Where Innovation Meets Imagination
By D. A. Rupprecht
The future for contactless product delivery is already here, and a pandemic seems to already be moving this trend forward.
It just needs companies to implement and customers to accept the new delivery and tracking methods, along with other innovations, that will make this so.
When this happens, we may one day look back and quietly thank the lowly coronavirus for catapulting us into a brighter future. [Read more…] about The Future for Contactless Delivery
Heraeus Electronics, a provider of material solutions for electronics packaging, has launched what it describes as a “next-generation wire for power applications”.
The product, named CucorAl Plus, renews Heraeus’ existing CucorAl product and offers “superior electrical and mechanical properties combined with a better processability”, according to the company.
Dr Klemens Brunner, president of Heraeus Electronics, says: “By replacing aluminum wire with CucorAl Plus, our customers can extend module lifetime by a factor of five without changing the module design. [Read more…] about Heraeus Electronics unveils new copper wire encased in aluminium
CVS Health Corporation and UPS subsidiary UPS Flight Forward will use drones to deliver prescription medicines from a CVS pharmacy to The Villages, Florida for the largest US retirement community, home to more than 135,000 residents.
The service will use Matternet’s M2 drone system.
Drone transport offers a fast delivery option for medicines that are time-sensitive, while supporting social-distancing efforts. Drone delivery options provide individuals with a convenient alternative to visiting a pharmacy. This program can also help prioritize the protection of healthcare workers. [Read more…] about UPS to use drones to deliver medicines to retirement homes in Florida
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
Critical Manufacturing has agreed a global consulting and services partnership with Tata Consultancy Services, a global leader in IT services, consulting and business solutions.
Under the agreement, TCS will offer global consulting, project development and implementation support services around Critical Manufacturing’s Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) for customers in the complex discrete industry, including the semiconductor, PCB manufacturing, medical device, aerospace and defense, and automotive segments.
Regu Ayyaswamy, global head, internet of things and engineering services, TCS, says: “TCS works with leading manufacturers globally, helping them scale up product innovation and pursue their growth and transformation initiatives. [Read more…] about Critical Manufacturing and Tata Consultancy Services partnership to develop ‘modern MES’
6 River Systems, now part of leading global commerce company Shopify, says it has strengthened the capabilities of its warehouse robots.
6RS also released recommendations to its customers to further protect employees from pathogens during the picking process in warehouses and fulfillment centers, as well as “dark stores” – retail centers or distribution centers solely used for online order fulfillment.
The company’s recommendations span operational modifications, improvements to the hardware and software for its collaborative robot, Chuck, and highlight the availability of new products for its fulfillment solution. [Read more…] about 6 River Systems strengthens capabilities of its warehouse robots
ABB is offering “customized digital tools and start-up services” as the world gets back to work after weeks and months of lockdown as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
ABB says it is offering a “support package” to help restart production lines to support customers’ resumption of operations.
ABB’s Robotics and Discrete Automation business has launched a special package of digital solutions as well as virtual and field service support initiatives to help businesses restart production lines that may have been idle for weeks or months during the Covid-19 pandemic. [Read more…] about ABB offers customized digital tools and start-up service as world gets back to work
Kreatize, which claims to be Germany’s largest procurement platform for mechanical engineering, has received a joint investment from Austrian company B&C Innovation Investments (BCII) and the industrialist Martin Ohneberg.
Kreatize says the new investment – which is described as being in the “mid single-digit million” euro range – will enable it to expand its business in Austria.
The procurement of industrial components is often a costly, lengthy and non-transparent process. [Read more…] about Engineering procurement platform Kreatize enters new market with Austrian investors
inVia Robotics, a provider of warehouse automation solutions for e-commerce businesses, has added “social distancing features” to its inVia Logic software and inVia PickMate user tool.
inVia says the new features proactively keep workers at a safe distance from each other and also notify both warehouse workers and warehouse management if that distance is breached.
The company adds that this “helps businesses immediately enact safety first measures” as the economy starts to cautiously reopen, and have them in place as we navigate towards a new normal which will most certainly include increased e-commerce ordering. [Read more…] about inVia Robotics adds warehouse ‘social distancing features’ to its software
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
