Vehicle-makers and tier suppliers alike are expanding their use of AGVs as these systems become more sophisticated and versatile. Brose operates two factories in Coventry in the UK in support of its business as a tier one supplier of automotive seating systems and window lift mechanisms to customers including Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan and Toyota in the UK, as well as JLR’s operation in Slovakia. As UK managing director Steve Wilkins confirms, the main site, where around 650 people are involved in the final assembly of seat structures with supporting manufacturing processes including welding and e-coating, has a current output of “around 3.5m [seat structures] a year”.

In October last year, that site saw a distinct ramp-up in its internal logistical systems with the introduction of AGV technology. Specifically, the company started operating nine AGVs to replace a previous mix of manual procedures and forklift truck utilisation.