In the automotive industry, downtime is not an option. Research shows that automotive manufacturers experience the highest cost of unplanned downtime, with costs as high as $1.3 million per hour. This extraordinary expense can create massive ripple effects across your supply chain, profitability and customer relationships.

In an industry where every part and each second counts, the right material handling equipment can mean the difference between a smooth operation and one full of inefficiencies or costly stoppages.

Arnold Machinery Company is more than a vendor. We’re a strategic partner that automotive OEMs and suppliers trust to deliver lasting solutions. With decades of experience serving the unique needs of automotive manufacturing, we consistently deliver the equipment and infrastructure businesses need to keep their assembly lines moving safely, efficiently and continuously.

Optimized Assembly Line Material Handling Solutions

Automotive manufacturers face relentless production demands where every second counts. At Arnold Machinery Company, we understand these pressures and partner with you to build smarter, more efficient operations. Our expertise helps automotive plants unlock productivity and adaptability, so you can confidently face industry challenges and deliver results without compromise.

Our solutions help the automotive industry by:

• Supporting JIT operations: Lean manufacturing and just-in-time (JIT) operations dominate the modern automotive landscape. You need meticulously choreographed material flows, with every part moving from dock to line-side without delay or excess handling. At Arnold Machinery Company, we create solutions that help your business run efficiently, supporting tight timelines, organized part deliveries and fast production changes.
• Reducing bottlenecks: The risk of an assembly station running out of critical parts and halting production can be catastrophic. Our material handling solutions are carefully sized and selected to prevent this, ensuring your equipment matches the pace and precision required by today’s automotive cycle times. From high-capacity forklifts to tow tractors and AGVs, our solutions help keep every part of your supply chain connected and moving, eliminating bottlenecks and supporting continuous flow manufacturing.
• Ensuring safety and compliance: Safety in high-traffic environments is paramount. With stringent safety standards governing every aspect of automotive production, you can count on our equipment to protect your people and your process. From advanced pedestrian detection systems to equipment that meets or exceeds industry safety benchmarks, we ensure your plant remains compliant and your team stays secure.

Forklifts for Auto Manufacturing

Automotive production demands equipment that handles extreme loads day after day, shift after shift. Arnold Machinery Company proudly supplies industry-leading Hyster and Yale lift trucks, purpose-built for the rigors of automotive manufacturing. Our high-capacity forklifts provide the muscle needed for the heaviest loads, with durability proven across countless automotive plants.

When equipment needs to run around the clock, our forklifts for automotive OEMs deliver the uptime and heat tolerance necessary for multi-shift operations. Features like cooling systems engineered for continuous duty, reinforced masts and extended maintenance intervals ensure that your fleet is built to last, minimizing the risk of unplanned stoppages.

Our experts can tailor your material handling fleet with a wide variety of attachments and configurations, such as compact models for tight aisle navigation, specialty forks for custom pallets or bins, and protection packages to suit harsh plant environments. We help you move heavy, expensive and sensitive components with precision and care, keeping your lines running and your parts safe.

Precision Towing and Line-Side Delivery

As automotive plants move toward leaner, more efficient workflows, tow tractors and burden carriers have become indispensable. The regular, circuit-based delivery of small parts and consumables to multiple assembly stations demands a towing solution that’s fast, safe and reliable.

Arnold Machinery Company offers Motrec tow tractors, engineered for tough plant environments and capable of handling everything from fasteners and seat assemblies to electronics and trim. Tow tractors reduce reliance on forklifts for horizontal transport, lowering congestion in aisles and improving safety.

Of course, no two lines are exactly alike. That’s why we customize burden carriers, carts and trailers to securely deliver even the most delicate or awkwardly shaped components. Our solutions ensure every part arrives at the right place, at the right time and in perfect condition, keeping your line running smoothly and your costs under control.

Automating Your Fleet With AGVs and Robotics

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and robotic tow solutions ensure consistent, error-free delivery of materials across your plant. By integrating automation into your workflow, you’ll eliminate the variability and fatigue associated with manual moves, so essential parts are always on the line when you need them.

Best of all, you don’t need to reengineer your entire operation overnight. Our specialists partner with you to develop agile, step-by-step integration plans, allowing you to grow your automated material handling capabilities confidently without disrupting current production. As technology and production needs evolve, Arnold Machinery Company is your innovation partner every step of the way.

Telematics for Industrial Fleets

For today’s managers, data is an essential management tool. Arnold Machinery Company provides powerful industrial fleet telematics platforms that give you the insights you need to improve safety, right-size your fleet and drive down operating costs. Advanced telematics empower you to:

• Make data-driven decisions: Fleet telematics capture and report data such as impact events, battery state of charge and idle time, allowing you to analyze exactly how your lift trucks, tow tractors and AGVs are performing. These insights are invaluable for managing total cost of ownership, identifying underused equipment and improving operator habits.
• Handle predictive maintenance: Most importantly, telematics drive predictive maintenance by alerting your team to problems before they become production-stopping breakdowns. You’ll prevent unplanned downtime, extend the life of your fleet and empower your maintenance staff like never before.

The Silver Service® Guarantee: Customer Satisfaction Is Our Only Policy®

At Arnold Machinery Company, Silver Service® is a promise. It’s our binding ethical commitment that we stand behind for every piece of equipment, every solution and every plant we serve. If a machine in your plant goes down, we respond immediately, with no fine print and no excuses. We don’t measure our success by sales but by your satisfaction and uptime.

Our support mirrors your needs. Automotive plants run 24/7, and so does Arnold Machinery Company’s service. With rapid on-site response, proactive service and parts support around the clock, you never have to wait for what you need. Managers and manufacturing engineers can rest easier at night knowing our team is just a call away, ready to solve the toughest challenges and get your line moving again.

Partner With Arnold Machinery Company for Automotive Excellence

Arnold Machinery Company is your single source for reduced downtime, optimized line-side delivery and unwavering support in the automotive sector. Many of the country’s leading OEMs and suppliers trust us because we provide best-in-class equipment and are committed to your plant’s success.

If you’re ready to audit your fleet, improve your delivery infrastructure or explore automation, connect with an Arnold Machinery Company automotive specialist now. We’ll analyze your process and recommend custom solutions designed to meet your specific needs, from heavy-duty forklifts to integrated AGV systems.

Fill out our contact form or call your local branch for immediate assistance. Let’s keep your automotive operations moving safely, efficiently and continuously.