HAI Robotics today announced that it has entered a strategic partnership with Voyatzoglou Systems to offer smart warehousing systems in Greece and the Balkans. The Shenzhen, China-based company said the alliance is its third in Europe as it expands in the global intralogistics market.
The two parties said they will complement each other by combining HAI Robotics' operational experience and Autonomous Case-handling Robotic (ACR) system with Voyatzoglou Systems' service network.
“We're impressed by the Voyatzoglou Systems' local service ability in the Balkan region,” said Kane Luo, vice president of sales at HAI Robotics. “Our rich experience in automation solutions for a wide variety of sectors, from retail to 3PL [third-party logistics] and manufacturing plants, will be grafted onto local supply chain to improve efficiency and investment returns.”
HAIPICK ACR offers supply chain value
HAI Robotics claimed that its HAIPICK ACR system, independently developed in 2015, is the first of its kind in the world. The company has acquired more than 600 global patents for core intellectual properties involving positioning, robot control, and warehouse management.
The HAIPICK robots include multiple sensors for integrated positioning. They provide control precision of ±3mm (0.11 in.) to allow intelligent picking, transport, auto-navigation, obstacle avoidance, and auto-charging with high stability and accuracy, said HAI Robotics.
The ACR system features flexible deployment and improved efficiency for warehouses that seek to maximize their storage spaces, the company said.
In addition, HAIPICK robots can pick and place totes or cartons on storage shelves up to 10 m (32.8 ft.) high. They can also carry up to eight loads to continuously feed goods-to-person picking stations, said HAI Robotics.
The company said its latest invention, a fork-lifting robot, is compatible with wider storage scenarios in which goods are not necessarily placed inside a box, such as tires and trays.
About Voyatzoglou
With more than 30 years of experience, Voyatzoglou Systems said it is a leading supplier to the intralogistics and shop-fitting sectors in Greece. The Athens-based company attributed its success to its strong operations, wide product portfolio, and solid customer relationships.
Voyatzoglou's customers include large retail chains, 3PL providers, and manufacturers. It has extended its activities in Greece and Romania from traditional warehouse shelving to high-value automated and smart logistics systems.
Voyatzoglou Systems is a publicly traded company in the Greek Stock Exchange, with a turnover of about €30 million ($33.89 million U.S.), it employees more than 180 people and has branch offices in Northern Greece and in Bucharest through its subsidiary Voyatzoglou Systems Romania SRL.
“The partnership with HAI ROBOTICS allows us to extend our product portfolio by offering technologically state-of-the-art and innovative solutions for material handling and goods to person,” said Annie Voyatzoglou, deputy CEO of Voyatzoglou Systems.
“We believe that this collaboration will generate projects in automated warehouses, provide solid solutions to many of our customers seeking ACR systems, and advance the market further,” she said.
HAI Robotics continues global growth
Last year, HAI Robotics raised more than $200 million, and the artificial intelligence and storage vendor recently celebrated its fifth anniversary and the sale of 100 HAIPORT-powered Workstations.
The company has set up subsidiaries in the Netherlands, the U.S., Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong to serve customers in more than 30 countries and regions. The HAIPICK ACR system running in more than 300 warehouse projects both in China and abroad.
Luo noted that the entire HAIPICK ACR series has obtained the CE Mark, meeting European quality and safety standards. HAIPICK has also received SGS and ETL certifications.