• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Your Membership
    • Edit Your Profile
  • Services
    • Advertising
    • Case studies
    • Design
    • Email marketing
    • Lead generation
    • Magazine
    • Press releases
    • Publishing
    • Sponsored posts
    • Webcasting
    • Webinars
    • White papers
    • Writing
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • Cart
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Terms of use
  • Events

Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

  • News
  • Features
  • Video
  • Webinars
  • White papers
  • Press releases
  • Featured companies
    • BlueBotics
    • SICK Sensor Intelligence
    • Vicor Power
material handling

Material handling: An overview of a fast-moving market

November 10, 2017 by David Edwards

Material handling refers to the movement of items within relatively small spaces, such as a warehouse. 

In that sense, it’s different from logistics, which refers to movement of goods over longer distances, from city to city or across countries and continents.

But material handling falls within logistics, obviously, and can sometimes be categorised within intralogistics – as in, movement of goods within a company’s network of warehouses and manufacturing facilities. 

The market for material handling has grown rapidly in recent years, because of the growth in online shopping.

Amazon, being the world’s largest online retailer, recognised this trend and has been investing large amounts of money in the sector.

 

Starting with the acquisition of Kiva Systems, a supplier of small robotic platforms for moving things around within warehouses, Amazon has now become a massive logistics company and has highly advanced material handling systems, which is what enable the company to offer same-day delivery and other superfast services.

Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods Market, a supplier of fresh produce, was likely based on its confidence in the efficient material handling and logistics network it has established.

However, Amazon is not a supplier of material handling systems and services to other companies, which is what this article is about.

That’s a lot of material

According to Modern Materials Handling, the world’s largest material handling systems supplier is Daifuku, with a revenue of almost $3 billion in 2016.

Its complete list provides a variety of details about the top 20, with links, but we’ll simply list the companies with their respective revenues for 2016.

Top 20 materials handling systems suppliers 

Rank Name 2016 revenue
1. Daifuku $2.92 billion
2. Schaefer $2.63 billion
3. Dematic $2.02 billion
4. Murata $1.26 billion
5. Vanderlande $1.17 billion
6. Mecalux $952 million
7. Beumer $852 million
8. Intelligrated $850 million
9. Fives Group $721 million
10. Swisslog $645 million
11. Knapp $643 million
12. TGW Logistics $568 million
13. Grenzebach $477 million
14. Witron Logistic + Informatik $453 million
15. Kardex $397 million
16. Bastian Solutions $217 million
17. Dearborn $172 million
18. Egemin Automation $159 million
19. Viastore $140 million
20. System Logistics $129 million

Almost all of the companies generated significantly more revenues in 2016 compared with 2015, as the original table at MMH shows.

The average increase in revenues across all 20 companies was 6 per cent, although it probably should be noted that only two of the 20 saw their revenues decrease – Swisslog, and System Logistics.

Swisslog’s lower reported revenues may be to do with the fact that the company has been investing heavily in infrastructure in Asia and other places. It may see a return to higher revenues in the next year or two.

What’s robot got to do with it? 

All of the material handling companies listed above, and those who aren’t on the list, integrate a variety of robotics and automation technologies in their systems.

Industrial robots are featured prominently on their websites, and are offered as part of their solutions.

This would certainly have been part of the reason why Kuka bought Swisslog for approximately $350 million a couple of years ago.

And since Kuka has itself been acquired by Chinese household appliances giant Midea, Swisslog’s investments in Asia, in particular, start to make sense.

The type of tasks an industrial robotic arm is put to depends on the end effector and other factors, but they can include:

  • dispensing;
  • part selection;
  • part transfer;
  • packing;
  • bin picking;
  • picking and placing;
  • palletising;
  • loading and unloading; and
  • machine tending.

Essentially, they’re used for the typical repetitive tasks that might be dull for a human to do, or even dangerous, such as heavy lifting.

Industrial robots are not the only robotic and automation technology used in material handling, but it’s probably worth listing some of the companies which produce specially configured solutions for material handling.

Industrial robots for material handling 

  • Kawasaki
  • ABB
  • Rethink Robotics
  • Fanuc
  • Yaskawa Motoman
  • Kuka

This is just a random list of some of the companies that are specifically touting their robots as being “material handling” solutions. It’s certainly not an exhaustive list.

But any robotic arm could probably be programmed and accessorised to perform material handling tasks.

One of the key differences, however, is that some are capable of heavy lifting, which the smaller, collaborative robots are not, obviously.

Armless 

Another type of robot increasingly being used in material handling is the small mobile platform, like the Kiva Systems ones mentioned above, bought by Amazon.

Similar platforms are being developed and launched all the time, and below is a list of the ones we know about.

