Robotics & Automation News

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Flexiv Robotics selects Sycodal as first Canadian distribution partner

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Flexiv, a provider of general-purpose robotics solutions, is partnering with Sycodal, a leading Quebec-based automation integrator, to bring adaptive robotic technology to the Canadian market.

As part of Flexiv’s continued expansion into North America, this latest partnership will enable Canadian companies to take full advantage of an adaptive robot’s efficiency, flexibility, customizability, and ease of use.

Created to address the shortcomings of collaborative robots, adaptive robots offer their users artificial intelligence, industry-leading force control, and computer vision integration to achieve unmatched precision. [Read more…] about Flexiv Robotics selects Sycodal as first Canadian distribution partner

DB Schenker to open highly automated logistics center in the Czech Republic

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DB Schenker, one of the world’s largest logistics service providers, will be opening a new site in the Prague region next year.

The “highly automated” fulfillment warehouse will expand the company’s logistics capacities and shortens delivery times.

Along with retail operations, the new distribution center will also manage B2C e-commerce activities, including an extensive value added services area addressing the demand for personalized products requested by consumers. [Read more…] about DB Schenker to open highly automated logistics center in the Czech Republic

Doosan Robotics and Air-Oil Systems team up for strategic regional distribution partnership

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Doosan Robotics, one of the world’s leading service robot and collaborative robot manufacturers,has teamed up with automation solutions specialist Air-Oil Systems for a strategic distribution partnership across Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, all in the United States.

Doosan Robotics’ full lineup of both collaborative and service robots – including their A, H, and M-Series – can now be distributed by Air-Oil to customers across each respective region.

Over recent years, Doosan Robotics has become the largest cobot manufacturer in the industry, as well as among the top five robotics manufacturers in the world and the top manufacturer in South Korea. [Read more…] about Doosan Robotics and Air-Oil Systems team up for strategic regional distribution partnership

United Natural Foods brings in robots from Symbotic to automate warehouse

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United Natural Foods has entered into a commercial agreement to implement Symbotic’s AI-powered robotics and software automation in five of UNFI’s distribution centers over the next four years.

Under the agreement, UNFI also has an option to implement Symbotic’s warehouse automation systems in additional distribution centers.

Symbotic’s end-to-end automation system, with robotic case pick capabilities, is designed to enable UNFI to transform its distribution centers to enhance capabilities and efficiency, improve order accuracy for its customers, increase storage capacity within its facilities, and facilitate planned future growth. [Read more…] about United Natural Foods brings in robots from Symbotic to automate warehouse

Ready to Automate? 5 Expert Insights on the Warehouse of the Future

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A new report explores trends and key considerations for warehouse and distribution center executives implementing automation.

Automation is changing the way our world works, and it’s probably already a part of your daily life.

Even the ways you watch TV and shop are likely influenced by automation, from artificial intelligence-powered suggestions on what series to begin next, and algorithms that conveniently present you with ads for your favorite brand of sneakers. [Read more…] about Ready to Automate? 5 Expert Insights on the Warehouse of the Future

Outrider releases new autonomy kit for scaling distribution yard automation

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Outrider, the developer of autonomous yard operations for logistics hubs, has released its next-generation autonomy kit for its yard automation solution.

Supporting over-the-air software updates and field-swappable units, the latest autonomy kit is designed to deliver enterprise-class reliability, enable remote technical support, and efficiently service the system in the field – all at scale.

Andrew Smith, founder and CEO of Outrider, says: “Distribution yards are harsh industrial environments with around-the-clock operations, which means our autonomous system must be rugged, easy to service, and remotely supportable. [Read more…] about Outrider releases new autonomy kit for scaling distribution yard automation

Walmart and Symbotic expand partnership to implement automation system

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Symbotic, an AI-powered supply chain technology company, and Walmart have expanded their commercial agreement to implement Symbotic’s robotics and software automation platform in all 42 of Walmart’s regional distribution centers over the coming years.

This is an expansion of Walmart’s prior commitment to deploy Symbotic Systems in 25 regional distribution centers.

The end-to-end software-enabled high-density robotics platform plays a strategic role in supporting the retailer’s goal of modernizing its vast supply chain network and allows Walmart to transform its regional distribution centers to provide faster responsiveness to store orders, increased inventory accuracy and higher capacity for receiving and shipping freight to stores. [Read more…] about Walmart and Symbotic expand partnership to implement automation system

Tompkins Robotics launches tSort3D autonomous mobile robot for warehouses

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Tompkins Robotics has launched its new tSort3D mobile robot, designed to increase the number of sort destinations while reducing the footprint of a system.

tSort3D allows 6 to 8 times the sort destinations in the same space as other traditional automated sortation solutions, provides for thousands of sort destinations, volumes up to 20,000 an hour, and facilitates a single, very large batch pick.

The system is ideal for fulfillment of items for customer e-commerce orders and other fulfillment flows such as store replenishment and reverse logistics. [Read more…] about Tompkins Robotics launches tSort3D autonomous mobile robot for warehouses

Outrider releases ‘fully autonomous’ truck parking system

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Outrider, a developer of autonomous technology for yard operations at logistics hubs, has released “fully autonomous” trailer backing capabilities to its fleet.

This proprietary technology enables autonomous yard trucks to back trailers into tight spaces with precision and without modifications to trailers.

These capabilities are now available as part of the Outrider System, which automates distribution yards for large, logistics-dependent enterprises. [Read more…] about Outrider releases ‘fully autonomous’ truck parking system

Opinion: How to double up grocery logistics productivity with autonomous mobile robots

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With growing labour availability issues, how can grocery logistics operations significantly boost performance? Vincent Jacquemart, CEO at French autonomous mobile robot designer and manufacturer iFollow, offers a solution.

Faced with the likelihood of long term staff shortages and resulting rises in pay rates, warehouse and distribution centre operators in grocery and many other sectors are turning sometimes belatedly to automation. This is certainly an option but not all solutions deliver really significant productivity improvements.

Labour shortages in logistics have been building for some years, by no means just because of Brexit, and the inability to fulfil orders reliably is becoming an existential threat for many firms.

Logistics UK in October claimed that “13 percent of traders are reporting severe warehouse staff shortages”; in November the Cold Chain Federation noted “10 percent to 20 percent shortage rates” among its members. [Read more…] about Opinion: How to double up grocery logistics productivity with autonomous mobile robots