VNK 15
VNK 15
As a leader in China's heavy machinery sector, Shanxi Taiyuan Heavy Chain Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is dedicated to the research, development, manufacturing, and service of undercarriage components. By benchmarking top global and domestic manufacturing processes, Taiyuan Heavy is building a smart, digital factory that redefines modern production standards.
To accelerate its digital transformation, Taiyuan Heavy partnered with VisionNav Robotics, deploying over 20 units of autonomous forklifts, AMRs, and intelligent logistics systems. This collaboration has enabled seamless automation in material handling, smart shelving, and precision warehousing operations — fully empowering Taiyuan Heavy’s production upgrades and reinforcing its leadership in the industry.
Take a closer look inside Taiyuan Heavy's smart factory transformation!
Taiyuan Heavy's factory involves diverse workflows across multiple areas, including track link processing, track plate handling, assembly lines for tracks, carrier rollers, idler wheels, and scrap material management.
To meet the intricate demands of this site, VisionNav Robotics delivered a customized automated logistics solution featuring:
10 VNL20 Pallet Stacker Autonomous Forklifts
10 VNST20 Pallet Mover Autonomous Forklifts
2 AMRs
VisionNav's independently developed RCS2.0 Central Control and Scheduling System
Together, these technologies create a synchronized, plant-wide material handling system, optimizing every stage of production.
Due to the complexity of operations, two key workflows highlight the efficiency and synergy of this deployment:
This critical process covers blanking, warehousing, machining, assembly, and non-destructive testing.
VisionNav deployed:
2 VNST20 Pallet Movers
5 VNL20 Pallet Stackers
All equipment is orchestrated through the RCS2.0 system, seamlessly connected to Taiyuan Heavy’s upper-level production management system.
After forging, track link blanks are delivered to the unloading zone. Operators use PDAs to call a VNST20 forklift to transport the blanks to the handover point.
VNL20 forklifts then relay the material to warehouse storage points.
Upon request, the RCS2.0 system dispatches forklifts for efficient movement of blanks from storage to machining zones, and then from machining lines to finished goods warehouses.
Finished track links undergo non-destructive testing, with autonomous forklifts transporting materials between the testing and assembly areas based on real-time needs.
Empty material frames are automatically returned to storage, ensuring a closed-loop, intelligent logistics cycle.
Machining processes generate large quantities of scrap iron waste. To automate this operation:
2 AMRs are deployed to handle the transfer of scrap bins from machining zones to designated dumping stations.
This ensures a highly precise, safe, and efficient waste management workflow without manual intervention.
Through the deployment of over 20 autonomous forklifts and AMRs, VisionNav Robotics helped Taiyuan Heavy realize an intelligent, highly connected factory logistics system. The collaboration delivered exceptional value:
End-to-end intelligent material transfer across complex, multi-zone workflows.
Dramatic improvement in production efficiency and connectivity.
Significant reduction in manual labor costs and safety risks.
Flexible, scalable autonomous systems capable of adapting to the dynamic production rhythms of a heavy industry facility.
Data-driven logistics management, powering smarter decision-making and process optimization.
VisionNav's solution not only enhanced Taiyuan Heavy's productivity and agility but also set a new industry benchmark for smart, digital logistics in heavy machinery manufacturing.
