Caja Robotics Works With Integrator Advanced Handling Systems to Automate Distribution Facility

Advanced Handling Systems LLC yesterday announced that it is partnering with Caja Robotics to optimize a Midwest distribution facility for an unnamed major retailer. The companies said they will combine Advanced Handling Systems' experience in warehouse automation with Caja's goods-to-person technology on their first project together.

For more than 45 years, Advanced Handling Systems (AHS) has supplied integrated fulfillment and distribution systems within the supply chain. The Erlanger, Ky.-based company said it uses its six-step DesignBuild process to understand a customer's "current state." AHS provides automation, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and other equipment to improve productivity, order cycle times, and order accuracy supporting the "future state."

Founded in 2014, Caja Elastic Dynamic Solutions Ltd. offers a mini-load automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) for goods-to-person order fulfillment. The Binyamina, Israel-based company claimed that its robots can increase order efficiency, expand storage capacity, and optimize warehouse operations. Caja said its proprietary systems serve market segments such as footwear, apparel, and grocery.

AHS, Caja to optimize retailer's operations

AHS will complete the installation and deployment of approximately 100 robots in the new facility. Caja's dual-robot system will support roughly 108,000 square feet. The partners said they will be able to optimize the distribution center's operations to support an outbound unit volume of more than 26,000 units per day.

"When AHS was looking to expand our technology offerings, we partnered with organizations that we felt not only provided something innovative, but [also] technology that could be deployed to solve real challenges in the distribution center," said Drew Eubank, director of customer solutions at AHS. "I can’t explain – in words – how excited I am to see this strategy pay off with this large Caja installation. It will not only benefit the customer but could potentially provide a solution for an entire industry segment."

Caja Robotics said it addresses the daily challenges of order fulfillment with robots that are adaptive enough to work with existing infrastructure and flexible enough to handle peaks in sales. The company raised $12 million in Series B funding in November 2020.

Caja added that can increase the robots' working hours or add more to the fleet for scalability. The system includes cloud-based software to control the entire operation, two types of robots, and two types of picking station. It also includes fleet management with a unique 4D algorithm for warehouse and order optimization.  

“We are excited to partner with AHS on this major deployment," stated Ilan Cohen, CEO of Caja Robotics, which is an exhibitor at ProMat DX this week. "We've teamed up our dedicated robotic solution and market expertise to deliver competitive advantages to fulfillment operations in retail e-commerce.”