| 1 |
Belt Conveyor System |
Food processing, packaging, distribution, mining, parcel handling |
Continuous movement of cartons, totes, bags, packaged goods, or bulk materials over fixed routes |
Light to heavy loads; commonly 1–2,000 kg per metre depending on belt construction |
Approximately 20–300 metres per minute; capacity varies significantly with product size and belt width |
Requires a defined route; can be installed horizontally, on inclines, or across long distances |
Simple design, smooth product flow, long conveying distances, suitable for many product shapes |
Less flexible after installation; belt wear, tracking issues, and product-temperature limits may require maintenance |
Product dimensions, belt width, incline angle, speed, sanitation requirements, temperature, and total conveying distance |
| 2 |
Powered Roller Conveyor |
Warehousing, automotive, appliance manufacturing, parcel distribution, pallet handling |
Transporting cartons, totes, containers, and pallets with flat or stable bases |
Approximately 10–1,500 kg per load, depending on roller diameter, pitch, and frame design |
Approximately 10–180 metres per minute |
Best for straight or modular layouts; accumulation zones and transfers can be added |
Modular, durable, supports accumulation, and handles a broad range of unit loads |
Not ideal for soft-bottomed, irregular, very small, or unstable products without additional support |
Load weight, base condition, roller pitch, accumulation method, transfer points, noise, and required speed |
| 3 |
Automated Sortation System |
E-commerce, courier operations, retail distribution, postal services, apparel fulfillment |
High-volume routing of parcels, cartons, totes, or packages to different destinations |
Commonly 0.1–50 kg per item, depending on sorter type and product dimensions |
Approximately 1,000–30,000 items per hour; actual performance depends on item mix and divert spacing |
Requires a dedicated footprint with induction, scanning, divert lanes, and discharge areas |
Fast destination routing, improved order accuracy, reduced manual handling, and scalable output |
Higher capital cost, control-system complexity, and reduced efficiency with poorly presented or irregular items |
Item range, barcode quality, destination count, peak volume, induction rate, error tolerance, and future expansion needs |
| 4 |
Automated Storage and Retrieval System (AS/RS) |
Manufacturing, cold storage, retail distribution, pharmaceutical logistics, spare-parts operations |
Dense, computer-controlled storage and retrieval of pallets, totes, trays, or small items |
From small totes under 50 kg to pallets of approximately 1,500 kg per storage location |
Typically 20–200 storage and retrieval cycles per hour per machine, depending on configuration |
Uses vertical cubic space and requires accurately engineered aisles, rack structures, and safety zones |
High storage density, inventory accuracy, reduced travel, and improved use of building height |
Significant initial investment; changes to product profiles or processes can be costly after installation |
SKU count, inventory velocity, storage height, load stability, temperature, fire protection, and software integration |
| 5 |
Vertical Lift Module (VLM) |
Industrial parts, electronics, healthcare supplies, tools, documents, maintenance stores |
Secure, operator-assisted vertical storage for small and medium-sized items |
Often 50–500 kg per tray, subject to tray size and machine configuration |
Usually 20–60 tray transactions per hour, depending on lift height and operator workflow |
Small floor footprint with substantial vertical clearance; requires level flooring and service access |
High space utilization, controlled access, better picking ergonomics, and improved inventory visibility |
Lower throughput than high-speed piece-picking systems; tray loading discipline is important |
Available ceiling height, tray dimensions, item weight, retrieval frequency, access control, and operator ergonomics |
| 6 |
Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) System |
E-commerce, general warehousing, electronics, healthcare, manufacturing, third-party logistics |
Flexible movement of shelves, totes, carts, or pallets where routes and workflows may change frequently |
Approximately 50–1,500 kg per vehicle, depending on the robot type and payload configuration |
Roughly 50–500 missions per hour across a fleet; results depend on travel distance and traffic |
Requires navigable aisles, charging areas, safety zones, and reliable wireless or network coverage |
Highly flexible, scalable by adding vehicles, and capable of adapting to changing warehouse layouts |
Traffic management, battery charging, floor quality, and integration with warehouse software must be carefully managed |
Payload, travel distance, aisle width, fleet size, battery strategy, floor condition, safety standards, and software interfaces |
| 7 |
Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) System |
Automotive, manufacturing, paper, warehousing, food and beverage, heavy industry |
Repeatable transport of pallets, racks, carts, or components along established routes |
Approximately 100–50,000 kg, depending on vehicle design and load type |
Commonly 10–120 metres per minute; mission rate depends on route length and loading time |
Needs defined routes, clear travel lanes, loading stations, safety barriers, and traffic controls |
Consistent movement, reduced manual transport, predictable scheduling, and suitability for heavy loads |
Less adaptable than AMRs when routes or facility layouts change; floor markers or navigation infrastructure may be required |
Payload, route stability, turning radius, floor condition, safety systems, charging method, and integration with production control |
| 8 |
Automated Pallet Shuttle System |
Cold storage, food and beverage, beverage distribution, wholesale logistics, high-density warehousing |
High-density storage of large quantities of similar or moderately varied pallet loads |
Commonly 500–1,500 kg per pallet position; heavier designs are available for special applications |
Approximately 20–80 pallet movements per hour per shuttle, depending on lane depth and operating sequence |
Deep-lane rack structures with dedicated loading aisles; especially effective where floor space is limited |
Very high storage density, reduced forklift travel, good cold-store efficiency, and selective automation |
Reduced direct access to every pallet; inventory rotation and lane planning must match the operating method |
FIFO or LIFO requirements, pallet dimensions, lane depth, temperature, SKU profile, throughput, and rack seismic design |
| 9 |
Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor (VRC) |
Manufacturing, retail, warehouses, automotive service, multi-level facilities |
Moving goods between floors or elevations where a freight lift is unnecessary or space is constrained |
Approximately 250–4,500 kg per platform, depending on equipment design and local regulations |
Often 10–30 vertical moves per hour, depending on lift height, loading method, and safety interlocks |
Requires a vertical shaft or guarded platform area with suitable loading and unloading access |
Efficient vertical transfer, relatively compact footprint, and useful for multi-level material flows |
Not normally intended for passenger transport; throughput is lower than continuous vertical conveyors |
Lift height, platform size, load center, number of levels, loading method, guarding, and regulatory requirements |
| 10 |
Pneumatic Conveying System |
Food ingredients, chemicals, plastics, cement, pharmaceuticals, grain and powder processing |
Enclosed transfer of powders, granules, pellets, or small dry bulk materials through pipelines |
Material-dependent; commonly used for particles from fine powders to pellets of several millimetres |
Approximately 0.5–100 tonnes per hour, depending on material properties and conveying distance |
Uses overhead or routed pipelines and can connect multiple process areas with limited floor obstruction |
Enclosed and hygienic transfer, flexible routing, reduced product exposure, and effective elevation changes |
High energy consumption, potential particle degradation, dust-control requirements, and sensitivity to moisture or blockages |
Bulk density, particle size, moisture, friability, conveying distance, air velocity, filtration, and explosion-protection requirements |
