Dematic FlexFork automated guided vehicle

Logistics and automatic guided vehicle (AGV) supplier Dematic Group Sàrl is establishing research and development capabilities at a new location in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. An office in Grand Rapids oversees Dematic's business activities in the North America region, including the US, Canada and Mexico.

Pete Devenyi, newly appointed vice president of global software development, will lead the expansion efforts and oversee software development activities at the Waterloo facility. Previously, Devenyi was senior vice president of enterprise software at Canadian telecommunication and wireless equipment company BlackBerry Ltd, formerly known as Research In Motion Ltd.

Dematic opened the office on 2 September and plans for the location to soon have more than 20 employees, including software developers, test automation specialists, performance engineers, software process experts and software architects.

"High demand for cutting-edge technology to help automate and optimise warehouses is imperative for responding to increased customer requests for order speed and precision," says Ulf Henriksson, president and chief executive officer of Luxembourg-based Dematic. "Opening an additional office will enable Dematic to benefit from the incredible software talent in this region. We look forward to passing this expertise on to our customers."

The Dematic product line includes high-reach and very-narrow-aisle counterbalance forked AGVs. Many of the AGVs can handle multiple unit loads or loads up to 8,000 lb. (3,600 kg).

AGVs have a history as a flexible and redundant horizontal transportation solution and, with recent enhancements, can provide a strategic solution for automating warehousing. For horizontal transportation, Dematic's magnet- and laser-guided AGVs handle a wide range of load weights, heights, aisle widths and load types. Dematic has installed these solutions with more than 2,500 vehicles in various applications across industries.

Dematic cites a range of benefits of its AGVs, including 100% labour reduction, elimination of overtime and turnover costs, avoidance of forklift damage, higher shipping accuracy and possible lights-out energy savings.

Dematic manufactures its FlexFork, Flex VNA, FlexDeck, FlexTruck and FlexTow vehicles in a Salt Lake City, Utah factory under ISO standards incorporating the latest compliant safety devices.

Dematic Group has annual sales of about USD1.5 billion.