By integrating MiR autonomous mobile robots with custom engineering, MCE helped a manufacturer transform a labor-intensive, injury-prone task into a safe, hands-free process that keeps production moving.
Challenge
A leading heavy industrial manufacturer faced ongoing safety risks and productivity losses tied to the manual transport of heavy boxes of assembly materials from the storage crib to multiple production cells. This repetitive, labor-intensive task was contributing to ergonomic strain and injury, while also causing delays in material delivery.
These inefficiencies disrupted downstream production and tied up skilled workers with injury-prone material handling. The customer needed a scalable, fully automated solution that could run on a schedule without human involvement.
Solution
MCE’s automation solutions team assisted assistance in an engineered, fully automated solution using MiR autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) equipped with custom conveyor systems and actuators. By integrating automation, the customer was able to streamline material flow via schedule-based, hands-free delivery of heavy materials.
Automate Heavy Material Delivery with AMRs
For plant managers, health & safety leaders, and operations engineers, AMRs unlock safer and more productive workflows. When AMRs are used to automate heavy material delivery, they offer:
- Consistent, hands-free delivery
- Improved material flow efficiency
- Increased productivity and throughput
- Minimized injury risk from repetitive tasks and or heavy loads
Design and Integration
The MCE automation team evaluated the plant’s layout and delivery paths to identify optimal routes for automation to eliminate the manual transport of heavy boxes of fasteners across the plant floor. Then, they selected AMRs by MiR as the mobile platform for material transport.
Why MiR AMRs were selected:
- Unified mobility and manipulation
- Up to 1350 kg payload capacity
- Enhanced productivity and ergonomics
- Seamless integration and ease of use
- Scalable and reliable for immediate deployment
The MCE team also engineered and installed custom conveyors and linear actuators on top of each AMR to allow hands-free box loading and unloading. Additionally, they programmed the AMRs to operate on a recurring schedule, reducing the need for calls or manual routing. Finally, integrated safety features and PLC controls were deployed to manage traffic and AMR coordination in shared plant zones.
Results
MCE's robot integration expertise made it possible to customize and synchronize multiple systems (AMRs, actuators, conveyors, PLCs). Results included:
- Manual handling eliminated for material delivery, reducing worker strain and fatigue.
- Fewer workplace injuries are tied to repetitive lifting of heavy boxes.
- Delivery consistency improved, ensuring production cells always had materials on time.
- Operational efficiency increased without requiring additional staff or forklift traffic.
Conclusion
Before AMRs, the customers’ operators were exhausted from hauling boxes and performing repetitive work. Now, they can focus on higher-value work while deliveries arrive like clockwork, exceeding company goals of safety and efficiency.
By combining deep engineering expertise with real-world plant-floor experience, MCE delivered an end-to-end automation project covering concept, design, programming, build, and installation.
The customer is now exploring the use of similar AMR-based automation systems for transferring finished goods to shipping and handling other work-in-progress (WIP) materials.