Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 6.35
The Kroger Co. last week said it plans to expand its Great Lakes Distribution Center in Delaware, Ohio, with partner KNAPP AG. Kroger, which claims to be the largest grocer in the U.S., said it will add new technologies to the facility renovation, which it expects to be completed this summer. “Kroger’s investment in KNAPP’s latest technology allows the Great Lakes Distribution Center to improve efficiency in replenishing our stores, enabling us to quickly deliver fresh food to our customers,” stated Tony Lucchino, vice president of supply chain and network strategy at Kroger. “The expansion of the facility is part…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 25.96
Micro-fulfillment is on everyone’s lips these days, or so it seems. Major supermarket chains including Kroger, Walmart, and H-E-B have started micro-fulfillment center projects, tapping automation companies that offer robotic, high-density storage and picking systems, which can be placed inside a store or a so-called “dark store” that fulfills online orders for a compact geographic area. But for all the attention on the micro-fulfillment center (MFC) trend to date, it’s mainly taking hold in grocery. It does, however, overlap with the concept of hyperlocal fulfillment, which almost every retailer or e-commerce brand is trying to achieve in some form. The…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 1.71
The “2021 MHI Annual Industry Report,” conducted with Deloitte, opens with a quote from John Paxton, CEO of the Materials Handling Institute. “Supply chain resilience has never been more important,” he wrote. “Companies that made investments in digital technologies prior to the pandemic were more prepared and able to adapt, survive and even thrive during this disruption. They will also be ready when the next crisis inevitably hits.” Historically, when it came to the adoption of automation and emerging technologies, warehousing and distribution took a wait-and-see approach. For example, the automotive industry has been using robotics since General Motors installed…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 7.79
Ranpack Holdings Corp., which provides paper-based packaging for e-commerce and industrial supply chains, yesterday said it has invested in Pickle Robot Co., which has developed robots for sorting, loading, and unloading packaged goods. The investment complements and expands Ranpak's existing automation portfolio, said the Concord Township, Ohio-based company. “We are investing in leading-edge technology to further accelerate Ranpak’s global leadership in packaging automation,” stated Omar Asali, chairman and CEO of Ranpak. “This strategic investment in Pickle Robot, combined with our addition of R Squared Robotics, further solidifies our focus on automation and ultimately unlocks new opportunities to deliver efficiencies, cost-savings,…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.89
Berkshire Grey Inc., which makes supply chain automation including robotics and artificial intelligence, yesterday announced the completion of its new Robotics Innovation Center and headquarters in Bedford, Mass. The company said the new center will showcase its capabilities for customers, partners, and investors. “Our new Innovation Center is strategically located in the Boston metro area, allowing us to leverage the strong regional talent pool in AI and robotics,” stated Tom Wagner, CEO of Berkshire Grey. “This center provides the space needed to continue our technology development and to help our customers adapt and transform their supply chain operations.” “Competitive pressures…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 6.27
BALYO SA, which designs and develops robotic trucks for materials handling, yesterday said it has opened its own logistics center in Moissy-Cramayel, France, southeast of Paris. FM Logistic will operate the distribution center, which will be part of a Prologis property and enable BALYO to demonstrate its technological innovations at scale and meet with clients and partners. “We are very proud to be working alongside BALYO to operate this reference center,” stated Yannick Buisson, CEO for France, Central Europe, and Western Europe at FM Logistic. “With this partnership, we will be able to provide our expertise as a supply chain…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.41
Swisslog Holding AG last week said that Toyota Motor North America will install a goods-to-person automation system that includes Swisslog's CarryPick storage and order-picking system in its facility in Hebron, Ky. The goal is to increase flexibility and efficiency, as well as enable continued growth to keep up with demand in the automotive spare parts market, according to the companies. “Swisslog is excited to work with Toyota to bring flexibility and efficiency to its spare parts fulfillment process,” said Markus Schmidt, president of Swisslog Americas. “Swisslog's CarryPick allows the company to quickly and easily deploy a flexible and modular approach…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 6.79
Zebra Technologies Corp. today announced its intention to acquire autonomous mobile robot, or AMR, provider Fetch Robotics Inc. The companies said they will combine Zebra's asset tracking and management expertise with Fetch's automation to expand into the manufacturing, logistics, and warehousing markets. “The Fetch team is excited to join Zebra and accelerate the adoption of flexible automation through AMRs and our cloud-based robotics platform,” stated Melonee Wise, CEO of Fetch Robotics. “By helping customers dynamically optimize and holistically orchestrate their fulfillment, distribution, and manufacturing operations, together we help enable their ability to stay ahead of growing demand, minimize delivery times,…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.33
Drone delivery provider Zipline Inc. yesterday said it has raised $250 million in financing. The San Francisco-based company claimed that it “operates the world's largest automated on-demand delivery service.” Zipline said it plans to use its latest funding to continue developing its integrated service and expand into new industries and locations. “At Zipline, our mission is to create the first logistics company that serves all humans equally,” stated Keller Rinaudo, founder and CEO at Zipline. “Around the world, our partners are reimagining how patients access care with fast, reliable on-demand delivery.” Founded in 2014, Zipline said it has made more…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 9.69
Kindred Systems today said it will integrate its SORT pick-and-place robots with Hy-Tek Integrated Systems’ material handling products to automate retail and e-commerce order fulfillment operations. The partners said they will accelerate polybag picking processes at warehouses and distribution centers to meet increasing consumer demand at Hy-Tek’s apparel customers. “In this rapidly growing e-commerce fulfillment environment, Hy-Tek turned to Kindred and its SORT robotic system to solve challenges that our customers were facing,” said Donnie Johnson, president of Hy-Tek Integrated Systems. “Kindred offered an affordable yet flexible solution to efficiently and effectively improve their e-commerce fulfillment operations. We are very…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 6.82
Warehouse automation requires a combination of hardware, software, and services optimized for each customer and facility. inVia Robotics Inc. today announced that it has made agreements with more than 10 companies as part of its channel partner program. Westlake Village, Calif.-based inVia said the joint technology offerings will supplement its direct-sales efforts through new channels, including international markets. In addition, the company said the program will expand its ability to provide its artificial intelligence-driven optimization software and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to e-commerce fulfillment centers facing accelerated customer demand. inVia Robotics named as certified partners Argon Consulting, Atlantic Packaging, Conveyor…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.94
Among the combinations of software and hardware for warehouse automation is robotics software and wearable technology. inVia Robotics Inc. and Rufus Labs Inc. yesterday announced a strategic partnership to jointly offer their systems through subscriptions. The companies said the combination of their e-commerce automation, wearables, and workforce analytics is intended to help address labor shortages and improve efficiency and productivity. Founded in 2015, Westlake Village, Calif.-based inVia Robotics said it has developed the “first economical” goods-to-person system through a robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) model. Founded in 2013, Rufus Labs claimed to be the only company to offer industrial wearables and cloud enterprise…