It's not too late to adopt automation before the holiday rush. Berkshire Grey Inc. and A.P. Moller—Maersk today announced their first collaboration in the U.K. They said the project will be deployed ahead of the 2023 peak season in Maersk's 685,000 sq. ft. facility at SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway.
“Berkshire Grey's AI-enabled robotic solutions have a proven track record across various industries in North America and we are delighted to tap into these benefits for our customers in [the] U.K. now,” stated Fergus Whinham, area head of the “Fulfilled by Maersk” product in the U.K. and Ireland. “This sophisticated, flexible system reflects our commitment to optimizing processes and better serving our customers in rapidly evolving markets.”
Maersk said it is an integrated logistics company working to connect and simplify its customers’ supply chains. As a global leader in shipping services, the Copenhagen, Denmark-based company operates in more than 130 countries and employs over 110,000 people worldwide.
Maersk turns to tech to better serve customers
Maersk said the deployment of the Berkshire Grey Robotic Shuttle Put Wall (BG RSPW) follows its vision of using technology “to integrate logistics and offer flexible and resilient end-to-end solutions to its customers.” It said the project is intended to do the following:
- Maximize SKU coverage across a variety of Maersk customers and use cases
- Increase resilience and flexibility to the supply chain
- Continue to build on Maersk’s commitment to sustainability
- Fast deployment and minimal interruption to the existing warehouse infrastructure
Berkshire Grey said its Robotic Shuttle Put Wall (BG RSPW) easily integrates into existing fulfillment processes to sort orders three times faster. The Bedford, Mass.-based company said it can also improve upstream batch inventory picking by up to 33% and handle 100% of typical SKU assortments, order profiles, and packages.
Maersk said the technology will enble it to further optimize its warehouse operations and strengthen its market position by providing a larger array of services for its customers.
Berkshire Grey eager to collaborate
“This project represents an opportunity for BG to collaborate with the Maersk team on their vision to take its customers’ supply chains to the next level, streamlining processes and enhancing productivity through cutting-edge technology,” said Steve Johnson, president and chief operating officer of Berkshire Grey.
“We are excited to collaborate closely, leveraging our expertise and passion for automation, to create a transformative impact for Maersk and their customers,” he added.
Berkshire Grey said it combines robotics and artificial intelligence to automate fulfillment, supply chain, and logistics operations. The company claimed that its systems can “transform pick, pack, move, store, organize, and sort operations to deliver competitive advantage for enterprises serving today’s connected consumers.”
Berkshire Grey's customers include Global 100 retailers and logistics service providers.