The AIV (Autonomous Intralogistics Vehicles) market continues to grow. Comprising Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), as well as automated industrial trucks and other mobile robots, the sector provides a relatively low-cost entry point to the world of intralogistics automation.

The principal challenge for companies investing in AIVs is integration with their existing systems. The automation and the software controlling it need to be implemented in the right way in order to reap the benefits. This was one of the drivers for the decision by the European Materials Handling Federation (FEM) to launch its AIV Group two years ago.

Open to all AIV manufacturers who are members of a FEM-affiliated national association, the AIV Group supports users and integrators as well as manufacturers. The group aims to develop common technical standards for performance, interfaces and safety, as well as capturing and analysing market trends through a dedicated statistical platform.

In terms of technical co-operation, the group addresses a variety of issues with the aim of forging a common understanding in support of business development and fair competition. These include, for example, developing common evaluation criteria for performance, cycle time and dimensioning; standardising physical and digital interfaces; mapping gaps in products, functions and application environments; and establishing of a code of practice.

The statistical co-operation aims to provide exclusive data on European market trends, including both major machine categories (AGVs/AMRs and automated industrial trucks). The data is broken down by country, as well as by factors such as handling equipment, lifting height, load capacity and type of load.

At its next meeting, which will coincide with the FEM Congress in Paris on 8-9 October, a key topic for the AIV Group will be the implications of the new Machinery Regulation, which will replace the Machinery Directive – for which CE marking indicates conformity – from 20 January next year.

Understanding the effects of this regulatory change is also keeping members of AMHSA’s own Engineering Standards Forum busy. Established last year, our Engineering Standards Forum acts as the voice of our industry with both the UK’s national standards body (BSI) and the European standards committee (CEN), while providing feedback to AMHSA members to support them in remaining compliant and competitive. The Engineering Standards Forum features three sub-groups that have specialist knowledge regarding conveyors, shuttles and AIVs.

Automated Material Handling Systems Association

www.amhsa.co.uk