Page 27 - Logistics News April 2021
P. 27
News
First remotely operated forklift produced
GLOBAL LOGISTICS provider, Geodis, has partnered
with Phantom Auto, experts in long-range remote
operation software for unmanned vehicles, to develop
a forklift truck that can be controlled from a distance.
This innovative programme is aimed at improving
comfort and safety, and creating job opportunities for
people with physical disabilities and others who are
historically underrepresented in the logistics industry.
The first successful tests took place in France as
part of a multi-year cooperation between Geodis,
Phantom Auto and Fenwick-Linde to create the
first remotely operated forklift, capable of being
controlled from thousands of miles away. It is the
precursor of a revolution in the nature of work
in the logistics industry, expanding opportunity
to people from historically under-represented all from the safety of a distant oce. Phantom’s
demographics e.g. women, people with physical software provides Geodis’s remote operators with
disabilities. real-time eyes and ears all around each vehicle,
This cooperation stems from a creative idea enabling them to safely and confidently guide the
from a Geodis manager and was developed in vehicles from wherever is convenient.
the framework of the Geodis internal innovation Geodis’s remotely operated forklift programme
programme. The solution uses a Fenwick forklift contributes to reducing injuries and increasing
combined with Phantom’s secure, network-agnostic overall safety in warehouses; reducing the number
and interoperable remote operation software to of people physically inside warehouses to enhance
enable remote workers to operate the vehicle, worker comfort; creating new future-proof remote
unlocking eciency and equipment utilisation gains. operator jobs that can be carried out within an
For example, one remote worker can operate multiple oce environment; hiring individuals who may have
forklifts at a number of warehouses at di erent times physical disabilities restricting their use of traditional
of the day, all from one central location. forklifts, as well as individuals from other historically
Geodis remote operators, also referred to as digital underrepresented demographics; and recruiting from
drivers, will be able to ‘teleport’ between di erent regions outside of where warehouses are located,
vehicles and warehouses with the click of a button, including areas of higher unemployment.
New Smart Pallet Mover
INTERROLL HAS launched the Smart Pallet production-related picking and sequencing
Mover, an award-winning pallet management processes. It can be adapted as a flexible and
solution for automating pallet transport in the modular pallet management system to meet
vicinity of manufacturing machines and for a wide range of application requirements in
industrial manufacturing.
The user can now automate work processes
in front of the machine production to avoid
manual activities in safety-critical areas and
manage the pallet workflow by bu ering, sorting,
sequencing and carrying at the right time to
deliver improvement of the machine downtime,
optimising the return on investment (RoI) of the
machine production cells. This not only eliminates
costly production interruptions for material
supply to machines, but also the risk of accidents
during operation. In this way, productivity
increases of up to 30 percent are possible
compared to manual operation. •
April 2021 | Logistics News 25
