Frost & Sullivan: New Applications Drive Automated Guided Vehicle Markets
7 June 1999
Frost & Sullivan: New Applications Drive Automated Guided Vehicle Markets MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 7 -- Countless Saturday matinees
have predicted futuristic worlds where entire factories or loading docks are
automated, where driverless vehicles move about on their merry way, tending to
the day's work. The future has arrived for automated guided vehicles (AGVs)
and automated electrified monorails (AEMs), as the markets for these systems
are poised to experience phenomenal growth.
According to the latest research produced by Frost & Sullivan
(http://www.frost.com), World AGV and AEM Markets, if the manufacturers of these
systems can penetrate more alternative end-user segments, revenues for the
industry could top $1.6 billion by 2005.
"Presently, these systems are very dependent on the automotive industry,"
says Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Sanjeev Bhaskar. "But applications such
as freight container terminal automation at sea ports offer tremendous
potential for growth in the future."
AGVs are automated vehicles that are used for transportation of goods and
automation in manufacturing environments. This research focuses on driverless
tractor AGVs, unit load AGVs, forked AGVs, special purpose AGVs and AEMs. AEMs
are unique conveyers used in the industry for automation, material
transportation and noise reduction.
The major end-user groups for AGVs and AEMs are: The automotive industry,
warehousing and distribution centers, heavy engineering, paper manufacturers,
the paper and printing industry, the food and beverage industry, electronics,
consumer products, textile manufacturers, and steel plants.
An emerging application for AGVs that has tremendous potential for growth
is the transportation of containers and cargo at ports. "The Rotterdam port in
Europe is extensively using AGVs for such an application," says Bhaskar. Other
ports are expected to use AGVs in large numbers to meet their rapidly growing
container traffic. Bhaskar expects this to translate into huge growth
opportunities for AGV manufacturers.
World AGV and AEM Markets examines the industry, providing market
participants with emerging trends, market challenges and strategies for
success, as well as market share, company profiles and market size for a
number of subsegments. It is the information every marketing manager and sales
strategist in the AGV or AEM markets should have.
Frost & Sullivan presents Market Engineering awards to participants in the
AGV and AEM markets to recognize the companies that have worked hard to make a
positive contribution to the industry.
The 1999 Market Engineering Customer Focus Award is presented to FATA
Automation Inc. for its efforts to maintain its leadership in the AEM market.
The recipient of the 1999 Market Engineering Mergers and Acquisitions Strategy
Award is Swisslog Group. This company is continuously engaged in seeking new
merger and acquisition opportunities to improve its product range, market
share and geographic penetration. The 1999 Market Engineering Vertical
Marketing Strategy Award is given to Mannesmann Dematic AG for implementing
the "market focused groups" concept. AGV Products Inc. receives the
1999 Market Engineering Entrepreneurial Award for achieving rapid growth and
market presence in the face of stiff competition from established companies.
This automation industry research has integrated the Market Engineering
consulting philosophy into the entire research process. Critical phases of
this research include: Identification of industry challenges, market
engineering measurements, strategic recommendations, planning and market
monitoring. All of the vital elements of this system help market participants
navigate successfully through the airborne communications market.
Companies participating in this market include: Acco Systems Inc., AGV
Products Inc., Amerden Inc., Automatic Systems Inc., CFC Systemes Automatises,
Compagnie Generale De Productique (CGP), Control Engineering Co., Convey
Satasim SA, Daifuku Company Ltd., ECA Manutention, Egamin NV, Eilers & Kirf
GmbH, Eisenmann Maschinenbau KG, Fabricating Engineers Inc., FATA Automation
Inc., FMC Corporation Inc., Frog Navigation Systems Inc., HK Systems Inc.,
Indumat GmbH & Co KG., Jervis B. Webb Company, Komatsu Forklift U.S.A. Inc. ,
Mannesmann Dematic AG, Mentor AGVS Inc., Mirle Automation Corporation, Morris
Mechanical Handling Ltd., Munck Autech Inc., Murata Machinery Ltd.,
Netzler & Dahlgren AB, Nuyts GmbH, Panasonic Industrial of Asia, Professional
Materials Handling Co. Inc., Preussag Noell GmbH, Protec Pathfinder
Operations, Rocla Oy, Rosenheimer Forderanlagen GmbH, Samovie ZI, SI Handling
Systems Inc., Siemag Transplan GmbH, SMC Co. Ltd., Swisslog Group, Sydel,
Technus Inc., TGW Transportgerate GmbH, TransLogic Corporation, Vanderlande
Industries BV, Van Riet BV Forder-und-Sortiersysteme and Yamaha Motor Co. LTD.
Frost & Sullivan is an international marketing consulting company that
monitors the automation industry for market trends, market measurements and
strategies. This ongoing research is utilized to update a series of online
research subscriptions such as the Factory Automation Custom Subscription
(http://www.frost.com/online), and to support industry participants with customized
consulting needs.
Visit Frost & Sullivan's Web site at: http://www.frost.com.
World AGV and AEM Markets
Report: 5848-10 Publication Date: June 1999 Price: $3450
