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XPO Logistics wins contract to build warehouse and distribution network for Greene King

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XPO Logistics has been selected by pub retailer and brewer Greene King to manage dedicated warehousing and distribution for Greene King’s secondary drinks channel.

XPO will provide innovative logistics services from five warehouses distributing to retail pubs and restaurants, including Pub Partner independent licensees and on-trade trade customers.

UK-based Greene King has a rich heritage of brewing award-winning beers and leading pub brands for 220 years. [Read more…] about XPO Logistics wins contract to build warehouse and distribution network for Greene King

Electric jet startup Lilium to use carbon fibre from Toray

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Lilium, a German aerospace startup developing a small vertical-lift electric jet aircraft, and Toray Industries, a manufacturer of carbon fiber, have signed an agreement for the supply of “higher performance” carbon fiber composite.

The Lilium Jet is a five-seater, emissions-free aircraft that can take off and land vertically and is designed to provide high-speed regional connections of up to 300km in under 60 minutes.

The aircraft’s primary structures, such as the fuselage, wings and flaps will all be made from carbon fiber. [Read more…] about Electric jet startup Lilium to use carbon fibre from Toray

Blue Yonder and Uber Freight partner to develop ‘dynamic pricing discovery solution’

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Blue Yonder and Uber Freight have agreed a partnership designed to help businesses build efficient and transparent global supply chains at a crucial time.

Digital transformation initiatives have accelerated over the last few months, as enterprises that ship goods embrace flexible operations to keep up with shifting demand.

Quickly recovering from supply shortages and creating a resilient business for the long term requires a well-managed, digitized supply chain, including freight transportation. [Read more…] about Blue Yonder and Uber Freight partner to develop ‘dynamic pricing discovery solution’

Manufacturing industry ‘optimistic’ about post-pandemic recovery

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More than 60 percent of professionals in the UK manufacturing industry expect the sector to recover from the coronavirus pandemic and return to business as usual by mid-2021, according to a new survey by SteelScout.

However, they highlighted issues in the wider supply chain which might impact the recovery, with almost 30 percent unable to access the materials they need and 36 percent adding that it is taking longer just to receive a “winning quote”.

One key driver behind the confidence in recovery is that 62 percent of respondents reported having orders waiting to be fulfilled once lockdown rules have eased. [Read more…] about Manufacturing industry ‘optimistic’ about post-pandemic recovery

DHL partners with Microsoft and Blue Yonder to develop platform for warehouse robots

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DHL Supply Chain has launched what it describes as a new “plug and play” robotics platform in collaboration with Microsoft, and artificial intelligence driven digital fulfillment provider Blue Yonder.

The robotics platform significantly reduces integration time and programming efforts to on-board new automation devices into warehouse facilities, while giving DHL customers more flexibility in selecting suitable robotics systems according to their individual business needs.

The solution leverages Microsoft Azure IoT and cloud platform services. [Read more…] about DHL partners with Microsoft and Blue Yonder to develop platform for warehouse robots

ForwardX Robotics launches robots-as-a-service for its warehouse automation solutions

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ForwardX Robotics, a provider of artificial intelligence and robotics solutions, says it will now offer Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) options for its collaborative mobile robots.

Whilst also offering outright sale and renting options, the RaaS subscription-based model aims to encourage supply chain operations to invest in innovation by allowing them to upgrade their facilities without the large upfront investment usually associated with automation projects.

Paul Qian, VP of sales at ForwardX Robotics, says: “The pressure on supply chains to deliver is growing with every day that passes and we know how much of an impact our solutions can have on facilities and their processes. [Read more…] about ForwardX Robotics launches robots-as-a-service for its warehouse automation solutions

Geek+ wins RBR50 innovation award as one of the world’s top 50 robotics companies

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Geek+ has won the 2020 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award – the industry’s premier listing of the most successful and innovative robotics companies in the world.

Geek+ makes the list for the second year in a row, a rare feat, and is one of a handful of non-US based companies.

The award recognizes Geek+ as one of the most innovative and transformative robotics companies in the world, having achieved commercial success through a highly successful global expansion and proven ability to enable global fulfillment. [Read more…] about Geek+ wins RBR50 innovation award as one of the world’s top 50 robotics companies

Webinar: Lessons Learned in Scaling a Robot Fleet

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RoboBusiness Direct presents From 1 to 1,000: Lessons Learned in Scaling a Robot Fleet

Featured Speaker: Sarjoun Skaff, CTO, Bossa Nova Robotics

June 17, 2020 – 2:00 PM EST

Bossa Nova Robotics is one of the leaders in the retail robotics sector, providing large retailers with inventory-scanning robots that move up and down aisles, tracking inventory supply levels via computer vision and artificial intelligence to keep items available for customers.  [Read more…] about Webinar: Lessons Learned in Scaling a Robot Fleet

SEMI backs US government initiative to support to chipmaking in America

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Global semiconductor manufacturing industry association SEMI has expressed its backing for the US government’s initiative to support to chipmaking in America.

Facing a staggering “50 percent decline” in the US share of global semiconductor manufacturing capacity over the past 20 years, Congress has introduced the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America Act – also known as CHIPS for America Act.

The measures called for in the Act include a federal investment tax credit, which is “strongly supported” by SEMI, which represents the electronics manufacturing and design supply chain. [Read more…] about SEMI backs US government initiative to support to chipmaking in America

Retail giant Gap improves supply chain with Kindred ‘Sort’ robots

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Retail giant Gap says it has improved its supply chain output by implementing robots supplied by Kindred. (See video below.)

The system Kindred has supplied uses industrial robotic arms originally manufactured by Fanuc integrated into a solution called “Sort”.

Gap says that it has been “faced with an unprecedented surge in e-commerce and an extreme workforce disruption” which persuaded it that “now is the time for artificial intelligence and robotics solutions to solve complex fulfillment problems”. [Read more…] about Retail giant Gap improves supply chain with Kindred ‘Sort’ robots