AGV Maintenance and Repair: Underside Access

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) boast extremely high uptime rates, with availability claims going as high as 99 percent in some instances. To get any equipment to perform reliably 99 percent of the time, however, you must spend that other 1 percent on maintenance, service, and repair. 

While AGVs and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) use a lot of new technology, drive trains are still essentially mechanical. They’re made of motors, belts, wheels, and tires. Moving parts wear out. No new technology can change that.   

At the same time, new systems bring new repair challenges. Batteries, sensors, cameras, and software systems all require regular upkeep to get the most out of your AGV fleet. 

The only way to reach many of these parts — particularly those integrated into the drive train — is from below. So what’s the best way to safely perform AGV maintenance when you need access to the bottom of the unit? Use a Single Post Lift optimized for light-duty industrial vehicles.

Lifting Vehicles for AGV Maintenance

Even the smallest warehouse AGVs can weigh hundreds of pounds, while the weight of the largest automated forklifts are measured in tons. There’s no safe way to lift these vehicles. Most AGVs are designed to ride as close to the ground as possible, meaning you have to elevate them to complete essential AGV service tasks. 

In other words, just like with any other industrial vehicle, you need a vehicle lift to safely work common components including:

• Tires
• Wheels
• Bearings
• Belts
• Other parts of the drive train 

Depending on the design, you may also need undercarriage access to change batteries, calibrate sensors, or check wiring. If you plan to complete scheduled maintenance in-house, that means you need a vehicle lift. The good news is that AGV lifts don’t need to take up a lot of space. 

Buy Single Post Lifts from BHS, Inc.

Single Post Lifts for AGV Service and Repair

The Single Post Lift from BHS, Inc. is a powered hydraulic lifting solution specifically for light-duty vehicles like most AGVs and AMRs. Each lifting platform is customized to match particular vehicles, complete with appropriate securing mechanisms, helping to ensure easy loading and safe lifting. 

Premium hydraulic components include braided wire lines, hardened chrome pistons, and honed cylinders for long, dependable service. Thermal overload protection and velocity fuses freeze the lift column in place in the event of system failure. These redundant safety features reduce workplace hazards, for a safer AGV maintenance program overall. 

The lift track of a Single Post Lift is entirely enclosed within a steel, powder-coated frame. This reduces the likelihood of contact with moving parts, while also contributing to the unit’s remarkably compact footprint. A bolt-down base keeps that footprint small. 

Space-saving design makes the Single Post Lift an easy addition to any existing service room. That creates opportunities for material handling operators to take their AGV service in-house, potentially reducing costs and complexity. It also simplifies service delivery for dealers that offer maintenance packages. In short, if you work with, on, or around AGVs, AMRs, or other light-duty industrial vehicles, a Single Post Lift can save time and resources on vital maintenance and repair tasks. 

Contact the BHS sales team at 1.800.BHS.9500 to discuss what Single Post Lifts can do for your AGV maintenance program today.