Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA) has introduced the Jungheinrich Warehouse Navigation system to the North American market. The system uses transponder radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to control very-narrow-aisle lift trucks within the aisles of a warehouse. Utilizing the system can improve productivity by up to 25 percent, depending on the application environment, the company says.

According to Michael Wiesenegg, MCFA product line manager of warehouse systems, Jungheinrich's Warehouse Navigation technology is the first of its kind in North America. The system was developed in Europe.

The Warehouse Navigation system is a semi-automatic approach to reaching pallet positions in a warehouse. Transponders placed in the warehouse floor at specific distances communicate with a RFID reader/writer in the lift truck to identify aisle locations and distances. The system knows the lift truck's location within the aisles and can program it to reach specific pallet positions by automatically selecting the most efficient combination of traveling and lifting.

The system can be integrated with an existing warehouse management system (WMS), which transmits orders to an RF terminal on the forklift. When an order is received, the operator activates the accelerator and the lift truck proceeds to the designated pallet position. The lift truck can then store/retrieve a pallet automatically or stop to allow the operator to pick from the pallet location.

According to MCFA, features and benefits of the Warehouse Navigation system include:

Increased productivity. The lift truck selects the optimum combination of driving and lifting to reach a pallet position in the fastest and most efficient way possible.
High picking and stacking accuracy. When the lift truck arrives at the designated location, a spotlight (optional) illuminates the picking position, showing the operator which side of the aisle and which location to pick from. The system also helps to ensure the correct pallet is moved based on the order received from the WMS.

Flexibility. Warehouse Navigation is adaptable to future changes in the warehouse structure. If a rack row changes or if more racking bays are added, the transponders are simply reprogrammed and the new configuration is stored in the controller.

Improved safety and control. The system relies on orders from the customer's WMS to operate in a semi-automatic mode, selecting the most efficient path based on the items included on the order. However, the operator can manually operate the truck when needed.