In modern textile manufacturing, "automation" is no longer just an improvement in loom equipment, but has also expanded to material management and logistics handling. Among the many automation technologies, the AGV (automatic guided vehicle) system is rapidly becoming an important force in textile factory logistics handling with its high efficiency, safety, and intelligence, especially in the high-frequency, heavy-load, and high-alignment requirements of warp beam handling. This article aims to provide a deeper understanding of how the AGV system can revolutionize the traditional warp beam handling method, enabling enterprises to achieve a truly intelligent logistics upgrade.

In the absence of automated equipment, textile mills usually handle warp beams manually with auxiliary tools. This method has the following major problems:

High labor consumption: Each warp beam can weigh hundreds of kilograms, and handling requires the cooperation of multiple people, which is very intensive.

Many safety hazards: Warp beams are prone to slipping and personnel injuries during operation.

Low scheduling efficiency: The handling process between different workshops is lengthy, and the efficiency of finding, waiting, and changing shafts is low.

Prone to errors: Manual handling often results in problems such as taking the wrong shaft and misplacing it, which affects production continuity.

High costs: Relying on a large number of operators, labor costs are rising year by year, and management pressure is increasing.

AGV, or Automated Guided Vehicle, is a handling robot that uses navigation systems (such as magnetic navigation, laser navigation, visual navigation, etc.) to achieve path recognition and autonomous operation. It can automatically drive, load, and carry within the factory's set route, and collaborate with other intelligent devices.

AGVs used for warp beam handling are generally specially designed and have the following characteristics:

Strong load-bearing capacity, suitable for warp beams of different sizes and weights.

Automatic lifting structure for precise loading and unloading.

Equipped with obstacle avoidance, braking, and other safety systems.

Can be seamlessly connected with WMS/MES systems for intelligent scheduling.

The AGV system can operate automatically around the clock without human intervention, realizing truly unmanned handling. From the shaft warehouse to the loom, from the warping area to the sizing area, the entire process of warp beam transportation is completed by AGV, freeing up manpower for higher value-added processes.

The AGV system connects to the company's WMS or MES system to realize automatic task reception and allocation. For example, the system issues instructions according to the production plan, and the AGV automatically retrieves the specified warp beam from the shaft warehouse and sends it to the specified loom position, achieving "time, position, and shaft alignment", greatly improving the accuracy and timeliness of handling.

Traditional manual handling of warp beams is prone to risks such as slipping, collision, fatigue and misoperation, while AGV is equipped with a 360° safety protection system, such as laser radar obstacle avoidance, emergency braking mechanism, etc., which can also operate smoothly in narrow passages, greatly improving the safety level of the workshop.

AGV paths can be dynamically adjusted according to production line changes. Whether it is workshop renovation, new line commissioning, or a multi-variety production environment with frequent order switching, AGV can quickly adapt, reflecting its "flexible manufacturing" advantage.

All data (time, route, warp beam number, etc.) during AGV handling can be recorded and traced back, helping companies build a visual and quantifiable logistics system and provide data support for further factory intelligent decision-making.

Automatic feeding and handling from the shaft warehouse to the warping machine/sizing machine.

Automatic recovery path for finished warp beams to return to the warehouse.

Warp beam scheduling and handling between multiple workshops.

Intelligent loading and unloading system linked to electric warp beam loading truck.

24-hour unmanned automatic transportation line construction.

AGV is not a simple "machine replacement"; it represents a leap forward in the automation, dataization, and intelligence of logistics systems. For textile companies that pursue efficiency improvement, cost optimization, and long-term sustainable development, AGV is an important link to the future "dark factory".

Today, when the weaving process is highly dependent on material flow, handling efficiency often determines the response speed of the entire production line. The introduction of AGV is not only a technological upgrade, but also a fundamental change in the production logic, management model, and even the competitive landscape of enterprises.