Supply chain operators need autonomous systems that are easy to implement and is reliable. Hyster Co. today announced a new automated lift truck, Hyster Atlas, which it said is engineered for ease of use, dependability, and efficiency.
The platform features a drag-and-drop portal for easy deployment, said the company. This allows for fast setup and facilitates intuitive management and on-the-fly adjustments, it added. This design also eliminates the need for software engineering or custom code, Hyster claimed.
“Teams can achieve a lot through grit and hard work,” stated Steven LaFevers, vice president of global emerging technology at Hyster. “Hyster Atlas is designed to be a force multiplier to make work easier, drive greater efficiency, and push output even higher.”
“What teams cannot tolerate is wasting time getting cumbersome technology to cooperate,” he noted. “That’s why Hyster Atlas is engineered to make it easy for manufacturing operations to skip the hassle, confidently offload repetitive tasks like point-to-point material transfers to automation, and amplify what teams can get done.”
Hyster Atlas is user-friendly, cloud-based for flexibility
Hyster said Atlas enables operations to implement automated lift trucks in as little as a day. Once the truck is deployed, the platform also enables users to make changes quickly with no on-site software engineering required.
The portal is cloud-based, equipping managers with anytime-anywhere access for automated fleet management across multiple facilities. Atlas also enables remote monitoring, access, and update capabilities. The automated tow tractor is the first model available on the new platform.
For manufacturers using automation for repetitive tasks like towing carts, automated tow tractors use a variety of hitches, enabling compatibility with all cart styles, Hyster said. The tow tractors are also available with an automated hitch and unhitch option.
To further ease the manual burden of managing fleets, automated wireless charging enables trucks to return to a charging station dock when needed without operator or supervisor intervention, explained Hyster. The company integrates automation components separately on top of standard Hyster lift trucks, allowing updates and adjustments without interfering with other components.
Because automated lift trucks use the same parts as manual lift trucks, service and support are available through the Hyster dealer network.
Hyster aims to lift financial burden for adoption
Hyster Atlas also aims to help relieve the financial burden and long-term commitment of automated lift truck acquisition. Rather than requiring a large capital expenditure, the company said it offers automation through a frictionless rental model.
Hyster Co. is a division of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyster-Yale Inc. Founded in 1929, Hyster is a leading designer and manufacturer of forklifts and material handling systems.
The Greenville, N.C.-based unit claimed that its equipment can meet the needs of everything from fast-paced industrial warehouses and manufacturing facilities to demanding, heavy-duty applications in ports and terminals.