Market trends and business perspectives
In February 2020, Alstom received an order for 11 battery powered regional trains for the Zweckverband Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen in Germany.
These are the first battery trains to be ordered from Alstom.
Offering both hydrogen and battery is an important milestone for the Alstom, as it expands its role in the emission-free mobility market. [Read more…] about Alstom considers the implications of its first order for battery trains
Chinese industrial robotics company Siasun has developed a new system for packing cigarettes which can cope with the ever-changing shapes and dimensions of tobacco products and packaging.
The company is using a delta robot to pack cigarettes into packaging which is increasingly unusual in the way it is designed, with some opening in the middle and other opening on the narrow side instead of the wide edge, which is the usual method globally. (See illustration below.) [Read more…] about Siasun develops robotic system for packing cigarettes
Retail giant Walmart has integrated a warehouse automation system, Alphabot, into its operations after undertaking tests for almost a year. (See video below.)
Alphabot, technically an automated storage and retrieval system, was especially developed for Walmart by startup company Alert Innovation.
Walmart says the Alphabot system will “revolutionize the online grocery pickup and delivery process”. [Read more…] about Walmart integrates Alphabot into its warehouse operations
Festo has presented the latest innovations in its BionicSoftHand and BionicSoftArm technologies.
Combined with the BionicSoftArm, a pneumatic lightweight robot, the Future Concepts are “suitable for human-robot collaboration”, says Festo.
Whether its grabbing, holding or turning, touching, typing or pressing – in everyday life, we use our hands as a matter of course for the most diverse tasks. [Read more…] about Festo presents BionicSoftHand and BionicSoftArm
Geek+ says it implemented and completed large-scale scheduling of more than 4,000 robots in its smart warehouses during this year’s 11.11 Singles’ Day shopping festival.
China’s largest smart warehouse network processed a record 8 million orders in 72 hours.
Geek+ says “the successful deployment is a fantastic validation of the strength of the robotics-as-a-service business model” and the flexibility and efficiency of smart warehouses during periods of peak orders, including the ultimate challenge of the world’s largest shopping festival. [Read more…] about Geek+ smart warehouses break Single’s Day record with 8 million orders delivered in 72 hours
Volvo Buses has received the largest single order for electric buses in Europe. The company will deliver 157 electric articulated buses to European transportation giant Transdev starting in 2020.
The buses will operate on a number of routes in Gothenburg.
With their introduction, emissions and noise will be significantly reduced, and the electric buses will be able to operate in sensitive areas or zones with special restrictions. [Read more…] about Volvo receives Europe’s largest order for electric buses
Honeywell Intelligrated says it is helping Apparel Logistics Group to “triple daily output” from its e-commerce distribution center by using automation technologies.
The two companies signed an agreement to automate third-party logistics company Apparel Logistics Group’s fulfillment services for apparel, footwear and accessories.
Honeywell Intelligrated’s technology and technical support services will help the logistics provider expand its e-commerce parcel shipping capability, increase productivity at the shipping dock, ensure order accuracy and expand its value-added services capacity, which includes returned merchandise management and product customization. [Read more…] about Honeywell Intelligrated to help Apparel Logistics ‘triple’ daily output using automation
Takeoff Technologies has closed its Series C fundraising with an additional $25 million in investment for 5 percent of the company, with a valuation of $500 million, bringing the total funds raised to $86 million.
The Series C funding was led by Forrestal Capital. This funding is set to propel a rollout scale across North America, Europe and Australia.
Takeoff is at the forefront of microfulfillment as the first and only solution provider with several operating sites in partnership with major grocery retail chains. [Read more…] about Micrologistics startup Takeoff Technologies raises $25 million
by Sam Francis
Industrial robot manufacturer Kuka says it has received an order in the “single-digit million euro range” from the Korean automotive supplier Donghee Industrial.
The order was booked in the second quarter of 2019.
Donghee relies on robot-based friction stir welding from Kuka in the area of electric mobility. [Read more…] about Kuka receives large order from Donghee for robotic welding systems
by Mai Tao
Ever since Amazon acquired Kiva Systems in 2012 for $775 million and took the startup company’s robots off the market, warehouse managers have been looking for alternative suppliers.
At that time, there simply no significantly well-known alternatives or proven solutions, but now, seven years on, there is a relatively large number of companies which build and supply warehouse robots.
It’s highly unlikely to be a coincidence that, in the intervening years, Amazon has grown extremely fast to become not only the world’s largest online retailer but also one of the largest logistics companies – not just in its native US, but worldwide. [Read more…] about From old mail order catalogues to same-day delivery: Warehouse robots are the quintessential sign of changing times
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