Frequently Asked Questions

What factors affect the useful life of AGVs?

The useful life of an AGV depends on a number of factors:

• Environment — Clean, dirty, abusive, indoors or outdoors
• Floors — Smooth, rough, wet, dry, cracks, holes
• Application life — How long system is needed
• Maintenance — Level of preventative maintenance, quality of servicemen
• User discipline — Commitment to support proper AGV use
• Operating time — Number of shifts, percent time running
• Equipment quality — Robustness for application, accessibility for maintenance
• Vendor support — Timely/knowledgeable supplier support, parts availability
• Management commitment — Dedication to system operation
• Documentation/training — Quality of support materials and guides
• Vendor condition — Financial strength, control of technology, market leadership

There are AGVs that have been in service 15-20 years. However the norm is more like 7-10 years in most industrial applications. Many users opt to rebuild or refurbish their AGVs when they reach significant increased maintenance cost. Rebuilt equipment generally costs half the price of new equipment and generally yields 5-7 more years of useful AGV life.