Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.96
After the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers expect e-commerce orders to be fulfilled the next day or even on the same day. This challenge has substantially elevated the importance of warehouse responsiveness in the supply chain. Warehouse managers are facing increased pressure—and headaches—to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and meet deadlines—all while dealing with high turnover and other labor challenges. Many managers are feeling overwhelmed and, dare I say, miserable. I can’t send you a painkiller for your headache, but I can show you that you’re not alone in your warehouse woes. There are tools that can help you ease your pain.…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 7.22
Amazon.com Inc. uses many robots in addition to those it acquired with Kiva Systems a decade ago. The Seattle-based e-commerce company noted that it has more than 750,000 robots working with its employees to relieve them of repetitive tasks. Amazon today announced that it is launching a new robot to help fulfill customer orders for the upcoming holiday shopping season. It is also testing Agility Robotics' mobile manipulation system. The new system, Sequoia, is already operating at an Amazon fulfillment center in Houston. Based on a series of research and development efforts at Amazon, Sequoia integrates multiple robots to containerize…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 1.60
Much of the excitement in warehouse robotics is about what the systems can do next, such as trailer unloading, parcel piece picking, or autonomous case handling. But there is also plenty of enthusiasm about the robotics-as-a-service, or RaaS, model for adopting automation. Like the established software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, RaaS bundles the costs of running a system into a tidy regular fee. That moves capital investments in warehouse robotics into the realm of operational expenses or “opex.” The advantages cascade from there, from opening up solutions to a wider base of users to making it easier to scale fleets, say industry…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.75
McMurray Stern and Addverb Technologies Pvt. today opened a warehouse automation Tech Center to industry stakeholders, partners, and technology enthusiasts. The partners said they have spent years planning for this grand unveiling. “We are thrilled to open our Tech Center in Santa Fe Springs, [Calif.],” stated Pat Fitzpatrick, vice president of sales and marketing of McMurray Stern. “This facility represents our commitment to delivering cutting-edge storage solutions that can transform businesses and organizations. We invite everyone to come and explore the future of storage technology with us.” McMurray Stern said its teams include factory-trained employees, capable of professionally managing automated…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 7.34
Locus Robotics Corp. today announced Kian Sin Ng as its new general manager for the Asia-Pacific region and Joel Collins as chief legal officer. The mobile robot provider said the executives are joining its leadership team as it continues expanding globally to serve growing customer demand. “Kian and Joel both have outstanding track records leading high-performing teams and advising companies during growth phases,” stated Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics. “Their expertise will be invaluable as we continue expanding our market-leading robotics solutions to help customers across the globe transform their warehouse and fulfillment operations.” Locus claimed that it is…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 47.51
Mecademic Industrial Robotics last week announced the formal launch of its new MicroDASH product line with the first deployed shipments of the MCS500 SCARA four-axis robot. The Montreal-based company claimed that its new robot “offers unmatched space efficiency, precision, and integration flexibility to accelerate the automation of small component design, inspection, and assembly applications.” Mecademic designs and manufactures small industrial robotic arms. The award-winning company said its customers work in aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, electronics, jewelry, and other industries. MicroDASH Early Access program a success The formal launch of MicroDASH came just a few months after Mecademic showed its micro-SCARA robots…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.77
Exotec SAS last week said it has reached the business milestone of more than 100 customer sites around the world. The Croix, France-based company said it is increasing its global headcount by 80% year over year. “Reaching more than 100 customer sites signals an important milestone for our business and the momentum of the warehouse robotics category,” stated Romain Moulin, co-founder and CEO of Exotec. “Leading brands trust Exotec not only to improve operational efficiency and augment their human workforces in the warehouse, but [also to] use it as a driving force to reinvent their entire supply chains.” Exotec said…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 10.52
Geekplus Technology Co. today announced that research firm Interact Analysis has named it as a global market leader autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs, for fulfillment. U.K.-based Interact Analysis cited both the continued growth of the warehouse industry and Geek+’s dominant position in both the order-fulfillment and AMR categories. The announcement of the new global market-share rankings from Interact Analysis placed Geek+ in the No. 1 spots for both order-fulfillment and mobile robots, marking the fifth year in a row where the company has been ranked first in AMRs. “These rankings show that our products, led by our shelf-to-person solutions, are…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 7.62
Mobile robots are not yet a commodity, but they are spreading worldwide. Locus Robotics Corp. today announced that its award-winning autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs, are now available in Italy and Poland. The company said its systems use artificial intelligence to cut costs and improve workplace ergonomics. “We are thrilled to bring Locus's transformative warehouse automation solutions to Italy and Poland as we continue expanding our European footprint,” said Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics, in a release. “Our AI-powered robotics solutions allow customers in these countries to optimize productivity, efficiency, and accuracy in their facilities, boosting output 2-3X while…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 7.04
Locus Robotics Corp. today announced that it will showcase its autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs, and present at two sessions at the Logistics Summit on Oct. 11 and 12 in Dusseldorf, Germany. “We're excited to showcase Locus's transformative warehouse technology again at this premier European logistics event,” stated Denis Niezgoda, vice president for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and Asia-Pacific (APAC), at Locus. “Our robots deliver the ultimate in productivity and flexibility, optimizing warehouse operations today while rapidly scaling to meet future business needs,” he said. Wilmington, Mass.-based Locus Robotics said its AMRs collaborate with human workers, eliminating…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.03
As supply chain operations bring in or add mobile robots, they quickly learn that adding hardware is only part of the process. Integrating and updating software, analyzing data, and building productive partnerships are crucial to ensuring a return on investment, noted industry experts. Robotics 24/7 previously examined how mobile robots can add flexibility to end-user operations. We continued our conversations with the following executives on how companies can get the most out of new or growing deployments: Jane Heffner, vice president of sales at Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) Jim Lawton, vice president and general manager for robotics automation at Zebra…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 1.79
One of the biggest selling points for mobile robots is that they are not fixed infrastructure like conveyor belts and can thus change routes depending on seasonal volume, shifting workflows, or new products. In addition, increasingly sophisticated software promises to pick the best robots, manual and autonomous forklifts, and human workers as agents for a particular task. But this is easier said than done. As much as 70% of North American warehouses and distribution centers have yet to add any automation, industry experts have told Robotics 24/7. Even businesses that have robotics experience can run into problems growing their fleets…