Robotics & Automation News

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forklift

Kivnon to launch new version of its forklift AGV at Advanced Factories Expo

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Kivnon will launch one of the latest additions to its AGV portfolio, the K55 Pallet Stacker, at this year’s Advanced Factories Expo, which runs from 18-20th April in Barcelona. 

Kivon’s range of AGVs is renowned for robustness, safety, and accuracy, and this new addition to the portfolio provides customers with a vehicle that can automatically transport stack pallets.

Thierry Delmas, managing director at Kivnon, says: “The K55 is an ideal solution for end-of-line palletizing, food and beverage, and retail applications. It is designed to ensure efficiency, reliability, and complete safety.” [Read more…] about Kivnon to launch new version of its forklift AGV at Advanced Factories Expo

ForwardX Robotics releases fully autonomous forklift

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ForwardX Robotics, a global autonomous mobile robot (AMR) and warehouse solutions provider, introduces its latest autonomous forklift: Apex C1500-L.

The new forklift further enhances ForwardX’s capabilities in pallet movement workflows with a higher payload capacity and the ability to work with both GMA and Euro pallets.

Apex C1500-L will be on display for the first time, allowing customers to see it in person at ProMat 2023 March 20 -23 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Eventgoers will find ForwardX in booth #N7352. [Read more…] about ForwardX Robotics releases fully autonomous forklift

Kivnon to introduce its new forklift pallet stacker at ProMAT

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Kivnon will showcase the latest addition to its AGV portfolio, its Forklift Pallet Stacker, at this year’s ProMAT, running March 20-23 in Chicago.

Kivnon says its AGVs/AMRs are “heavy-duty vehicles that improve safety and process efficiency”.

The new Forklift Pallet Stacker automatically transports stack pallets, handling loads of up to 2,645 lb, and is ideal for any pallet storage application for internal logistics or warehousing. [Read more…] about Kivnon to introduce its new forklift pallet stacker at ProMAT

ForwardX Robotics releases new fully autonomous forklift

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ForwardX Robotics, an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) and warehouse solutions provider, has added the Apex 1400-L to its list of AMRs available in the United States.

Apex 1400-L is a fully autonomous forklift which further enhances ForwardX’s capabilities in warehousing workflows including receiving, putaway, replenishment, raw material movement, and shipping.

Forklifts have always played an important role in the warehousing industry. With the acceleration of e-commerce in recent years, companies are facing new challenges that come with traditional manual forklift operations. [Read more…] about ForwardX Robotics releases new fully autonomous forklift

Vecna Robotics unveils ‘major software release’

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Vecna Robotics, a specialist in material handling automation solutions, has unveiled what it describes as “a major software release and hardware upgrades” to its AFL-class autonomous forklift.

The new capabilities expand the company’s reach within warehouse and factory floors by optimizing material transport between other machinery and equipment, with specific focus on low-lift workflows.

The update supports numerous above-ground workflows including: inbound staging to AS/RS induction; delivering materials to ergonomic lift stands for work-in-process flows; and loading and extracting from robotic palletizers and stretch wrappers. [Read more…] about Vecna Robotics unveils ‘major software release’

Interview: BlueBotics brings warehouse robotics experts to your screen

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BlueBotics has been around for 20 years. And in that time, it has become one of the leading providers of navigation technology for warehouse robots such as automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots. In doing so, the company has become something of a fount of knowledge about the subject, and thought it would provide that knowledge as an online resource through its newly created website ANTdriven.com.

In this interview, conducted by Abdul Montaqim, Robotics and Automation News speaks to Matt Wade, head of marketing for BlueBotics, about the ANTdriven.com resource as well as wider issues relating to the entire warehouse automation sector.

This interview is available in video form on our YouTube channel, and is embedded below. Questions and answers have been edited for clarity and brevity. [Read more…] about Interview: BlueBotics brings warehouse robotics experts to your screen

Zebra Technologies expands Fetch Robotics portfolio with solution to optimize fulfillment workflows

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Zebra Technologies, which provides automation solutions to the supply chain sector, has introduced what it claims is “the industry’s most comprehensive picking solution to help businesses improve their fulfillment operations”.

The fulfillment solution uses machines from Fetch Robotics, which Zebra recently acquired, and consists of three new autonomous mobile robots – FlexShelf, FlexShelf Guide, and RollerTop Guide – and a new FetchCore fulfillment software package for order or batch picking.

These new offerings further extend Zebra’s position as a leader in automating and digitizing critical workflows in warehouses, distribution and fulfillment centers as order volumes increase, labor pools get more competitive and customer expectations continue to rise. [Read more…] about Zebra Technologies expands Fetch Robotics portfolio with solution to optimize fulfillment workflows

Kivnon unveils three new automated vehicles for material handling

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Kivnon has expanded its range of mobile robots with a new range of automated forklifts and the new rotational lifting platform.

Kivnon has unveiled three new models of autonomous vehicles: the K03 Twister, the K55 Pallet Stacker and the K50 Pallet Truck, capable of moving around the environment using magnetic guidance or mapping navigation, based on SLAM technology.

The new K03 Twister is a rotational mobile platform with dimensions of 700 x 500 x 280 mm, making it the smallest AGV in Kivnon’s portfolio of mobile robots. [Read more…] about Kivnon unveils three new automated vehicles for material handling

XPO Logistics pilots autonomous forklift truck technology in partnership with Balyo and Linde

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XPO Logistics, a global provider of transport and logistics solutions, has embarked on a new autonomous forklift truck technology pilot program in collaboration with Balyo, a specialist developer of robotics for goods handling equipment.

XPO is the first logistics company in Europe to test Balyo’s latest robotic “reach truck” – referring to its higher reach – under real-life conditions. The pilot is underway at an XPO distribution center near Blois, France.

Malcolm Wilson, XPO’s chief executive officer – Europe, says: “We’re pleased that our on-site tests will help optimize intelligent reach trucks for the logistics environment. As we pilot the robotics in our operations, we’re also exploring these applications to increase efficiency for customers and to support our employees.” [Read more…] about XPO Logistics pilots autonomous forklift truck technology in partnership with Balyo and Linde

Changing Material Handling Industry Accelerates AGV Robotics

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By John Hayes, Balyo USA

Economic policies from Industry 4.0, Logistics 4.0, and connected warehouses point to the imperative to lower costs, increase productivity, and guarantee quality. There are as many forklift truck operator positions to be filled as there are IT developer and R&D engineer jobs combined.

In the United States, 65 percent of the businesses surveyed by Deloitte (as part of its annual Supply Chain report) noted that it is “extremely difficult” to hire qualified warehouse labor.

Moving pallets is expensive. One of the global Fast Moving Customer Goods (FMCG) leaders estimates spending “almost 380 million dollars per year” for tasks that create no additional value for the business. [Read more…] about Changing Material Handling Industry Accelerates AGV Robotics