Summary

A major North American stamping facility needed a solution to efficiently transport both steel coils and stamping dies—using one piece of equipment. This semi-autonomous vehicle (SAV) navigates independently using magnetic pucks embedded in the floor but requires an operator to hold a controller switch for movement, combining guided automation with active human oversight. This dual-purpose transporter met their immediate needs but was built with future AGV capability in mind.

IMAGE & DETAIL GALLERY

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Key Highlights

Dual-Purpose Flatbed

The deck features a V-cradle for coils and custom rail inserts for die support, allowing multiple load types to be transported.

Modular Load Supports

Lock-in rails and pole restraints are stored below and can be installed without tools, adapting to various coil and die sizes.

High Capacity

This transporter is built to carry loads up to 80,000 pounds, transporting a varity of coil and die loads.

“This design gives the customer flexibility to switch between coil and die transport quickly, without needing multiple machines.”
— Rachel Larson, Mechanical Engineer

The Problem

The stamping facility needed to transport large dies (up to 96" × 190") and coils (up to 72" × 72") across the plant. Smaller dies and coils also had to be accommodated. Using two different machines wasn’t ideal—it would increase costs, require more storage space, and reduce operational efficiency. They needed a custom solution that could safely transport both types of loads.

The Solution

To meet the customer's need for a single, adaptable transporter, Align engineered a custom flatbed Semi-Autonomous Vehicle (SAV) capable of handling both steel coils and stamping dies of multiple sizes. The central deck features a V-shaped cradle designed for large coils, with removable vertical poles to stabilize smaller coils as needed.

For die transport, flat outer deck zones support oversized dies, while modular rails can be inserted into the cradle to carry smaller die sets securely. Onboard storage compartments house the accessories, and integrated stairs provide operators with safe access during loading. The SAV is powered by a low-profile lithium-ion battery and includes Wi-Fi connectivity, magnetic puck guidance, and built-in air caster mounting points—making it ready for both emergency manual movement and future AGV automation upgrades.

Implementation & Results

The SAV was delivered to the customer with all components pre-installed, tested, and configured to their specific load specs. Operators can now:

Move multiple types of loads with one machine
Quickly reconfigure the deck depending on what’s being transported
Safely load/unload using built-in stairs and onboard accessory storage
Transition to a full AGV in the future

This solution reduced equipment redundancy, saved floor space, and introduced scalable automation infrastructure.

Conclusion

This project highlights how one versatile transporter can solve multiple needs. With its hybrid flatbed design, modular accessories, and automation-ready controls, this SAV sets a new standard for flexible material movement in stamping environments.

SAV Handles Both Steel Coils and Stamping Dies on One Transporter

Case Study

Key Highlights

“This design gives the customer flexibility to switch between coil and die transport quickly, without needing multiple machines.”
— Rachel Larson, Mechanical Engineer

Conclusion

This project highlights how one versatile transporter can solve multiple needs. With its hybrid flatbed design, modular accessories, and automation-ready controls, this SAV sets a new standard for flexible material movement in stamping environments.

Looking for Heavy Load Transport Solutions That You Don't See Here?

Airfloat

Hedin USA

Key Highlights

“This design gives the customer flexibility to switch between coil and die transport quickly, without needing multiple machines.” — Rachel Larson, Mechanical Engineer

Conclusion

This project highlights how one versatile transporter can solve multiple needs. With its hybrid flatbed design, modular accessories, and automation-ready controls, this SAV sets a new standard for flexible material movement in stamping environments.

Looking for Heavy Load Transport Solutions That You Don't See Here?

Airfloat

Hedin USA

“This design gives the customer flexibility to switch between coil and die transport quickly, without needing multiple machines.”
— Rachel Larson, Mechanical Engineer