POLA ORBIS Holdings Inc. sought to streamline operations in its warehouse. The Tokyo-based beauty and cosmetics producer has collaborated with ForwardX Technology Co., which has provided customized autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs, equipped with scales to meet its specific requirements.
Established in 1929, POLA ORBIS owns multiple cosmetics brands including POLA, ORBIS, THREE, and Jurlique, as well as POLA CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, its research and development division. The company has to replenish more than 100 stores and an inventory of more than 500 SKUs to manage.
ForwardX said its vision-based AMRs can handle payloads ranging from 661 to 1,336 lb. (299.8 to 605.9 kg), automating both each and case picking in one warehouse. The Beijing-based company added that it provides tailored retail systems combining RFID scanners, scales, and other accessories to meet a variety of business demands.
POLA ORBIS achieves results with automation
In response to POLA ORBIS's need to modernize its picking process, ForwardX Robotics customized its mobile robots by adding precision scales for weighing items. The AMRs themselves power the scales, eliminating the need for manual recharging, said ForwardX.
The accessory verifies the weight of goods during picking, ensuring accuracy of 99.99% with over 99.9% uptime, the company claimed. This results in a “pick-to-go solution,” it said.
ForwardX reported that the deployment has yielded “immediate and significant results.” POLA ORBIS said it has reduced the distance traveled by workers by 30%, cut labor costs by 25%, and reduced logistics costs by 10%.
“The transformation not only addressed POLA ORBIS's immediate operational challenges, but also drove tangible and sustainable results, enhancing order-fulfillment precision, minimizing transportation downtime, and boosting overall productivity in their warehouse operations,” said ForwardX.
ForwardX promises to deliver on innovation
“This dynamic partnership highlights the power of deploying AMRs and tailored solutions to tackle distinct organizational demands,” said ForwardX Robotics. “It is a testament to the effectiveness of harnessing cutting-edge technology to transform complex operations and achieve unparalleled results.”
The company noted that it has more than 350 patents and research that has won awards such as Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practices Award. ForwardX added that its AMRs deliver “innovative end-to-end material handling solutions for warehousing and manufacturing facilities.”
More than 250 employees from top universities and leading enterprises around the world comprise the company, said ForwardX. It has deployed over 3,000 AMRs in over 150 facilities across four continents.
The company raised $30 million in Series C funding in July. ForwardX also announced this month that automaker Chery is deploying more than 100 of its robots at a new factory in China.