IAM Robotics (Booth 4071) introduced itself to the world and unveiled Swift, its autonomous mobile picking robot. Named one of four finalists for the show’s “Best New Innovation” award, the company is giving live demonstrations of its breakthrough technology at the show. The robot is the key part of a complete order fulfillment solution being introduced by the company, which includes IAM Flash, a 3D item scanner and SwiftLink fleet management software. “Properly executed robotic picking is a game-changing technology for supply chain and warehouse managers,” said CEO Tom Galluzzo. “This is a dream that the material handling industry has…
In a booth press conference on Monday, KNAPP Logistics and Automation’s Kevin Reader, marketing director, discussed the company’s newest technologies, including the Pick-it-Easy fully automatic picking work cell. Robot-centric and ideal for high-quality picking of slow- to medium-moving items, the work cell is on display in Booth 3747. “The booth has a sample work cell configuration of the Pick-it-Easy Robot, fully integrated with warehouse management system (WMS), warehouse control system (WCS), conveyor and pocket sorter,” he said, noting that KNAPP recently completed a pocket sorter installation for REI. “This exhibit is one of a series workstations we offer, centered around…
It’s April and the off year from Promat, which means I’m in Atlanta preparing to attend the Modex show that will open tomorrow morning. I flew in early today so that I’d have a chance to visit the show while exhibitors were putting the final touches on their booths. Based on a quick walk through, here are a topics I want to explore. Robotics: I just finished writing my third System Report in a row for Modern on robotics in the distribution center. Our industry is slow to abandon the tried and true for the new, so I don’t expect…
Disruption and innovation. They are two of the most commonly used words to describe business today, and they often go hand in hand. Established businesses worry that their tried-and-true business models will be the next to be disrupted by a start-up, just as Borders was done in by Amazon and the entertainment industry has been upended by the digitization of music, movies and television. At the same time, every business is wondering if some new technology might be the magic bullet that allows it to innovate and gain a competitive advantage. After all, it’s better to be the disrupter than…
The process of storing, retrieving and marrying up lenses and eyeglass frames in VSP Optics Group’s lab in Folsom, Calif., is elegant and deceptively simple. The solution brings together automated storage and robotics while warehouse execution software (WES) is the critical component that makes it all work. Step 1: The process begins when VSP receives an electronic order from an optometrist. All of the components for that order ride through the processes in a plastic work tray. The system generates a bar code label that is applied to the envelope that is used to store the lenses through various production…
In order to help ensure successful workforce development and sustainable economic growth, Yaskawa Motoman is working to closely align STEM education, certification and training with the needs and expertise of industry leaders. According to the company, organizations must provide the right products, technology and education to fill the gap between what the industry wants and what educational institutions can provide. Yaskawa Motoman is addressing these needs with products, curricula, training certification and services for education and industry. “The challenge is for us to find ways to package our intellectual knowledge and make it available,” said Bob Graff, senior sales manager,…
Schneider Packaging Equipment, a leading manufacturer of end-of-line solutions for case packing, sealing and palletizing, has built a state-of-the-art training laboratory at its headquarters in upstate New York. The lab provides customers the opportunity to train on equipment in a controlled environment. Through hands-on training, customers are able to learn specific technical skills without slowing or stopping their production lines, which helps lower the learning curve once the new system is in place. “Schneider Packaging Equipment now offers training on everything from programmable logic controllers to robotics,” said Jim Kent, director of aftermarket services, Schneider. “By training customers in a…
According to the latest market research study released by Technavio, the global material handling robotics market is expected to exceed $20 billion by 2019, growing at a CAGR of more than 8% during the forecast period. The report segments the global material handling robotics market by end-user and can be divided into five broad categories: automotive, chemical, industrial machinery, food and beverage, and electrical and electronics. Global material handling robotics market in automotive industry The material handling robotics market in the automotive industry is expected to exceed $6 billion by 2019, growing at a CAGR of almost 9%. The automotive…
ABB Robotics has introduced “IRC5 Operations Web Based Training (US519),” an online, interactive training course that will teach students how to operate a robot using the ABB FlexPendant and the IRC5 robot controller. ABB’s first ever web based robotics training course will provide students the same quality and depth of a class at an ABB training facility without having to travel. There are no formal prerequisites for the new course. The course modules are self-paced, with videos, interactive simulations and practice exercises that enrich the virtual learning environment. Students will earn a certificate of completion and Continuing Education Units (CEUs)…
“Robots work in many industries but haven’t made an impact on logistics yet because of the complexity of the work – handling a wide array of different things in an infinite number of combinations, close to people and in confined spaces,” says Matthias Heutger, Senior Vice President Strategy for the Group. “Current research shows that 80 percent of logistics facilities today are still manual. Recently, however, technology is just starting to catch up to meet demands for flexible and low-cost robots that could collaboratively work in logistics.” The report highlights that the development of the next generation of robots that…
Bastian Solutions, a global material handling systems integrator, has announced a partnership with Servus Intralogistics to distribute and integrate the company’s robotic shuttle system in North America. “The Servus technology offers our customers a flexible and affordable solution for goods-to-person order fulfillment,” stated Aaron Jones, president of Bastian Solutions. “Whether in a distribution or manufacturing environment, Servus’ unique design can not only handle storage of products but also provide a complete solution for transporting product throughout a facility, something no other shuttle system is currently offering.” Servus offers a material handling solution in which all processes run seamlessly from incoming…
Uber hat Berichten zufolge Einkaufen für eine Flotte von selbstfahrenden Autos in Deutschland (Uber has reportedly been shopping for a fleet of self-driving cars in Germany), according to Reuters. It is unclear whether the ride-hail company wants to purchase cars that are already self-driving or traditional cars with some autonomous features. Many German automakers, including Volkswagen’s Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW, are working on their own autonomous vehicles. Earlier, Germany’s Manager Magazin reported that Uber had placed an order for 100,000 Mercedes S-Class series with Daimler, citing unnamed sources at both companies, but another source told Reuters that report was inaccurate.…
