the clock use throughout their service life. On top of that, just-in-time production systems depend on finely tuned delivery schedules that only allow for minimal downtime. AGV maintenance and wheel replacement cannot be allowed to disrupt the seamless flow of materials.

This forms the central challenge for AGV wheels. The wheels and material rollers in automated systems must avoid downtime while delivering both high performance and low maintenance costs over a long service life. High abrasion resistance, wear resistance and shear resistance, especially with heavy loads, are all essential in high-quality AGV wheels. Wheel replacement intervals should also be more predictable.  Vulkollan® polyurethane is a key factor in solving this dilemma. 

DS Automotion turned to RÄDER-VOGEL to source heavy-duty wheels made with Vulkollan® for their automated guided vehicles. These Desmodur® 15-based Vulkollan® polyurethane elastomer wheels tackle the challenge fully, ensuring both reliability and durability for just-in-time material delivery systems.

Vulkollan® wheels offer high tear and shear resistance, coupled with very low failure rates, improving service life performance and making replacement timings more predictable. AGV maintenance is simplified, avoiding unscheduled downtime and saving on upkeep over the entire service life.

End customers in the automotive industry and at logistics providers all benefit from the Vulkollan® based wheels on AGVs from DS Automotion. These heavy-duty, high-performance wheels offer excellent load-bearing strength coupled with very good grip for automated maneuverability, along with the peace of mind that comes with precise, undisrupted material delivery.