Warning and Vision Safety Systems
Between indoor/outdoor transition areas, VNAs, and high-traffic areas, warehouses have prevalent blindspots and low visibility. These areas pose significant collision hazards, which can be deadly. However, modern warehouses have modern solutions, such as forklift vision safety systems.
These systems serve to improve visibility in various areas of the warehouse. The right forklift vision safety systems will solve low-vis challenges specific to certain warehouse areas. At ELOKON, we're dedicated to designing leading forklift collision avoidance tech and forklift collision detection systems to improve not only employee safety but also productivity and operations. Here, we'll explore these solutions, which are trusted by more than 4,250 companies worldwide. But first, we'll briefly revisit common forklift warning systems and how our solutions iterate upon these standard tools.
Forklift Warning Systems and the ELOKON Difference
Forklift warning systems are important aspects of warehouse safety. They provide a base level of protection for employees throughout the day. Traditional forklift warning systems like warning lights do improve visibility, allowing pedestrians to recognize that a forklift is nearing. Other forklift warning systems, like red zone lights, also caution pedestrians to stay away from forklifts. However, these warning systems do not actively prevent accidents from occurring because forklifts can still collide with each other, pedestrians, and objects. Although OSHA also requires additional lighting in dimmer warehouses, these basic forklift warning systems may not be enough to prevent collisions. That's why at ELOKON, we've developed forklift vision safety systems to improve visibility through proximity detection and automated speed control.
The ELOKON Difference
Our solutions use UWB, smart laser technology, or radar to sense either nearby collision hazards or to automatically slow down or stop the equipped vehicle without requiring driver action. Our tech wirelessly communicates between modules to monitor close collision threats or regulate vehicle speed to prevent forklift-related collisions. Implementing just one of these forklift vision safety systems vastly improves collision risk visibility.
Next, we'll look at how our solutions directly reduce forklift-related accidents from occurring. Our forklift collision avoidance tech utilizes UWB and radar for automated speed control, ushering in the next-gen of forklift safety.
ELOKON Forklift Collision Avoidance Tech
ELOKON forklift collision avoidance tech was designed to keep the warehouse a secure place for employees. Whereas warehouses can be chaotic, our forklift collision avoidance solutions are designed to keep designated areas safe without driver intervention. Our forklift collision avoidance solutions include ELOshieldSPEED, ELOshieldZONE, and ELOspeed, each built to streamline warehouse safety.
ELOshieldZONE
Like all solutions in the ELOshield line, ELOshieldZONE utilizes UWB technology to improve safety in the warehouse. Typically positioned over entranceways, gates, and aisle entrances, ELOshieldZONE is our fixed-position monitoring system that automatically slows equipped vehicles down when they approach each other within range of the ELOshieldZONE fixed system. This prevents collisions when vehicles are near each other, but the system allows them to proceed at usual speeds when only one is passing through the area.
ELOshieldSPEED
ELOshieldSPEED is our solution for automatic speed adaptation in certain areas in the warehouse. Areas that experience high and mixed traffic can increase the chances of collisions, especially when forklift operators can't slow down in time around pedestrians, other vehicles, and autonomous objects. ELOshieldSPEED is positioned above the entrance to high-risk areas, and any equipped vehicle that passes through the ELOshieldSPEED boundary is automatically slowed down, making these areas much safer. This forklift collision avoidance tech, including other iterations of ELOshield, removes the reliance on driver reaction, ensuring safety without the possibility of error.
ELOspeed
Our third forklift collision avoidance solution is ELOspeed, which utilizes radar to detect overhead superstructures like warehouse roofs. Equipped on top of forklifts, ELOspeed can distinguish between warehouse roofs and trees. When it senses a warehouse roof, it slows down the equipped vehicle as it returns to the warehouse, helping drivers avoid collisions. Indoor/outdoor transition areas can be difficult to navigate, considering the difference in brightness and the challenge of slowing down within a reasonable amount of time. When the forklift leaves the warehouse, the ELOspeed forklift vision safety system allows the vehicle to resume top speeds in outdoor work areas.
These forklift collision avoidance solutions are reliable, cost-effective approaches to reducing the likelihood of forklift-related accidents. Our solutions also extend to forklift collision detection systems that monitor for possible collision risks within a configurable range. Let's explore these systems next.