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Logistics

Central McGowan expands its highly automated distribution hub

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Central McGowan is expanding its Fargo, North Dakota CO2 distribution hub, with the intention of turning it into a fully-stocked retail store and distribution site.

Central McGowan is a supplier of gases and technology for the manufacturing, welding, medical, and food and beverage industries in the upper Midwest. And the company is a Fanuc-authorized integrator of automation or robotic solutions

Central McGowan’s Fargo store is located at 1226 38th St N, Fargo, ND 58102 (next to the newly painted water tower). The store officially opens today. Central McGowan has had a presence in the area since 2017, when it acquired Pro-CO2. [Read more…] about Central McGowan expands its highly automated distribution hub

Einride and Oatly reveal results of logistics test with electric trucks and freight mobility platform

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Autonomous and electric truck developer Einride and large-scale drinks manufacturer Oatly have revealed the initial results of the two companies’ joint logistics operations.

Einride had integrated its vehicles into Oatly’s transport routes at its production sites and warehouses in the Swedish cities of Helsingborg, Landskrona, and Småland’s Tingsryd.

Oatly is one of the first companies in the world to operate a full fleet of Einride electric trucks daily, on-site. [Read more…] about Einride and Oatly reveal results of logistics test with electric trucks and freight mobility platform

Merck and Volansi launch commercial drone service to deliver cold-chain medicines in rural North Carolina

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Volansi, a drone company specializing in medical logistics, has launched a commercial healthcare drone delivery project in North Carolina.

In collaboration with pharmaceuticals and biotech giant Merck, known as MSD outside the US and Canada, Volansi is piloting the delivery of cold-chain medicines from Merck’s Wilson, North Carolina manufacturing site to Vidant Healthplex-Wilson, a Vidant Health clinic, as the first of three phases in a project to learn about drone technology’s role and ability to improve access to healthcare.

With 1.4 million people across 29 counties, eastern North Carolina’s vast, rural environment can create challenges for accessing care. Initial flights in the project resulted in the first drone delivery of temperature-controlled medicines within the US. [Read more…] about Merck and Volansi launch commercial drone service to deliver cold-chain medicines in rural North Carolina

Fetch Robotics partners with Vargo to launch integrated fulfillment solution

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Fetch Robotics, a warehouse and cloud robotics company, has agreed a partnership with Vargo, a provider of warehouse execution software, to launch an integrated fulfillment solution.

The new solution will combine Fetch’s autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) with the Continuous Order Fulfillment Engine (COFE), Vargo’s warehouse execution system (WES), to enable warehouse customers to optimize order fulfillment in real time.

The growth of e-commerce and omnichannel fulfillment has pushed companies to optimize their order fulfillment processes to gain efficiencies and to do so with more speed and accuracy. [Read more…] about Fetch Robotics partners with Vargo to launch integrated fulfillment solution

Geek+ launches new virtual booth

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Warehouse robotics company Geek+ has launched its next-gen virtual booth, saying it’s the company’s latest effort to provide customers with knowledge and access to the technologies that will allow them to make added-value decisions in a time of current global change and remote work.

In the new virtual space Geek+ will support visitors with online applications for customized solutions, a great visual experience, and easy access to product materials.

Geek+, the largest manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots, says its virtual space allows visitors to experience robotics automation in a dynamic digital environment and provides them with the tools to make informed decisions on automation, in a time of urgency. [Read more…] about Geek+ launches new virtual booth

Piestro partners with Kiwibot to bring ‘automated artisan pizzas’ to your door

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Piestro, a start-up automating artisan pizza creation, is partnering with Kiwibot, the robotics company providing “affordable and accessible” delivery services, to offer consumers a touchless, contactless pizza delivery experience.

The partnership follows a successful campaign to raise finance on crowdfunding platform StartEngine, where Piestro had an oversubscription of investor interest.

As a result, Piestro will open a second funding campaign on StartEngine to give more everyday investors an opportunity to bring fresh, quality pizza to the masses. [Read more…] about Piestro partners with Kiwibot to bring ‘automated artisan pizzas’ to your door

The Five Things You Must Know Before Bringing AMRs into Your Operation

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Webinar title: The five things you must know before bringing AMRs into your operation
Early registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3016037557865/WN_QDI2ki-VRfGrRZSA5IpqYw

 

AutoGuide is partnering with Robotics and Automation News in their latest webinar. If you are thinking about bringing AMR’s into your operation there are a number of things you should be aware of. AMRs dramatically increase the efficiency and safety of your operation but what do you need to know before bringing them into your enterprise? The experts from AutoGuide will share their knowledge and experience on: [Read more…] about The Five Things You Must Know Before Bringing AMRs into Your Operation

Outrider raises $65 million in Series B financing round

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Outrider, a provider of autonomous yard operations systems for logistics hubs, has closed $65 million in Series B funding, led by Koch Disruptive Technologies. Other existing investors increased their investments, including NEA, 8VC, and Prologis Ventures.

New investors included Evolv Ventures, the investment arm of Kraft Heinz, and Henry Crown and Company. With $118 million raised to date, Outrider is positioned to scale and support the rapid automation of distribution yards.

In supply-chain-intensive industries, distribution yard operations are necessary for transitioning goods between the road and the warehouse. [Read more…] about Outrider raises $65 million in Series B financing round

Automated Warehousing: Playbook for Introducing AI to Your Operation

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In the eCommerce industry, businesses need to reduce their costs and streamline the distribution process if they want to succeed.

With the number of physical goods ordered online skyrocketing across the country, Amazon has raised the bar in terms of the delivery timeline and customer service.

Small delays in the supply chain or order fulfilment process could leave your customers dissatisfied. [Read more…] about Automated Warehousing: Playbook for Introducing AI to Your Operation

SICK’s Open Service for IO-Link Function Blocks

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A pioneering open software service that creates ready-made IO-Link function blocks to integrate data from any IO-Link device into a wide range of common PLC control systems has been launched by the sensor manufacturer SICK.

The SICK Function Block Factory is the first web-based service of its type that enables users to create function blocks automatically from any IO-link device with an I/O device description (IODD), no matter what the device type or its manufacturer. [Read more…] about SICK’s Open Service for IO-Link Function Blocks