What Makes Your Floor Suitable for G2P Automation?

A high-performance floor is the foundation of an efficient automated warehouse. If your new floor was poured with a high-tolerance Fmin100, you're already set to maximize the performance of your robotic material handlers or VNA trucks, enabling them to operate at top speeds for maximum efficiency.

But what if your floor doesn’t meet these high standards?

Challenges of Existing Warehouse Floors

If you're moving into a leased warehouse or purchasing an existing facility, optimizing your floor is a critical step to unlocking the full potential of your automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS). Over the past 20 years, warehousing has evolved towards advanced automation, minimizing human intervention to enhance operational speed and profitability. However, achieving this requires a floor that meets the demands of modern material handling systems.

Key Flooring Improvements for Automation

Investing in your flooring infrastructure from the start prevents costly disruptions and ensures seamless operations. Addressing common issues early on can make all the difference:

? Joint Restoration: Refill construction joints with polyurea to extend their lifespan and repair damaged edges, especially at expansion joints, which are critical in high-traffic areas.

? Vibration & Safety Reduction: A well-maintained floor allows VNA trucks and reach trucks to operate smoothly, reducing vibrations that can damage equipment, improving driver safety, and preventing forklift shutdowns.

? Surface Leveling & Flatness: Uneven floors create excessive vibration, causing swaying in man-up cabins when retrieving goods. Corrective floor grinding or ultra-flat shaving may be necessary before installing racking and equipment to optimize performance.

? Essential Enhancements: Implement wire guidance systems and safety line markings, and apply chemical-resistant epoxy in battery charging zones to protect your investment.

The ROI of Flooring Optimization

Our experience shows that warehouse operators can achieve a return on investment (ROI) in just 12–18 months, depending on the number of vehicles in operation and the extent of floor issues. A properly optimized floor enhances productivity, prevents costly downtime, and ensures your ASRS, VNA, and AGV systems run at peak efficiency.

Contact Applied's specialists today if you're buying or leasing a new warehouse or need a flooring solution to optimize your automation systems across Canada. We'll survey your floor, identify potential challenges, and recommend cost-effective solutions to make your facility automation-ready.