Assembly in Action: Self-Propelled Conveyor Uses RFID
Hexcel Corp. (Stamford, CT) manufactures the honeycomb insert that goes inside the hard tonneau covers found on Chevrolet Avalanche trucks. Due to the size of the tonneau covers, a traditional conveyor system would be too costly and cumbersome for transporting the covers throughout the assembly process. The company contacted Ward Systems Inc. (Grass Valley, CA), a manufacturer of robotic and automated systems. Ward likes to "think outside the box," and this is exactly the approach Ward took when it installed the PowerPallet conveyor system at Hexcel Corp.
The system consists of motorized transport pallets and an inert conveyor. The PowerPallets act like miniature automated guided vehicles captured in tracks that guide them while they are traveling. They can accelerate and decelerate, providing a faster yet softer conveyance of products.