Crain's Detroit Business has listed Fori as number 25 on their Fast 50 list for 2019. This list is compiled to highlight the fastest growing companies in Southeast Michigan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3MGrg7W9hA
25. Fori Automation Inc.
Revenue 2015: $164,000,000 | Revenue 2018: $240,000,000
Three-year percentage change: 46
What it does: Design and build of automated material handling, assembly, testing and welding systems for the automotive, aerospace, agriculture, recreational vehicle and alternative energy industries.
How it grew: Diversification strategies that include investing in new product development for assembly, testing, welding and material handling systems. The company began focusing on automotive opportunities outside of its traditional assembly equipment in 2008, including welding systems, material handling systems and automation systems for both global automotive car manufacturers and tier one suppliers. Fori has also expanded into aerospace, military, recreation vehicle, construction and agriculture, heavy metals and alternative energy industries. The company also expanded globally, with design and build facilities in China, Korea, India, Germany, Brazil, Mexico and Spain.
To check out the rest of the list, visit Crain's website. To find out more about how Fori has expanded to meet your automation needs, please visit our website.
The (3) high capacity automated guided vehicles (AGVs) were supplied to replace a legacy system that was over 20 years old. The Fori AGVs will be the primary method of transporting the aluminum ingots through the finishing process. Traditional handling systems rely heavily on overhead crane utilization, but the AGV based solution reduces reliance on cranes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lehMe10Vx9g
The AGVs were designed to fit within the existing plant and process. One of the biggest challenges on the project was packaging eight drive wheels and (2) 100 ton capacity lifts within the existing vehicle footprint. Each drive wheel was outfitted with a suspension system to ensure proper radial loading and equal load distribution between the (8) drive wheels. Another improvement on the Fori system was ball screw based lift jacks that included integrated load cells for measuring fore/aft and side to side loading of the ingot. If the ingot is loaded outside of an acceptable range, the AGV stops immediately and sets down the ingot.
The Fori AGV utilizes a 72VDC sealed lead acid battery as a power supply. The vehicles utilize PMAC motors that provide improved control and efficiency over the previous system which utilized DC brushed motors. Each vehicle had a safety bumper front and rear, as well as six safety scanners around the perimeter of the vehicle to provide added safety coverage.
A Fori Vehicle Management System has been provided to monitor system I/O, manage communication between the AGVs and scheduling of moves for production.
For more information about Fori Automation's high capacity AGV capabilities, please visit our website.
Guidance Technology: Magnetic bar, natural feature/laser contour
Capacity: 40,000 lbs./18,181 kg.
Safety: Safety scanners and bumpers, Siemens safety PLC, system interlocks
Controls: Siemens open architecture
Keys to Success: Custom designed chassis, highly accurate and repeatable
Results: Improved flexibility
The two high capacity AGVs (transporting mobile robotic platforms with weights up to 40,000 pounds) have been designed to accommodate projected production. The Fori AGVs will be the primary method of transporting the mobile robots between each of the necessary drilling stations.
The AGVs were developed to increase system automation, flexibility, and remove the traditional monuments that are generally required for automated drilling applications. The design intent was to build a vehicle that was modular and interchangeable. The AGVs were designed to accommodate multiple mobile robots, the software is modular, and simplifies the communication between the Fori AGV and mobile robot.
The Fori AGV is required to locate within +/- 5mm to an existing fuselage transporter. The Fori system utilizes a natural feature and camera based guidance system, which accommodates unexpected location of the transporter. The Fori system overcomes the variability of the fuselage transporters accuracy by measuring the surface of the transporter to generate angular offsets and utilizes a SICK camera and reflector based system for final location. Once positioned, the mobile robot automatically docks to the transporter for power, communication, and pneumatics.
Automated movement is handled through the tethered Siemens Mobil Panel. The operators are able to select drill positions on either the Fori HMI or robot HMI. Once selected the Fori AGV is responsible for safely and accurately lifting and transporting the two mobile robots between 16 different drill positions.
For more information about our drilling platform AGVs, please visit our website.
Robot Active Safety Cell Systems are completely stand alone and can be integrated within existing wheel alignment systems.
Features:
Fanuc 35iA CR collaborative robot
Auto tool change out
Results: Reduced personnel injuries, decreased infrastructure and installation time.
The Robot Active Safety Cell system (RASC) features the new Fanuc 35iA collaborative robot for positioning various targets that are used for Long Range Radar (LRR), Night Vision Calibration (NV), Headlamp Aim Box, and other devices used for End of Line testing.
When more than one device is required, an automatic tool change between the target, NV target, and headlamp aiming camera is included. The flexibility of the collaborative robot has enabled Fori to remove the conventional overhead gantry or in floor positioning systems that had previously been used throughout the industry for headlamp aiming and driver assist safety devices.
The Integration of collaborative robots has reduced the complexity of equipment required for calibrating “Driver Assist Safety” devices, and headlamp aiming. They also provide flexibility for integrating new “Driver Assist” devices for future vehicle platforms. It also provides for an open architecture, allowing more space for walk through areas, and for a better safe working environment.
For more information about Fori's End of Line Systems, please visit our website.
The Fori AGV utilizes a 72VDC sealed lead acid battery as a power supply. The vehicles utilize PMAC motors that provide improved control and efficiency over the previous system which utilized DC brushed motors. Each vehicle had a safety bumper front and rear, as well as six safety scanners around the perimeter of the vehicle to provide added safety coverage.
A Fori Vehicle Management System has been provided to monitor system I/O, manage communication between the AGVs and scheduling of moves for production.
For more information about Fori Automation's high capacity AGV capabilities, please visit our 
The Fori AGV is required to locate within +/- 5mm to an existing fuselage transporter. The Fori system utilizes a natural feature and camera based guidance system, which accommodates unexpected location of the transporter. The Fori system overcomes the variability of the fuselage transporters accuracy by measuring the surface of the transporter to generate angular offsets and utilizes a SICK camera and reflector based system for final location. Once positioned, the mobile robot automatically docks to the transporter for power, communication, and pneumatics.
Automated movement is handled through the tethered Siemens Mobil Panel. The operators are able to select drill positions on either the Fori HMI or robot HMI. Once selected the Fori AGV is responsible for safely and accurately lifting and transporting the two mobile robots between 16 different drill positions.
For more information about our drilling platform AGVs, please visit our 
For more information about Fori's End of Line Systems, please visit our