Amazon, the online retail giant with a growing range of business units, one of which is Amazon Robotics, is opening a new logistics facility in New York.
The Staten Island warehouse will create 2,250 new jobs for humans but it’s not clear how many robots Amazon will integrate into the facility.
So far, Amazon is said to have manufactured 100,000 logistics robots, which are small autonomous vehicles used to move boxes and shelf units around.
Amazon Robotics started out by buying a company called Kiva Systems, which developed the robot Amazon now uses in its warehouses worldwide.
Similar robotics and automation systems for logistics are being developed by different companies and it’s a growing market.
According one report, by IDTechEx, the market for logistics robots will exceed $75 billion in 10 years.
Amazon’s new 855,000-square-foot fulfillment center in Staten Island is the company’s first fulfillment center in the state and will provide opportunities for employees to engage with advanced robotics.
Sanjay Shah, Amazon’s vice president of customer fulfillment, says: “We are excited to bring our first fulfillment center to New York and work alongside the state’s incredible workforce.
“The support of local leaders has been instrumental in our ability to come to New York, and we are grateful for the welcome we’ve received to bring thousands of new jobs with benefits starting on day one.”
Amazon employees at the Staten Island fulfillment center will work alongside robotics to pick, pack and ship customer items such as household essentials, books and toys.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says: “Amazon’s decision to establish the first state-of-the-art fulfillment center in New York affirms our position at the forefront of the growing global innovation economy, and this investment will create thousands of jobs and opportunities for the Staten Island community.
“New York continues to demonstrate that we have the workforce, technology, and the pro-business climate to help companies grow and succeed.”
The facility will feature innovative technology from Amazon Robotics to assist employees in fulfilling customer orders, says the company.
