Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) for Flexible Pallet Transport
Autonomous mobile robots for pallet transport are the key to efficient and reliable goods flows in manufacturing, warehousing and shipping. The Open Shuttle Fork automates repeat transport tasks, reduces manual labor and paves the way for safe, transparent and plannable processes. Whether you’re looking to supply your production area, connect your warehouse or organize your shipping process, these pallet AMRs will help you automate your goods flows flexibly, without any additional static infrastructure and with the option to scale easily.
Why automate pallet transports with AMRs
For many companies, pallet transports are the most cost- and labor-intensive part of the goods flow. Busy forklift traffic, heavy loads and the long paths that come with supplying production, the warehouse and shipping often create bottlenecks and organizational headaches. Silhouetted against these issues are demands for greater safety, productivity and transparency.
But there is a solution. Pallet transport AMRs automate recurring transport tasks, providing relief to your employees and creating processes that are plannable, safe and scalable. Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are the latest generation of classic automated guided vehicles (AGVs). They offer more flexibility in pallet transport when the requirements of manufacturing, warehousing and shipping change.
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More InformationWhich pallet transports can be automated using AMRs?
Whether pallets are being transported between the warehouse and production, supplied to work stations or connected to an automated pallet storage system, transporting them is a central part of intralogistics. Open Shuttle Fork takes care of all these key tasks automatically, securing the goods flow between the warehouse, production and shipping.
Supplying work stations and production lines
Connecting warehouse and production areas
Transporting items between goods-in and the warehouse
Connecting automatic pallet storage systems
Complementing existing conveyor systems
Supplying kanban, flow and pallet racks
Special and express transport tasks
Packing and shipping logistics
Are you looking for a flexible AMR solution for transporting pallets?
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Why use Open Shuttle Fork for pallet transport?
Integrated electric lifter for transfer height flexibility
High payload – up to 1,500 kg (3,300 lb)
Compact, even for heavy loads
Reliable pallet pickup thanks to intelligent sensors
Transport different pallets and load carriers
Seamless integration into mixed fleets
Open Shuttle Fork: The right AMR solution for transporting your pallets
Each pallet transport has to fulfill different requirements regarding transport objects, the process and the area of use. Open Shuttle Fork is an AMR solution developed specifically for automatically transporting pallets, stillages and special load carriers.
Technical specifications
Compare all Open Shuttle solutions at a glance.
Learn more about the functions and technical specifications of our AMRs.
Control all pallet transports centrally with KiSoft FCS
KiSoft FCS (Fleet Control System) controls and coordinates all Open Shuttle Fork transport orders on one central platform. It automatically allocates orders to available robots, optimizes travel paths and makes good flows transparent. By integrating into existing WMS and ERP systems, it becomes a key component of end-to-end processes connecting the warehouse, manufacturing and shipping. The solution can also be expanded as desired by adding more robots or transfer stations. After receiving training, your employees will be able to change routes, stations and layouts themselves.
Connecting automated pallet racking systems with AMRs
Automated pallet racking systems are great for increasing storage density and managing stock efficiently. However, they need a reliable, flexible connection to the rest of the warehouse, manufacturing, picking and shipping. Open Shuttle Fork establishes and maintains this connection autonomously, creating an uninterrupted flow of goods between automated pallet racking systems and adjacent process areas.
- Connect pallet racking systems with production and assembly
- Automate supply to picking and shipping
- A flexible alternative and complement to conveyors
Scalable solutions for pallet transport: From individual robots to a mixed fleet
Open Shuttle Fork is an ideal solution for automating your pallet transport step by step. You can get started with just a single robot and expand it as your transport requirements grow.
In addition, the Open Shuttle Fork can be deployed together with Open Shuttles for transporting containers and magazines, as well as with manual industrial trucks. It’s automation that grows along with your business’ requirements.
Successful customer projects with automated pallet transport
Companies in several sectors are already using the Open Shuttle Fork to successfully automate pallet transports, optimize goods flows and prepare their intralogistics for the future.
Reference: Fronius
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More InformationAfter expanding their location in Sattledt, Austria, Fronius needed a way to connect production areas, check stations and logistics processes across multiple halls. They wanted a flexible solution for automating pallet transport and reacting to changes in manufacturing demand. We implemented a fleet of 16 Open Shuttle Fork robots that supply pallets to production cells and transport pallets between the different areas. Fronius automated their production logistics and gained valuable flexibility in adapting their goods flows to new requirements.
