“A VNA truck may be initially more expensive than alternative options but the user must consider a  host of other often less than obvious cost savings that VNA trucks will bring, such as reduced product and equipment damage as well as a longer life expectancy than with some alternative equipment types,” he says.
 
“In instances where a new build is being considered rather than an upgrade of an existing site, there may also be significant cost savings to be made in the overall design and build cost by using a  VNA  system. For example, a reach truck might be able to serve racking up to 12 metres high but a VNA system can go to  17 metres – meaning that the footprint of the building can be smaller and, as a result, savings can be made on rates and other building-related costs.

When it comes to developments in VNA handling equipment, as well as the ongoing emphasis on achieving higher reach heights (VNA trucks are now operating in applications where, as recently as five years ago, only stacker cranes would have been considered) and increasing travel speeds in the aisle between locations, there is a growing trend towards automation based on conventional VNA truck technology.

“Many customers are acknowledging the potential benefits of automated VNA - particularly for two and three shift operations,” says Steve Richmond. “Productivity and efficiency is increased while labour costs are reduced significantly. Automated VNA machines work consistently 24/7 without degradation of work rate or lost time for battery charging or changing and work at a consistent, highly efficient rate throughout the entire shift.”

He continues: “These days automated VNA trucks can be almost completely based on a standard truck which is fitted with an ‘automation package’. This modern approach centres around the adaptation of existing technologies rather than a desire to ‘reinvent the wheel’ – as was the case 20 years ago when the accepted wisdom was to take a truck, strip out all the major components from  it and introduce a whole new control system.

“Today we can start with a standard VNA truck with wire guidance and transponder technology and, by introducing additional sensors for profile checking, centering and various other safety-related functions, adding a bus bar and automation controls for the truck’s sensors and fitting an interface to the warehouse management system - the truck becomes fully automated.

“This approach makes automation scalable. Trucks can be supplied as manual machines, upgraded to semi-automated vehicles and ultimately to fully automated systems as the client’s requirements change.

“However, as with any automation project, it is important to ensure that the system is planned and designed by a company experienced in automation and integration as the legislation and working practices for automated VNA trucks differ significantly from manual operations.

“That said, existing VNA facilities can usually be automated with little or no modifications. But design, safety and system integration must be treated as integrated project – not just a truck supply contract and we are perfectly positioned to provide this entire end to end design and implementation process to our customers.”
ENDS

About Jungheinrich UK Ltd:
Jungheinrich UK Ltd offers Pallet Trucks, Stackers, Counterbalance Trucks, Reach Trucks, Order Pickers, Very Narrow Aisle and Stacker Cranes in more than 600 truck variants. As well as this, Jungheinrich provide an extensive Aftersales Support Network, Rental and Financial Services, Racking Systems and Warehouse Planning. The company is a division of the German-owned Jungheinrich Group, which has manufacturing facilities Worldwide.