Increasing Efficiency, Flexibility, and Safety

Challenge: 

Eliminating Overhead Power While Maintaining Safety

Haworth needed to automate its sorting and transfer area without introducing safety risks or limiting system flexibility. Traditional power methods would have required overhead cables or bus bars, creating hazards and restricting product height. At the same time, the facility relied on existing AGVs and had concerns about potential interference with their guidance signals from a new power system, so that the new system would require a performance test before launch.

• Avoid overhead electrification across moving transfer carts
• Maintain safe operations for personnel & equipment
• Prevent interference with existing AGV guidance systems
• Handle tall, delicate furniture loads without damage 

Results:

Contactless Energy Transfer Improves System Safety and Design Flexibility

The implementation of MOVITRANS enabled Haworth to successfully automate its wrapping and transfer system while improving safety and flexibility.

By opting for a floor-level inductive power system over traditional overhead power, Haworth eliminated key safety, design, and operational concerns.

Results included:

• Removed height restrictions for tall product handling
• Reduced layout constraints and cable management complexity
• Verified no AGV interference through on-site proof of concept
• Enabled smooth, controlled handling of delicate loads
• Created a flexible, scalable system for future growth

Application Summary: