In logistics, industry and other fields where artificial intelligence and automation are increasingly dominant, forklifts cannot be excluded: today we find that their intelligence is even 10 times higher than a year ago, and they can manage and optimize the material handling process in the warehouse.
In 2021, the Italian government increased the tax preference provided by the Ministry of economic development for the implementation of the country's "industry 4.0 plan", and the Ministry of economic development established a tax credit from 50% to 95% for companies investing in new capital goods in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. Its purpose is to make the company more and more digital and technical in the world of forklift and warehouse automation, so as to make them more competitive in the world market.
In the past 200 years, commodity production has experienced four revolutions;
Industry 1.0
With the first industrial revolution in the 19th century, machines powered by water and steam were developed. During this period, family businesses grew into larger organizations and began to hire workers.
Industry 2.0
With the entry of advanced technology and electric power, mankind has entered a new era of industry 2.0. During this period, machines were designed to have their own power source, and the principles of timely production and lean production were introduced into the manufacturing industry.
Industry 3.0
The third industrial revolution or industry 3.0 was born with the technological progress of electronic equipment, precision machines, software systems and electronic hardware. During this period, the concept of management came into being, that is, the so-called supply chain management.
Industry 4.0
The fourth industrial revolution is characterized by production automation, which is integrated by artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, intelligent sensors and data analysis, and the Internet of things (IOT), so that machines, devices and humans can communicate in an interconnected manner to generate a large amount of data (big data), which can be analyzed according to cost and process efficiency.
However, a 2020 study by smarterchains, a Swedish industry 4.0 consultancy, found that 90% of Companies in the most advanced countries are still trying to figure out how to use industry 4.0 technology.
Most importantly, 10% of the companies that are using these capabilities today have significantly better performance than all other companies.
In the era of 4.0, great changes are expected in the working world. Finding people who can adapt, think logically, communicate and understand the digital world will become more and more critical.
In this case, the role of forklift is evolving and becoming part of a wider network of equipment and personnel. Working together has a strong impact on the development of the company.
In fact, due to its mobility and daily interaction with many different systems and equipment, forklifts can become a valuable data source for companies.
By collecting the data recorded and transmitted by the forklift, the algorithm can promote the new process in the warehouse and make it as efficient as possible.
Specifically, intelligent forklifts have been able to:
● indicate when maintenance is required
● control speed
● use anti-skid technology to monitor wheel slip and improve traction on slippery floors
● optimize fork lifting speed
● data storage and real-time transmission
● last but not least: prevent the risk of collision
Forklifts capable of transmitting this information will transform the traditional warehouse into an advanced, efficient, technological and safer warehouse.
For example, when integrated into the software, the fork of the forklift can be raised or lowered more skillfully, and the computer can guide the forklift to a picking position. Once there, the forklift will know whether the pallet to be picked is stored at a height of one meter or two meters.
Case list:
At about 8:20 a.m. on September 9, 2020, a fatal accident occurred in an industrial warehouse in an area famous for glass processing in Poland.
The accident occurred in the area transported by forklift. When checking the materials, a worker began to walk backward (in the area transported by the forklift, which is absolutely prohibited), and all this happened near a forklift carrying glass flakes. After the forklift collided with the man, it dumped all the materials, and the glass flakes broke and splashed on the man, seriously injuring him.
The work area covers thousands of square meters and is managed by a fleet of about 15 forklifts. After the impact, 2 or 3 forklifts began to form columns in several directions around the accident site, effectively preventing all ongoing operations. Within about 4 minutes, the company's management and safety personnel were reminded and rushed to the scene of the accident. During this period, the forklift driver who hit the man has fallen down and fainted due to shock. The foreman immediately calls the ambulance with the company's mobile phone and instructs other employees present:
Take the first aid kit. Tell the guard to lead the medical team to the scene of the accident at work.
The story we just told tells a fairly frequent case history. The forklift in question does not have any type of safety system. First, it can save the man and let all participants communicate so as not to hinder production (which cost the company thousands of euros).
On the other hand, if the company has anti-collision sensor system, what will happen?
The protagonist of process optimization is the application of 4.0 to security.
Resumption of fatal accident cases in Poland
Case study Industry management 4.0
"A man passes through an area dedicated to forklifts..." Immediately detect pedestrians in the restricted area through sensors. Report to the control center immediately
"Collision with people and reversal of load" The anti-collision system through visual and audible signals will warn the driver and automatically brake the wheels to prevent collision.
"Initially, 2 or 3 forklift pillars were formed in multiple directions around the accident site, effectively preventing any operation" In case of traffic congestion, with the help of 4.0 fleet management, the software will be able to immediately report alternative routes to drivers and manage traffic to avoid traffic congestion and allow operations to continue.
"Within about four minutes, the perpetrator was informed" Any impact will be reported in real time and help will arrive as soon as possible
"The foreman immediately started dialing 112 with the company's mobile phone to call an ambulance" The intelligent system provides a setting where a call can be sent to 112 with a simple button, greatly reducing the potentially fatal intervention time in the event of a serious accident.
There are also some less intrusive solutions, the so-called passive systems. In this case, when approaching an obstacle, the audible and luminous signals will warn the operator so that he can slow down or stop the vehicle, so as to avoid an accident.
Safe & alert and safe & alert + also produced by SIS safety (a forklift safety system solution company in Italy) are perfect examples of passive systems. Nicola B., research and Development Engineer of SIS safety, explained: "this solution has been sold on the market since 2009, so it has been proved. At present, more than 5000 collision warning systems produced by SIS safety have been installed in more than 50 countries. This is a system to help forklift drivers, especially in areas with high risk of working environment."
As mentioned earlier, there are mainly two types of passive systems.
Safe & Alert: monitor the area affected by vehicle movement and immediately remind the operator of the possibility of collision with objects, people or structural parts to prevent the risk of accidents.
Safe & alert +: designed for medium-sized industrial vehicles or vehicles requiring greater obstacle detection range. In the process of reversing, if there may be a collision or objects / individuals appear, the driver will receive more and more audible and visual warnings in time.