  • Kuka – KMP 1500
  • Comau – Agile 1500
  • NextShift Robotics – TM 100
  • Omron – Mobile Robot LD
  • EiraTech – EiraBot
  • Magazino – Toru
  • inVia – inVia bot LD
  • Fetch – Fetch robot
  • Clearpath – Otto
  • Aethon – Tug
  • I Am Robotics – Mobile Picking Robot
  • 6 River Systems – Chuck
  • Grenzebach – Automatic Guided Vehicle System L1200S
  • Balyo – AGV
  • Seegrid – Vision Guided Vehicles
  • PlusOne Robotics – in development
  • Swisslog – CarryPick
  • GreyOrange – Butler
  • BlueBotics – Ant
  • Serva Transport Systems – Ray and Eve
  • Vecna – MHE
  • Mobile Industrial Robots – MiR

This list was originally included in our article, Logistics robots: The way you move, but we have updated it with some new launches – such as Comau’s Agile and Kuka’s KMP, and added another company, NextShift Robotics.

Also, since that original list was made, 6 River Systems has launched its machine, which is interesting because the company’s staff includes some of the people behind the Kiva Systems platform.

Another interesting development is the idea of attaching robotic arms to these mobile platforms, something which Kuka, Fetch and other companies have demonstrated.

But further advances are probably required in machine vision in order for these robots to be able to identify parts more efficiently.

At the moment, they can be made to work – in inventory management – by attaching barcode scanners and other types of scanning systems.

A company called Surgere, working with Fetch, has launched a robot-managed inventory system.

As for the automated conveyor systems and their associated scanners and sensors that are all part of an automated warehouse or material handling system…

That’s a whole other story, and we’ll have to leave that for another article. Time is money, after all. And we haven’t even begun to think of driverless forklift trucks yet.

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Skype
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • Pocket

You might also like…

Filed Under: Industrial robots, Industry, Logistics, News, Transportation Tagged With: automated warehouses, material handling, robots

Join the Robotics & Automation News community

Primary Sidebar

Latest articles

  • Reasons to Consider a Career in the Manufacturing Industry
  • Why is My Car Key Stuck in the Ignition?
  • Bachmann Engineering gains certification from Universal Robots for its robot module solution
  • Walmart and Symbotic expand partnership to implement automation system
  • Comau brings high-speed robotic precision to the cosmetics industry
  • EAVX unveils autonomous ‘walk-in van’ prototype
  • MassRobotics launches $50,000 robotics competition
  • Remy Robotics exits stealth mode with launch of third autonomous robotic kitchen
  • Radial expands relationship with Locus Robotics
  • Things to consider while choosing a 45ft flat rack container

Most Read

  • Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
    Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
  • Track your lost Android
    Track your lost Android
  • Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
    Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
  • Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
    Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
  • Top 25 vertical farming companies
    Top 25 vertical farming companies
  • Top 10 graphics processing unit manufacturers: Nvidia clearly in the lead
    Top 10 graphics processing unit manufacturers: Nvidia clearly in the lead
  • The Best Mechanical Engineering Design Software in 2022
    The Best Mechanical Engineering Design Software in 2022
  • Remy Robotics exits stealth mode with launch of third autonomous robotic kitchen
    Remy Robotics exits stealth mode with launch of third autonomous robotic kitchen
  • Scientists have found more water in space than they ever knew possible
    Scientists have found more water in space than they ever knew possible
  • What You Need to Know About Fixing an Engine Misfire
    What You Need to Know About Fixing an Engine Misfire

Overused words

abb ai applications automated automation automotive autonomous business china companies company control customers data design development digital electric global industrial industry logistics machine manufacturing market mobile platform process production robot robotic robotics robots safety software solution solutions system systems technologies technology time vehicle vehicles warehouse

Secondary Sidebar

Latest news

  • Reasons to Consider a Career in the Manufacturing Industry
  • Why is My Car Key Stuck in the Ignition?
  • Bachmann Engineering gains certification from Universal Robots for its robot module solution
  • Walmart and Symbotic expand partnership to implement automation system
  • Comau brings high-speed robotic precision to the cosmetics industry
  • EAVX unveils autonomous ‘walk-in van’ prototype
  • MassRobotics launches $50,000 robotics competition
  • Remy Robotics exits stealth mode with launch of third autonomous robotic kitchen
  • Radial expands relationship with Locus Robotics
  • Things to consider while choosing a 45ft flat rack container

Footer

We are…

Robotics and Automation News was established in May, 2015, and is now one of the most widely-read websites in its category.

Please consider supporting us by becoming a paying subscriber, or through advertising and sponsorships, or by purchasing products and services through our shop – or a combination of all of the above.

Thank you.

Independent

Archivists

November 2017
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930  
« Oct   Dec »

Complex

Old-skool

This website and its associated magazine, and weekly newsletter, are all produced by a small team of experienced journalists and media professionals.

If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to contact us at any of the email addresses on our contact page.

We’d be happy to hear from you, and will always reply as soon as possible.

Future-facing

Free, fair and legal

We support the principles of net neutrality and equal opportunities.

Member of The Internet Defense League

Copyright © 2022 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT