Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.41
Editor’s note: This is the first of two columns on the reinvention of Macy’s retail supply chain. In this one, we look at the department store leader’s focus on inventory productivity. Can a 165-year-old department store chain evolve to meet today’s retail shopper and compete with fast fashion, off-price, and pure e-tailers? And, if so, what is the role of supply chain in that transformation? Those are questions that Macy’s Inc., which had annual net sales of more than $24 billion in fiscal year 2022, began to answer before COVID-19. That’s when it launched the reinvention of the supply chain…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.78
FRAMINGHAM, Mass.—Peerless Media LLC has announced that registration is now open for the second annual Robotics Applications Conference, an online event that will be on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. The company, which produces Robotics 24/7, has also announced many of speakers who will be sharing their unique perspectives on how robots are being used in the real world. “As with last year's event, we want to provide a venue for robotics users and integrators as well as vendors to explain their journeys into automation,” stated Eugene Demaitre, editorial director of Robotics 24/7 and moderator. “Our audience values discussions of how…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.35
Mobile robotics vendors face many of the same challenges as their customers in manufacturing, logistics, and e-commerce—supply chain strains, shortages of skilled labor, and less available capital. Locus Robotics Corp. has managed to thrive in these conditions, announcing today that Inc. Magazine has named it to the Inc. 5000 list for the third year in a row. The annual list recognizes the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. and their achievements in business development and innovation. “We are incredibly proud and honored to again be recognized on the Inc. 5000 list,” said Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics, in a…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.04
While more operations are deploying Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) in their facilities, not every existing ground floor surface can support them. Many existing concrete floors have swales and slopes, cracks and spalling, and surfaces that can’t stand up to repetitive robotic traffic patterns. Fortunately, ResinDek® panels can be installed directly on top of an existing ground floor. ResinDek is the perfect flooring for industrial robots, the panels create a level floor with surface characteristics that are critical for the successful deployment of robots. Further, they’ve been tested extensively in the labs of numerous AGV and…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.12
The term “elegance” appears frequently on Exotec's website, and you might just dismiss it as another tagline in the vast sea of content marketing. However, for the company, this is not just a marketing phrase; it is also a design philosophy. The approach started with the idea of mathematical elegance. That is, finding solutions and proofs that are surprisingly simple yet insightful. There are plenty of definitions of mathematical elegance out there, but the key tenets typically include: Simplicity: An elegant mathematical proof or solution tends to be simple, cutting straight to the heart of the problem without unnecessary steps…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 16.50
…are down from two days to hours, depending on micro-fulfillment centers and distribution networks. We want to take away as much manual intervention as we can, but there will always be some level of human support. The differentiation between “Can a robot make that decision?” and manual operation is real. I'll be speaking with [enVista] Senior Director Cal Petty at the Parcel Forum in September about the merger of automation and labor. Where would you like to see improvement? Andre: SLAM line automation is a blend of robotics and human labor. Several companies are trying to robotically palletize mixed cases.…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.05
Unique customer demands and market pressures continue to prompt companies to seek innovative ways to effectively manage their processing and packaging operations, noted Yaskawa Motoman. Robots promise to save energy, reduce waste, optimize workflows, and assist a more resilient workforce, said the Miamisburg, Ohio-based company. Attendees of PACK EXPO from Sept. 11 to 13 will be able to meet with Yaskawa's industry experts at Booth C-4044 in the Las Vegas Convention Center. “This year’s show will host nearly 30,000 attendees and highlight the latest in packaging and logistics technology – including Yaskawa’s high-performance robotic solutions,” said Chris Caldwell, product manager…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.28
While most warehouses are not yet automated, mobile robots and automated storage are spreading worldwide. Exotec SAS today announced deals with integrators A1 Sorter and POSCO DX Co. to expand into the Eastern European and South Korean markets, respectively. Founded in France in 2015, Exotec said it combines hardware and software to build flexible systems to improve operational efficiency, resilience, and working conditions for warehouse operators. The Atlanta-based company's Skypod system uses mobile robots to move goods between high-density storage racks and ergonomic picking stations. Skypod can increase warehouse throughput up to fivefold with two-minute or less response times for…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.76
Robotics manufacturers are challenged to keep up with growing demand for autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs. Advantech Co. and MOV.AI this week announced that they are collaborating to streamline robot creation by providing manufacturers and integrators access to their industrial computing technology and AMR software, respectively. The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing labor shortages have created a surge in demand for mobile robots, which offer operational efficiency and flexibility, noted MOV.AI. AMR shipments increased by 53% in 2022 and could grow at an annual rate of about 50% through 2027, resulting in a total of 4 million installed units, according to…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 6.86
It's not too late to adopt automation before the holiday rush. Berkshire Grey Inc. and A.P. Moller—Maersk today announced their first collaboration in the U.K. They said the project will be deployed ahead of the 2023 peak season in Maersk's 685,000 sq. ft. facility at SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway. “Berkshire Grey's AI-enabled robotic solutions have a proven track record across various industries in North America and we are delighted to tap into these benefits for our customers in [the] U.K. now,” stated Fergus Whinham, area head of the “Fulfilled by Maersk” product in the U.K. and Ireland. “This…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.47
SoftBank Group Corp. and Symbotic Inc. yesterday announced that they have established GreenBox Systems LLC, a joint venture to address the more than $500 billion annual warehouse-as-a-service market opportunity. Symbotic also announced a customer contract worth about $7.5 billion with GreenBox, which will be the exclusive provider of its systems and supply chain services to that market. “We are pleased to partner with SoftBank in this venture that accelerates our shared vision to transform the supply chain,” said Rick Cohen, chairman and CEO of Symbotic, in a press release. “GreenBox enables Symbotic to bring the benefits of our technology to…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.17
As warehouses and distribution centers become more sophisticated, the equipment within them has also advanced. The e-commerce surge and persistent labor shortages have driven vendor innovation, resulting in a host of put walls with new features that address companies’ current and future needs. A type of warehouse racking system, a put wall can batch work in large fulfillment centers. They consist of long, narrow walls made with individualized compartments—each of which holds a single order. Put walls can cut down on the time it takes for an employee to walk back and forth between the packing area and the picking…