Harvest Automation has sold its robotic warehouse automation technology and business to focus on robotic material handling in a variety of agriculture markets.
Harvest developed what it says are “groundbreaking robotic systems” for e-commerce order fulfillment over the last year and a half.
The company had completed a small fleet of robots that demonstrated a three-fold increase in order picking efficiency.
Ultimately it was decided that commercializing the warehouse product would be better accomplished by a group with a background and exclusive focus in that sector. And Harvest Automation would concentrate on agriculture.
NextShift Robotics purchased all of the warehouse related material assets and IP in a deal that closed recently.
CEO and co-founder of Harvest Automation Charles Grinnell says: “Agriculture is where we started and have found our greatest success.
“The sale allows us to restructure and refocus the company on robotic innovation to resolve important challenges facing the [agriculture] industry like labor and environmental impact. We are very excited to not only support and grow our current customer base, but to continue our work in new markets with vegetable and fruit growers.”
Harvest Automation was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Billerica MA. It develops mobile, autonomous robots that provide material handling solutions to the nursery and greenhouse industries. Harvest has deployed over 150 robots to more than 30 of the nation’s largest growers.
