New Applications Drive Automated Guided Vehicle Markets.

Business Editors

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 18, 2000

Countless Saturday matinees have predicted futuristic worlds where entire factories or loading docks are automated, where driverless vehicles move about independently.

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 (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. The recipient of the 1999 Market Engineering Mergers and Acquisitions Strategy Award is Swisslog Group. The 1999 Market Engineering Vertical Marketing Strategy Award is given to Mannesmann Dematic AG. The 1999 Market Engineering Entrepreneurial Award is presented to AGV Products Inc.

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 (www.frost.com/online), and to support industry participants with customized consulting needs. Free executive summaries of all Frost & Sullivan reports are available to the press.

Report: 5848-10 Publication Date: January 2000 Price: $3,450