Robotics & Automation News

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grocery

Starship launches grocery delivery service in Bay Area

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Starship Technologies, a provider of autonomous delivery services using a tiny sidewalk robot, is now delivering groceries in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Starship is expanding its partnership with The Save Mart Companies for the exclusive launch of an on-demand grocery delivery service at its Lucky California flagship store in Pleasanton, California.

Lucky is the first grocery store in the San Francisco Bay Area to partner with Starship. [Read more…] about Starship launches grocery delivery service in Bay Area

iFollow to showcase its ‘slimline’ autonomous mobile robots at IntraLogisteX

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iFollow will be showcasing its “premium, slimline autonomous mobile robots” at IntraLogisteX 2022, which takes place at the CBS Arena, Coventry on 29-30 March 2022.

Frazer Watson, UK-Ireland country manager at iFollow, says: “IntraLogisteX provides the perfect opportunity to meet the iFollow team on Stand 130.

“We will be discussing the latest agile automated intralogistics techniques involving robots for a broad range of applications in different sectors including grocery, manufacturing and logistics. We look forward to meeting you there.” [Read more…] about iFollow to showcase its ‘slimline’ autonomous mobile robots at IntraLogisteX

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

Delivery robot company Coco launches new model in partnership with Segway

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Coco, the robot based delivery service, has launched Coco 1, a larger, more advanced version of its signature pink bot.

The Coco 1 is a first of its kind delivery robot designed and manufactured in partnership with the largest micro mobility hardware manufacturer, Segway.

Coco is currently implementing 1,000s of Coco 1 robots to serve local merchants in multiple cities, over the next few months. With its increased carrying capacity, the Coco 1 will deliver larger orders for a wider range of merchants, further eliminating the need for car-based delivery. [Read more…] about Delivery robot company Coco launches new model in partnership with Segway

Berkshire Grey secures $23 million order for grocery picking robots

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Berkshire Grey, a provider of robotic solutions that automate supply chain processes, has secured a $23 million multi-phase order with a global retailer for online same day grocery fulfillment.

The Berkshire Grey Intelligent Enterprise Robotics (IER) solutions robotically pick grocery items from inventory and pack the items into customer bags to fill orders that are placed online and via mobile apps.

Berkshire Grey’s robotic solutions can operate back-of-store, putting the operation close to current shoppers for rapid pickup and delivery, and in larger dedicated fulfillment and distribution centers. [Read more…] about Berkshire Grey secures $23 million order for grocery picking robots

Sole Source Capital acquires Peak-Ryzex and Optical Phusion

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Sole Source Capital, an industrial-focused private equity firm, has acquired Peak-Ryzex from Keystone Capital and Optical Phusion from its founders, two leading providers of automatic identification, data capture and factory automation solutions.

The companies will be merged and led by Peak-Ryzex CEO Juliann Larimer, CFO Michele Adams and Optical Phusion president Tony Rivers. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed.

The combination will yield significant technological and operational synergies as well as deliver enhanced cross-selling opportunities to a broad set of clients ranging from small and medium sized businesses to Fortune 500 companies – all seeking supply-chain logistical support. [Read more…] about Sole Source Capital acquires Peak-Ryzex and Optical Phusion

German online grocer opts for Geek+ warehouse robots

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Geek+, a provider of autonomous mobile robots for warehouses, has been selected by myEnso, a German-based online grocery supplier, to upgrade the company’s distribution center for fast moving consumer goods with a goods-to-person robotics solution.

Having received governmental support and financing, the robotics-driven e-commerce platform will enable regional producers, startups, as well as well-known brands to connect and serve online shoppers all over Germany.

Jackson Zhang, vice president of Geek+ Europe, says: “We are excited to see myEnso join our growing European customer base and view the project as the beginning of an extensive cooperation that will enable them to streamline logistics operations and better serve their online customers. [Read more…] about German online grocer opts for Geek+ warehouse robots

Swisslog partners with retail chain H-E-B to build automated micro-fulfillment centers

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Swisslog, a warehouse automation company, has partnered with H-E-B in San Antonio, Texas to support the company’s growing demand for online fulfillment.

H-E-B says demand for its online grocery services is continuing to accelerate.

Swisslog is working with H-E-B to build a number of automated micro-fulfillment centers to support the chain’s curbside pick-up and delivery business. [Read more…] about Swisslog partners with retail chain H-E-B to build automated micro-fulfillment centers

Automation is the ‘obvious answer’ to coronavirus disruption to e-grocery supply chain, says Swisslog

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Higher levels of automation is the “obvious answer” to the challenges brought about by the disruption to the e-grocery supply chain, according to warehouse robots maker Swisslog.

The company says Covid-19 is “accelerating changes to e-grocery fulfillment”.

After years of relatively stagnant demand, e-grocery services started to ramp up in 2019 and analysts were predicting significant growth in 2020. [Read more…] about Automation is the ‘obvious answer’ to coronavirus disruption to e-grocery supply chain, says Swisslog

Estonian supermarket chain Selver installs automated store technology

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Selver, an Estonian supermarket chain, has introduced fully automated store or locker technology at one of its 50 or more locations.

The store was developed, manufactured and supplied by Cleveron, a technology company which produces a range of automated item-dispensing systems, often using the word “robot” to describe them.

The Cleveron 501 is a stationary automated store that enables customers to receive online-ordered groceries without human contact. The first robotic grocery locker is situated on the outskirts of Tallinn, in front of Peetri Selver. 
[Read more…] about Estonian supermarket chain Selver installs automated store technology