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UPS unveils new smart warehouse system which integrates AMRs from Locus Robotics

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UPS Supply Chain Solutions has unveiled new warehouse network technology designed to make distribution centers “smarter and more efficient”, and uses autonomous mobile robots from Locus Robotics.

UPS says the new Warehouse Execution System (WES) will enable faster order intake and fulfillment to ensure that customers, especially those with fluctuating order patterns, receive their products on time.

UPS and supply chain solutions provider Softeon created the WES to allow UPS to define specific customer requirements to ensure highest priority orders are worked first without manual intervention, resulting in “more than 50 percent productivity gains for some customers”. [Read more…] about UPS unveils new smart warehouse system which integrates AMRs from Locus Robotics

Gatik debuts ‘first-ever’ autonomous box truck fleet for logistics

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Gatik, a Palo Alto-based startup developing autonomous vehicles for business to business short-haul logistics, has launched a new platform to serve the supply chain’s so-called middle mile – the autonomous box truck. (See video below.)

Gatik’s self-driving fleet of multi-temperature box trucks range in size between 11 and 20 feet long. This makes Gatik the first company to develop autonomous box trucks capable of delivering ambient, cold and frozen goods.

Retailers today face unprecedented challenges in the supply chain, and autonomous delivery vehicles address two of the essentials: safety and reliability. [Read more…] about Gatik debuts ‘first-ever’ autonomous box truck fleet for logistics

China crisis: Coronavirus devastates economy, but early drastic action may have limited long-term damage

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If anyone thought they could make coronavirus go away by simply ignoring it – we include ourselves in this – has been proven wrong. Wherever you are in the world, it has been virtually impossible to ignore what is now called Covid-19 by the World Health Organisation, which has declared the virus a pandemic.

A pandemic is a virus or disease that appears on every continent, as coronavirus indeed does.

Some may have argued that Covid-19 is simply a variation of the flu. Even if that’s true, it is far more dangerous than the common or seasonal flu. Coronavirus kills, and has done so on an unprecedented scale. [Read more…] about China crisis: Coronavirus devastates economy, but early drastic action may have limited long-term damage

DHL to install 1,000 new warehouse robots from Locus Robotics

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DHL Supply Chain is installing 1,000 warehouse robots from Locus Robotics. The world’s largest logistics company will integrate the Locus robots at 10 of its US facilities in 2020.

DHL and Locus Robotics have an ongoing working relationship, but the new initiative significantly expands this partnership.

The companies have signed an “Expanded Multi-Site Services Agreement” outlining the terms. [Read more…] about DHL to install 1,000 new warehouse robots from Locus Robotics

Universal Robots debuts new cobot-powered fulfillment solutions at Modex 2020

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Universal Robots, the market leader in collaborative robotics, will show attendees at North America’s largest supply chain expo how cobots can automate hard-to-staff palletizing and piece-picking tasks with new applications from partners MDCI Automation, RightHand Robotics, and Cross Automation.

With e-commerce generating the greatest year-over-year growth of all US retail industries, there is now more warehousing space being built in the US than projected warehousing jobs required to fill that space.

When thousands of supply chain professionals were asked in a recent Materials Handling Institute survey what technologies would yield the greatest boost to productivity, “robotics and automation” was their answer. [Read more…] about Universal Robots debuts new cobot-powered fulfillment solutions at Modex 2020

Global robotics market predicted to triple to $275 billion by 2025

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The global robotics market is predicted to triple to $275 billion by 2025, according to analysis of International Federation of Robotics data by DC Advisory.

The investment bank calculates that the market was worth approximately $98 billion in 2018.

DC Advisory says changing consumer market has driven manufacturers and logistics companies to adopt new methods of production and distribution – chiefly the new generations of robotics and automation technology. [Read more…] about Global robotics market predicted to triple to $275 billion by 2025

iRobot begins manufacturing operations in Malaysia

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iRobot, a maker of consumer robots – most famously a robotic vacuum cleaner, has officially commenced production in Malaysia ahead of schedule.

Working with Jabil Inc, a manufacturing solutions provider based in St Petersburg, Florida, iRobot has expanded its manufacturing capabilities into Malaysia as part of its strategic supply chain diversification initiative.

Jabil has served as one of iRobot’s trusted manufacturing and supply chain partners in China since 2010. [Read more…] about iRobot begins manufacturing operations in Malaysia

Automation and digitalization will re-shape the logistics industry, says DHL

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DHL, the world’s largest logistics company, has highlighted technologies such as robotics and digitalisation in a new strategy, which it unveiled at its Bering Technology Campus – or “Smart Warehouse” – in the Netherlands.

“Automation and digitalization will re-shape the logistics industry”, says DHL, and these technologies are central to the company’s Strategy 2025, launched by Oscar de Bok, CEO DHL Supply Chain last week amid ever-greater challenges facing the logistics industry.

DHL Supply Chain already runs one of its Smart Warehouses and serves customers across Europe with “highly automated and digitalized” contract logistics solutions. [Read more…] about Automation and digitalization will re-shape the logistics industry, says DHL

How robotics and AI are changing the fashion industry and warehousing sector

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The fashion industry is investing huge amounts of money in artificial intelligence systems that can provide what is called “sentiment analysis”, which is similar to customer feedback, except that it’s indirectly acquired.

Typically, sentiment analytics systems can gather information from social media pages as well as through natural language processing, perhaps through listening to customer phone calls.

A massive number of data points can be collated and analysed – a quantity of information that only an AI system can process. And after processing it all, conclusions can be drawn. [Read more…] about How robotics and AI are changing the fashion industry and warehousing sector

Magna to develop ‘affordable’ electric motor

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Magna has been awarded a grant by the US Department of Energy to develop and “auto-qualify” advanced electric motor technologies for next-generation vehicle propulsion systems.

In partnership with the Illinois Institute of Technology and University of Wisconsin-Madison, Magna is applying its powertrain, electronics and full-vehicle expertise to deliver an automotive-grade, high-performance electric motor that aims to achieve increased power density and reduced cost compared to current e-motors.

The project objective is to develop an electric motor that is half the cost and eight times the power density, while delivering 125 kW of peak power – similar to packing a gallon of milk into a pint-size container. [Read more…] about Magna to develop ‘affordable’ electric motor