China AGV Magnetic Tape Suppliers & Factory

AGV magnetic tapes are manufactured with either a South (S) or North (N) pole facing upward on the visible tracking surface. Standard magnetic sensor bars (such as 8-bit or 16-bit Hall-effect arrays) are programmed to detect one specific polarity as the continuous centerline. The opposite polarity is typically applied perpendicular to the main track or in short segments to serve as command triggers—initiating automated deceleration, branch switching, station docking, or horn activation.

Under standard industrial conditions with rubber-tired AGVs, high-quality 1.2mm to 1.5mm synthetic magnetic tape with an integrated PVC/TPU wear layer offers a service life of 3 to 5 years. In corridors subjected to continuous rollover by heavy manual counterbalance forklifts or steel-wheel manual jacks, protective beveled aluminum floor profiles or subsurface grooving (slotting the tape 2mm below the concrete line) is recommended to prevent mechanical tear-out.

Proper floor preparation is essential for adhesive bonding. The concrete or epoxy surface must be thoroughly cleaned with an industrial degreaser or isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to eliminate grease, fine dust, and moisture. For high-traffic areas, applying a thin primer (such as 3M Primer 94) significantly improves initial bonding. Installation should occur at temperatures above 15°C (60°F), followed by rolling with a 50kg weighted rubber floor roller to ensure complete adhesive wet-out.

Yes. Modern smart forklifts and AMRs (such as the SFL series and AMB chassis) utilize hybrid navigation architecture. The vehicles navigate open, flexible warehouse spaces using natural contour Laser SLAM, and seamlessly switch to magnetic guidance sensors when docking into ultra-narrow production stations, lifting cells, or conveyor interfaces where ±2mm mechanical repeatability is mandatory.

The standard global dimension for industrial AGV guidance is 50mm width by 1.2mm thickness. Narrower 30mm tape is suitable for light-duty AGV carts operating at speeds under 0.8 m/s with tight turning radii. Heavier vehicles traveling at speeds up to 2.0 m/s or utilizing wider sensor arrays benefit from 50mm or 100mm tape, which provides a larger magnetic field envelope to prevent high-speed tracking loss during curved turns.

Underground wire induction requires deep concrete cutting, embedding copper coils, and installing continuous high-frequency AC signal generators, resulting in high installation expenses and permanently fixed layouts. Magnetic tape requires zero structural floor alteration, can be rerouted in hours by peeling and relaying, and operates completely passively without continuous electrical power consumption.

Flexible synthetic magnetic tape can bend smoothly to follow curves down to a radius of 500mm to 800mm without buckling or edge curling. For sharper 90-degree pivots, magnetic tape can be cut at a 45-degree miter angle or supplemented with discrete magnetic spot markers where differential-drive AGVs execute zero-radius spins.

Direct application on ferrous steel plates will alter the magnetic flux line distribution, potentially reducing detectable surface Gauss by 20% to 40%. In these scenarios, high-remanence anisotropic tape (rated 1500+ Gauss) or non-magnetic stainless steel/rubber sub-spacers are utilized. Across expansion joints, tape should be severed cleanly and capped with flexible protective silicone bridging to accommodate floor expansion without stretching the tape.