Fully detachable

Melkus Mechatronic AGVs maximise fleet flexibility with interchangeable load carriers:In both their design and their onboard software, Melkus Mechatronic automated guided vehicles (AGVs) feature uncompromised modularity. The innovative Austrian manufacturer recently redesigned its popular Melkus G130 3.0 pallet AGV. The vehicle’s new drive concept allows separating the drive unit and the load carrier. This modularisation results in enormous flexibility and benefits in terms of maintenance and availability.

Goeming/Salzburg, 24.04.2026 – The Melkus G130 3.0 is Melkus Mechatronic’s best-selling AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle). In 2026, the model underwent a number of upgrades. Its new battery system, featuring contactless charging and increased battery capacity, enables long periods of uninterrupted operation lasting up to an entire shift without the need for a charging break. Thanks to additional sensors, the AGV can manoeuvre particularly quickly in any direction, consequently completing transport tasks even faster. Together, these features increase operational efficiency and can reduce the number of vehicles required within a system. Furthermore, the sensor upgrade ensures enhanced functional and personal safety, far exceeding legal requirements.

Flexibility thanks to a self-contained drive unit

As before, Melkus Mechatronic uses four turntable drives to drive the AGV with precision. Their new diamond-shaped arrangement beneath the drive unit, combined with individual wheel control via the vehicle software, ensures full manoeuvrability at high speed even when carrying heavy loads. Passive high-quality rollers are fitted beneath the load-bearing unit. This has resulted in a self-contained drive unit that can be coupled with different load-bearing units as required.

“By repositioning the low-maintenance turntable drives beneath the drive unit, we have achieved modularity throughout the vehicle, as the load-bearing components can now flexibly be replaced,” explains Martin Lindner, CEO of Melkus Mechatronic.

Advantages of modularity

The Melkus G130 3.0 consists of a drive unit and a detachable load-handling attachment. The standard configuration features a low-lift fork with a length of 1,300 mm and a lift height of 150 mm. Unlike most self-propelled pallet transport AGVs, this attachment can easily be transferred to another Melkus G130 3.0 drive unit. The separation of the drive unit and load carrier not only allows different load carriers to be combined with a single drive unit, but also facilitates occasionally handling non-palletised loads.

The load-bearing device can be replaced by a maintenance technician in the company’s own workshop. Although not implemented yet, plans are in place for a version of the vehicle itself to automatically change the load-bearing device.

The modular design also reduces the investment required for operational reliability, as rather than keeping a complete unit in reserve, a drive unit is sufficient. This significantly reduces unplanned downtime in the event of an AGV failure, and the system is back up and running at full capacity in no time.

The Melkus G130 3.0 epitomises the philosophy of Melkus Mechatronic: sophisticated technology that makes a tangible difference in day-to-day operations. The combination of enhanced uptime, modular flexibility and forward-looking development makes this AGV not only a high-performance solution for today, but also a sound investment for the future.

Melkus G130 3.0: a future-proof high-performance AGV with a modular design, allowing the drive unit and load carrier to be separated.

Martin Lindner, CEO of Melkus Mechatronic: “By repositioning the low-maintenance bogies beneath the drive unit, we have achieved modularity throughout the entire vehicle, as the load-bearing components can now be replaced flexibly.”

All images, unless stated otherwise: Melkus Mechatronic.