BUYER GUIDE

Forklift AGVs: How to Specify an Autonomous Forklift

Forklift AGVs should be selected from the load and storage task backward. Counterbalance, stacker, reach, pallet-jack and narrow-aisle formats solve different pickup, travel and putaway problems, and the correct nominal load does not by itself establish capacity at the required lift height and load center. Pallet condition and location uncertainty are equally important because the vehicle must find and engage the load without a driver correcting the forks. A useful RFQ describes every transfer, pallet or cage, rack opening, aisle and system handoff. Suppliers should respond with a task-by-task capacity check, vehicle path study, safety concept, perception assumptions and acceptance plan.

How to shortlist

Vehicle architecture

Choose counterbalance, stacker, reach, pallet-jack or another format according to pickup direction, rack depth, under-clearance, lift height and whether loads travel on the floor or in racking.

Load center and residual capacity

Provide load mass, dimensions, center of gravity, fork entry and maximum lift height. Require the vendor to confirm residual rather than nominal capacity for each task.

Pallet and carrier variation

Document pallet standards, damaged-board tolerances, pockets, cages, roll containers, wrapping, overhang and expected position errors at pickup and placement locations.

Aisle and turning geometry

Compare the swept path with clear aisle width, rack protection, cross aisles and staging areas under the actual load dimensions.

Perception and fork alignment

Ask how the system detects pallets, rack beams, occupied locations and fork engagement, and what happens when geometry or load position is outside tolerance.

Operating environment

Identify indoor and outdoor zones, lighting changes, dust, rain, temperature, floor transitions, slopes, dock plates, doors and mixed traffic.

Safety and manual intervention

Review protective fields with and without a load, load-drop risks, emergency stops, warning devices, access control, manual driving mode and recovery procedures.

Fleet and host integration

Define task dispatch, rack-location truth, traffic control, charging, elevator and door control, exception handling and interfaces with WMS, MES or production equipment.

Matching catalog models

18 models

CasunC5-B4

1400 kg1.0 m/s120 mm

Inquiry

Model	Payload	Max speed	Navigation	Lift height	Runtime	Positioning		Quote
CasunC5-B4	1400 kg^†	1.0 m/s^†	—	120 mm^†	—	—	Inquiry	Quote
CasunC5-D1	1000 kg^†	1.2 m/s^†	—	1600 mm^†	—	—	Inquiry	Quote
Mooe RobotMEC1-1400	1400 kg^†	1.3 m/s^†	2D SLAM^†	1600 mm^†	Up to 6 h^†	—	Inquiry	Quote
Mooe RobotMEF1-2000	2000 kg^†	2.6 m/s^†	2D SLAM^†	200 mm^†	Up to 6 h^†	—	Inquiry	Quote
Mooe RobotMEF2-2000	2000 kg^†	2.6 m/s^†	2D SLAM^†	200 mm^†	Up to 6 h^†	—	Inquiry	Quote
MultiwayX20	2000 kg^†	1.4 m/s^†	—	205 mm^†	—	—	Inquiry	Quote
MultiwayMW-R16	1600 kg^†	2.6 m/s^†	—	11500 mm^†	—	—	Inquiry	Quote
VisionNavVNSL 14	1400 kg^†	1.3 m/s^†	—	1600 mm^†	—	—	Inquiry	Quote
VisionNavVNR 16	1600 kg^†	2.0 m/s^†	—	8255 mm^†	—	—	Inquiry	Quote
VisionNavVNE 35	3500 kg^†	2.2 m/s^†	—	—	—	—	Inquiry	Quote
VisionNavVNE 20	2000 kg^†	2.7 m/s^†	—	3000 mm^†	—	—	Inquiry	Quote
VisionNavVNP 15	1500 kg^†	1.5 m/s^†	—	3000 mm standard (up to 4500 mm optional)^†	—	—	Inquiry	Quote