Robotics & Automation News

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materials handling

Holman Logistics partners with Third Wave Automation to develop autonomous forklift platform

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Holman Logistics has unveiled a plan to implement autonomous high-reach forklift solutions from Third Wave Automation, a pioneer in materials handling automation, at the Holman multi-client warehouse facility in Spanaway, Washington.

Third Wave Automation’s autonomous forklifts offer flexibility by operating in four modes: fully autonomous, remote assist, remote operation, and manual operation.

The high-reach forklifts work alongside warehouse teams and utilize the proprietary artificial intelligence (AI)-powered Shared Autonomy Platform, enabling a single operator to manage multiple forklifts simultaneously. [Read more…] about Holman Logistics partners with Third Wave Automation to develop autonomous forklift platform

AutoStore announces newest distribution partner, Kuecker Logistics Group

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AutoStore has announced a partnership with Kuecker Logistics Group (KLG), located in Belton, MO, USA. KLG provides material handling solutions across North America.

It has experience in a diverse range of markets including solutions for e-commerce fulfilment, retail, wholesale, protein, cold chain, convenience store, pharmaceutical, 3PL and food/beverage distribution.

KLG provides solutions in supply chain management, industrial automation and robotics, life cycle services and more. It designs and builds systems to increase throughput and storage capacities while reducing labour and facility costs.

[Read more…] about AutoStore announces newest distribution partner, Kuecker Logistics Group

NextShift Robotics to show ‘no-following or waiting’ robots at ProMat

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NextShift Robotics, a provider of autonomous mobile robot solutions for automated order fulfilment and warehouse materials management, will be demonstrating its No Following / No Waiting robotic workflow solution at ProMat 2019.

NextShift recently released a video highlighting some of the innovations they will be demonstrating at Promat 2019, to be held April 8-11, 2019 in Chicago, USA.

The company will demonstrate what it claims is a fundamentally different autonomous mobile robot workflow for material handling. The NextShift solution is based on robots that can load and unload containers autonomously.

[Read more…] about NextShift Robotics to show ‘no-following or waiting’ robots at ProMat

Daifuku North America tops materials handling systems supplier list

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Daifuku North America Holding Company – the leading provider of material handling solutions – has, together with its parent company and affiliated entities, been recognised as the Number One Worldwide Systems Supplier in Modern Materials Handling’s annual “Top 20 Systems Suppliers” list.

“We are honored and gratefully acknowledge our dedicated employees who continually strive to provide the innovative products and level of service that keep us at the top of the material handling industry year after year,” said Aki Nishimura, President of Daifuku North America Holding Company.

According to Stuart Oliphant in Daifuku’s corporate communications department in Japan, business was good across the globe. He says growth in revenue is partially linked to an increase in orders for materials handling systems from the flat panel display and semiconductor sectors in East Asia.

[Read more…] about Daifuku North America tops materials handling systems supplier list

Opinion: Materials handling automation and robotics requires IIoT monitoring

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By John Hayes, Vecna Robotics

There is a frequent complaint of Industry 4.0, Big Data, and the Industrial Internet of Things. Too much data, little of which can be accessed and used effectively.

From tuggers, automated guided carts, and automated guided vehicles, there is a real need to include IIoT monitoring which defines the next phase of automation and robotics in materials handling.

Without IIoT monitoring, plant managers, operations managers, logistics coordinators throughout manufacturing and distribution sectors lack the data collected which offers real-time continuous status and health information.  [Read more…] about Opinion: Materials handling automation and robotics requires IIoT monitoring