Reference: Brødrene Dahl
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More InformationIncreasing order volumes, a growing range of products and high standards for delivery times meant that Brødrene Dahl’s central warehouse in Langhus, Norway – just south of Oslo – needed efficient and scalable goods flows. The solution was a fleet of eight Open Shuttle Fork robots, which transport pallets between goods-in, the high-bay racking system for pallets, the decanting area and shipping. Thanks to the flexible AMR solution, Brødrene Dahl could expand their transport capacity step by step and adapt material flows to meet new requirements without installing any additional infrastructure.
Successful customer projects with automated pallet transport
Companies in several sectors are already using the Open Shuttle Fork to successfully automate pallet transports, optimize goods flows and prepare their intralogistics for the future.
Reference: Fronius
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationAfter expanding their location in Sattledt, Austria, Fronius needed a way to connect production areas, check stations and logistics processes across multiple halls. They wanted a flexible solution for automating pallet transport and reacting to changes in manufacturing demand. We implemented a fleet of 16 Open Shuttle Fork robots that supply pallets to production cells and transport pallets between the different areas. Fronius automated their production logistics and gained valuable flexibility in adapting their goods flows to new requirements.
Reference: Brødrene Dahl
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationIncreasing order volumes, a growing range of products and high standards for delivery times meant that Brødrene Dahl’s central warehouse in Langhus, Norway – just south of Oslo – needed efficient and scalable goods flows. The solution was a fleet of eight Open Shuttle Fork robots, which transport pallets between goods-in, the high-bay racking system for pallets, the decanting area and shipping. Thanks to the flexible AMR solution, Brødrene Dahl could expand their transport capacity step by step and adapt material flows to meet new requirements without installing any additional infrastructure.
Are you interested in other variants of autonomous mobile robots?
Learn more about our AMRs for transporting containers and magazines!
FAQs about transporting pallets with AMRs
Can AMRs replace a forklift truck?
AMRs such as the Open Shuttle Fork automate many recurring pallet transport tasks, significantly reducing the need for manual forklifts. They are especially suited to standardized transport tasks between the warehouse, manufacturing, picking and shipping. Forklift trucks remain relevant for special transport tasks, loading and unloading and for highly flexible individual tasks.
Can AMRs pick up pallets directly from the floor?
Yes. The Open Shuttle Fork has an integrated electric lifter and can pick up and deposit pallets that are on the floor as well as on elevated transfer stations.
Which pallets and load carriers can the Open Shuttle Fork transport?
The Open Shuttle Fork can transport EUR-pallets, industrial pallets, plastic pallets, CHEP pallets, EUR-box pallets, stillages, racks and special load carriers. Its payload is 1,500 kg (3,300 lb).
How many pallets can an AMR fleet transport each day?
The number of transport orders depends on the travel paths, layout, transport volume, number of robots and process requirements. AMR fleets can be scaled flexibly to meet your specific requirements. At Cummins, for example, the fleet of Open Shuttle Fork robots completes up to 2,000 transport orders each day.
Can different pallets and special load carriers be transported in the same fleet?
Yes. The Open Shuttle Fork is designed for different pallet and special load carrier types, meaning that different transport tasks can be carried out flexibly by the same fleet.
How precisely does the AMR pick up and drop off pallets?
The Open Shuttle Fork has camera-based pallet detection. It automatically compensates for deviations in position of up to ±70 mm (±2.75 in) and ±10°. For automatic transfers at defined stations, the AMR places pallets with a margin of error of just ±1.5 cm (±0.60 in).
Can pallet transports be prioritized?
Yes, they can. The fleet control software KiSoft FCS manages all transport orders centrally. Orders can be assigned based on defined priorities so that more important transports are carried out first.
How are AMRs charged?
When the Open Shuttle Fork’s battery is low, it automatically drives to the charging station. It takes around 60 minutes to charge and has an operating time of over eight hours.
What happens if a robot is out of service?
KiSoft FCS centrally manages transport orders and distributes them to the available robots. If a robot has an error, the system checks its current order and reassigns it to another available robot if necessary. The status of all robots and transport orders can be viewed in KiSoft FCS at any time.
Can I change Open Shuttle routes and processes myself?
Yes, you can. After receiving training, users are able to adapt routes, layouts and processes themselves. Changes to the travel paths can even be made during ongoing operation.
