Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.31
“I’ve never seen so much interest, if not desperation, to improve fulfillment,” said James Lawton, vice president and general manager of robotics automation at Zebra Technologies. And that’s true for companies as diverse as FedEx and iHerb. Both companies, and many others in between, have recently turned to piece-picking robotic systems to solve their fulfillment challenges. But we are to a great extent still in the early stages of robotic piece picking. After all, it was only January 2015 that Modern Materials Handling reported on what was probably one of the first robotic piece-picking pilots “The robots are coming –…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.30
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 5.27
Wilmington, Mass.-based Locus Robotics will be deploying its first autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs, in Japan to help connect builders with materials. DesignFuture Japan Inc. and Locus Robotics last week announced that they plan to deploy LocusBots in Material Bank Japan's distribution warehouse. Founded in 2019, Material Technologies Corp. said its system combines a multi-brand cross-search and bulk-billing capability with established logistics facilities. It said this enables next-day delivery of orders placed before midnight to anywhere in the U.S. The company said it has handled building material samples for more than 100,000 participating designers and 450 manufacturers. DesignFuture Japan is…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.25
Intelligrated, a leading North American-based automated material handling solutions provider, announces the election of Matt Wicks, vice president, product development, manufacturing systems, to the Robotic Industries Association (RIA) board of directors. Wicks’ two-year term began following the board’s January meeting. The RIA board is comprised of members across supplier, educator and researcher, integrator and user categories. Wicks was elected for his background in systems integration and robotic applications in high-growth logistics markets, including experience with warehousing, distribution and e-commerce fulfillment operations. “I’m happy to be working with this esteemed group of new and returning board members to plan the strategic…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.25
HAI Robotics, which makes autonomous case-handling robots, or ACRs, for logistics and industrial automation, this month announced a Series B+ funding round of nearly $15 million (U.S.) led by 5Y Capital, with participation from existing investors Source Code Capital and Walden International. According to the company, the capital will fuel its research and development, operational capabilities, and business expansion. Warehouse automation can enable fast, safe, and error-free distribution, as well as shorter time to market, and it is about to make an enormous impact on logistics and supply chain operations, said the Shenzhen, China-based company. “With an increasingly aging population…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.24
At MODEX 2022, ABB Group said it plans to show some of its most advanced robotics technology for omnichannel commerce, including the EBOT 350 from ASTI Mobile Robotics, which it acquired in July 2021. The Zurich, Switzerland-based company said its recent acquisition of ASTI Mobile Robotics expanded its industrial automation offerings. ABB added that ASTI's autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) join its innovations for packing, moving, and delivering products for consumer goods producers and distributors. ABB announced several systems that it plans to exhibit in Atlanta next month. ASTI EBOT part of portfolio exhibit ABB said its exhibit at MODEX 2022…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.21
Cubiscan announced last week that the company is entering into a partnership with inVia Robotics, a warehouse autonomous mobile robot maker, to help it “improve inventory management, optimize outbound parcel strategy, and enhance overall warehouse productivity and throughput.” The partnership was spurred by an increase in ecommerce demands, according to Farmington, UT-based Cubiscan, which supplies static and in-motion dimensioning systems. “More orders must be filled, even faster than before, and delivered to consumers via many channels,” the company said in a short release announcing the partnership. “And the surge in parcel movement through the transit network has caused freight carriers…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.20
The Motoman Robotics Division of Yaskawa America, R/X Automation Solutions (RXAS) and Universal Robotics have formed a strategic partnership to deliver robotic pharmacy order fulfillment systems. The robotic system will provide complete verification of National Drug Code bar codes and validation of robotically placed patient labels for pharmacy unit-of-use items. The system will automatically handle an extensive variety of items from bottles to boxes and odd-shaped products. ROI is projected to be less than one year. “Offering automated systems to the mail order, central fill and specialty pharmacy industries, as well as drug manufacturers and drug repackagers, is a natural…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.19
When Amazon.com Inc. acquired Kiva Systems Inc. in 2012, it pulled the shelf-moving robot off the market for in-house use only. This forced retailers, warehouses, and logistics providers to turn to other suppliers, ultimately leading to the fast-growing mobile robot market. “While the Kiva acquisition kickstarted the use of robotics and other technology at our facilities, it was just the start of our robotics journey,” wrote Amazon in a blog post. “We continued to innovate in new and exciting areas to improve the customer and employee experience and create an even safer workplace. And that innovation continues.” In conjunction with…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.14
Automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) manufacturer Kardex AG recently announced it will showcase its FulfillX warehouse execution system (WES) designed specifically for AutoStore at MODEX 2024 in booth B6410. The trade show will be held March 11-14 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA. Kardex said AutoStore for processing of small parts orders fits ideally into its existing portfolio of systems. “As a global AutoStore partner, we have developed a warehouse execution system that can provide remarkable results in just six months and is the fastest order fulfillment system per square foot on the market,” said Mitch…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.14
WINIT needed to relieve human workers of physical strain and improve efficiency in its U.K. facility. The Shanghai-based operator of warehouses worldwide ultimately turned to autonomous case-handling robots from Shenzhen, China-based HAI Robotics. With 12 years of experience working in warehousing, Christopher Calderhead never expected that one day he would work with robots. Calderhead has been working in the overseas warehouse of WINIT for about a year now. As an outbound team leader, he makes sure that the system runs smoothly and that orders are fulfilled daily. “Working in a warehouse is tough, especially manual handling,” said Calderhead. “People usually…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.13
MHS, a single-source provider of material handling automation and software solutions, has launched a dedicated robotics division spun off from its research and development organization. Known as MHS Robotics, the group develops advanced technologies in-house and nurtures external relationships to deliver market-ready robotics solutions for e-commerce and parcel logistics facilities. “We’re a team of problem solvers, inventors and innovators with the expertise to engineer automated solutions for real-world logistics challenges by working closely and cooperatively with our customers. This agile approach accelerates the pace of development and gets us quickly from the lab into a live operational environment, where the…