MiR and Modula Bring Autonomous Storage, Picking, and Material Handling System to U.S. Warehouses

Warehouse automation is rapidly evolving from robots as point solutions to more comprehensive systems. Modula Inc. and Mobile Industrial Robots ApS today said that their joint system for automated materials handling in warehouses, distribution, and production centers will soon be available in the U.S.

The system combines Modula's smart storage with Mobile Industrial Robots' (MiR) autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to partially or fully automate materials handling processes, said the companies. Potential benefits include increased employee satisfaction and workplace safety, according to Massimiliano Gigli, CEO of Modula.

“By taking over repetitive, physically straining, and otherwise dangerous tasks, this system significantly improves the working conditions in warehouses, factories and distribution centers,” he stated. “Faced with labor shortages, businesses looking to automate storage, picking, and material handling stand to gain more than just greater productivity by offering their employees more valuable responsibilities and a safer work environment.”

MiR, Modula system supports multiple configurations

Mobile Industrial Robots and Modula said their offering supports configurations including:

• Semi-automated picking of single items: With this process, a human operator picks single items from Modula’s storage unit and places them onto MiR’s mobile robot for autonomous transportation to designated areas such as consolidation centers.
• Semi-automated picking with picking carts: An operator can pick multiple items and place them onto a picking station. Once picking is completed, tan AMR hooks onto the picking station and moves it to the designated area.
• Fully automated picking of single items: MiR robots are equipped with a robotic arm that picks single items from Modula’s storage unit and transports them easily and safely to the next picking zone or consolidation area.
• Full automated case picking: In this case, MiR AMRs have a customized top module that lifts, picks, and places totes or bins directly from or to Modula's Vertical Lift Module (VLM) tray, facilitating picking and replenishment without human intervention.
• Full automation with pallets: Specially equipped MiR robots can pick large and heavy items off Modula’s VLM model for pallets.

Designed for modular and quick implementation, Modula and MiR said their system is adaptable to warehouses and distribution centers of almost any size and layout. It can also facilitates gradual automation, allowing businesses to transform their processes at their own pace, they said.

The companies claimed that their automation can enable space and time savings, improving productivity and enhancing intralogistics. The system can generate a return on investment (ROI) as early as six to 18 months from installation, said MiR and Modula.

Semi-automated, multi-order picking with a Modula picking cart towed by a MiR AMR can be highly accurate, say the companies. Source: Modula

Mobile Industrial Robots, Modula bring system to U.S.

Lewiston, Maine-based Modula said it has more than 30 years of experience with automated storage systems designed to optimize space and improve picking and storage operations for any industrial sector or environment.

The company debuted its system with Odense, Denmark-based MiR at this year's LogiMAT trade show in Stuttgart Germany. Modula plans to present the system to U.S. at the Las Vegas Groceryshop 2022 trade show in September.

Businesses can contact Modula’s representatives for personalized consultation and estimates.