Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.27
August 03, 2023
While most warehouses are not yet automated, mobile robots and automated storage are spreading worldwide. Exotec SAS today announced deals with integrators A1 Sorter and POSCO DX Co. to expand into the Eastern European and South Korean markets, respectively. Founded in France in 2015, Exotec said it combines hardware and software to build flexible systems to improve operational efficiency, resilience, and working conditions for warehouse operators. The Atlanta-based company's Skypod system uses mobile robots to move goods between high-density storage racks and ergonomic picking stations. Skypod can increase warehouse throughput up to fivefold with two-minute or less response times for…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.75
July 27, 2023
Robotics manufacturers are challenged to keep up with growing demand for autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs. Advantech Co. and MOV.AI this week announced that they are collaborating to streamline robot creation by providing manufacturers and integrators access to their industrial computing technology and AMR software, respectively. The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing labor shortages have created a surge in demand for mobile robots, which offer operational efficiency and flexibility, noted MOV.AI. AMR shipments increased by 53% in 2022 and could grow at an annual rate of about 50% through 2027, resulting in a total of 4 million installed units, according to…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 6.84
July 27, 2023
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…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.46
July 25, 2023
SoftBank Group Corp. and Symbotic Inc. yesterday announced that they have established GreenBox Systems LLC, a joint venture to address the more than $500 billion annual warehouse-as-a-service market opportunity. Symbotic also announced a customer contract worth about $7.5 billion with GreenBox, which will be the exclusive provider of its systems and supply chain services to that market. “We are pleased to partner with SoftBank in this venture that accelerates our shared vision to transform the supply chain,” said Rick Cohen, chairman and CEO of Symbotic, in a press release. “GreenBox enables Symbotic to bring the benefits of our technology to…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.16
July 25, 2023
As warehouses and distribution centers become more sophisticated, the equipment within them has also advanced. The e-commerce surge and persistent labor shortages have driven vendor innovation, resulting in a host of put walls with new features that address companies’ current and future needs. A type of warehouse racking system, a put wall can batch work in large fulfillment centers. They consist of long, narrow walls made with individualized compartments—each of which holds a single order. Put walls can cut down on the time it takes for an employee to walk back and forth between the packing area and the picking…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.29
July 23, 2023
Despite rising inflation rates, the demand for eyewear remains consistent. The Vision Council’s Consumer inSights report for the second quarter of 2023 revealed that 80% of surveyed consumers use vision-correction tools. Among those who wear prescription glasses, more than half made a purchase within the past 12 months. A critical factor in meeting these consumer needs is the growing use of advanced technologies for eyewear marketing, manufacturing, and distribution. Specifically, industry applications of robotics and artificial intelligence can play a substantial role in boosting sales and the overall customer experience. This paints an optimistic picture for the global eyewear market…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 9.15
July 22, 2023
Noble Corp., a leading trade supplier of plumbing, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), fire protection, and industrial technologies in Ontario, wanted to improve the customer service experience. The Concord, Canada-based company claimed that it is the first in its industry to implement an AutoStore warehouse automation system. “This integration with AutoStore represents our commitment to innovation and our dedication to providing the best possible service to customers with real-time inventory management,” said Philip Wenger, director of technology at Noble, in a release. “It means we can get more products to our customers faster, and they're going to be happier…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.01
July 19, 2023
Schuurman Schoenen is a Dutch shoe company, offering a wide variety of shoes. In its warehouse in Neede, Netherlands, TORU, a picking robot developed by the robotics firm Magazino, uses a 3D camera and a variety of sensors, to work autonomously every day, all day. The robot can be programmed for inbound, as well as outbound warehouse traffic and logistics. It's an ideal solution that helps meet orders during peak seasons and keep the flow of order fulfillment moving, day and night. Using vacuum grippers, the robot grabs hold of individual shoe boxes from shelves, sorts them correctly, and concurrently…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 9.97
July 18, 2023
acca international Co. and Exotec Nihon Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Exotec SAS, announced that they have entered into a partnership agreement for the implementation and operation of the Skypod system. Exotec’s Skypod System is an automated goods-to-person solution that uses robots moving goods between high-density storage and ergonomic stations. The system significantly shortens fulfillment times by automating highly manual tasks like walking and lifting heavy objects. acca international, and Exotec will collaborate to deliver a solution that meets PAL’s warehousing and shipping needs. acca international will provide fulfillment services to a warehouse that has adopted the Skypod system,…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.83
July 18, 2023
The food and beverage industry has historically faced challenges including high costs and thin profit margins, so the need for creative solutions is not new. Today, businesses face some of their biggest challenges yet in the form of chronic labor shortages, changing consumer preferences, and demands for more variety and faster production. “Both food and beverage, from a distribution and wholesale standpoint, are very low-margin contributors to overall profitability, so the slightest strain—whether that be labor costs, input costs, raw materials costs, transportation costs—all heavily affect the margins and the profitability of producers, wholesalers, and distributors,” noted Mark Koffarnus, director…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.65
July 16, 2023
Robots are moving goods in warehouses, packaging foods, and helping assemble vehicles—when they’re not flipping burgers or serving lattes. How did they get so skilled so fast? Robotics simulation. Making leaps in progress, it’s transforming industries all around us. A robotics simulator places a virtual robot in virtual environments to test the robot’s software without requiring the physical robot. And the latest simulators can generate datasets to be used to train machine learning models that will run on the physical robots. In this virtual world, developers create digital versions of robots, environments, and other assets robots might encounter. These environments…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.69
July 14, 2023
Chang Industrial and Hai Robotics yesterday announced the formation of a strategic partnership targeting North American manufacturers. Chang Industrial has built a consortium of engineering and supply chain partners including Hai Robotics, a leading global provider of automated storage and retrieval systems, or ASRS. The partners said they aim to improve flexibility and sustainability in manufacturing offerings. The collaboration is intended “to optimize all aspects of the value chain, from concept to execution, with emphasis on autonomous systems, workforce optimization, and improved information communication technology for our North American manufacturers,” said Chang Industrial. “This partnership allows us to provide the…
