Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

warehouse

Schaefer launches new warehouse management system

by

SSI Schaefer is claiming to be ushering intralogistics into a new era of optimized performance and guaranteed maximum information transparency with WAMAS LRM, its new “Labour and Resource Management” system.

The intelligent system is said to look at everything from individual processes to the entire internal material flow in order to optimize procedures and productivity.

It is the latest addition to the range of  IT services based on proprietary logistics software WAMAS, developed by SSI Schaefer, a global provider of solutions for warehouse and logistics systems.

[Read more…] about Schaefer launches new warehouse management system

Amazon to open logistics facility in New York

by

Amazon, the online retail giant with a growing range of business units, one of which is Amazon Robotics, is opening a new logistics facility in New York.

The Staten Island warehouse will create 2,250 new jobs for humans but it’s not clear how many robots Amazon will integrate into the facility.

So far, Amazon is said to have manufactured 100,000 logistics robots, which are small autonomous vehicles used to move boxes and shelf units around.  [Read more…] about Amazon to open logistics facility in New York

Coca-Cola orders robotic warehouse system from Swisslog

by

Swisslog has secured an order for the first of its PowerStore intralogistics systems from Coca-Cola Malaysia.

As part of Coca-Cola Malaysia’s investment of RM500 million ($119 million) to expand the size and production capacity of its current plant at Bandar Enstek, the company has commissioned Swisslog for a flexible, robotic, data-driven automated warehouse for intralogistics.

This will make it the first Swisslog PowerStore system in South East Asia.  [Read more…] about Coca-Cola orders robotic warehouse system from Swisslog

DHL could stop Amazon from taking over the world. Probably

by

It’s not a glamorous business, logistics. Doesn’t make the mainstream news very often. And it’s not likely to be the top career choice for most people. 

It’s understandable. After all, how interesting can it be to move boxes from point A to point B?

Put like that, it’s not much to write home about. But now, with driverless vehicles everywhere, augmented reality glasses and exoskeletons for warehouse workers, and robotics and automation technologies of all kinds promising to transform the industry worldwide, logistics is about to get much more interesting.  [Read more…] about DHL could stop Amazon from taking over the world. Probably

DHL invests in four new Sawyer collaborative robots from Rethink Robotics

by

DHL has invested in four new Sawyer robots in order to evaluate the solution as part of its robotics research and development programme.

The company describes the purchase of the Sawyer robots as “the first step” in its robotics deployment journey.

DHL says the collaborative robots will be flexibly used across its 19 contract packing, or “co-packing”, and production logistics centres across the UK and Ireland region.  [Read more…] about DHL invests in four new Sawyer collaborative robots from Rethink Robotics

DHL and Wärtsilä complete tests of mobile robots from Fetch Robotics for warehouse operations

by

Industrial technology company Wärtsilä and the world’s largest logistics company, DHL, say they have been utilising mobile robots from Fetch Robotics to streamline warehouse operations. (See video below.)

The companies say they have completed a “successful pilot”, where they tested autonomous vehicles from Fetch Robotics.

The pilot was carried out in Wärtsilä’s central distribution centre in Kampen, the Netherlands, where the entire logistics chain of Wärtsilä’s spare parts, from order intake to customer delivery, is managed.

As Wärtsilä’s partner, DHL runs the warehouse operations.  [Read more…] about DHL and Wärtsilä complete tests of mobile robots from Fetch Robotics for warehouse operations

Logistics automation startup Grabit ships products to two Fortune 100 companies

by

grabit

Grabit, a startup automation systems provider to the manufacturing and warehouse logistics industries, has shipped multiple units of its material handling robot, Stackit, to what it says is “an industry-leading athletic shoe and apparel company”.

Grabit also shipped multiple units of Meterit, its “intelligent conveyor system”, to a “global leader” in express package delivery services.

To date, Grabit has secured $25 million in financing from investors and strategic partners. This funding is being applied to develop flexible robotic automation solutions that leverage Grabit’s electroadhesion technology and machine learning software to provide up to 20x productivity improvement for its customers’ operations.  [Read more…] about Logistics automation startup Grabit ships products to two Fortune 100 companies

Swisslog Americas forms automotive group

by

Swisslog Warehouse and Distribution Solutions Americas has formed an automotive group and appointed Terry Krantz as vice president of sales and consulting.

Swisslog Warehouse and Distributions Solutions Americas, a Member of the Kuka Group and leading provider of best-in-class intralogistics solutions, announces the formation of a new automotive business unit focused on developing and delivering intralogistics automation to tier one suppliers and original equipment manufacturers.

Markus Schmidt, president of Swisslog WDS Americas, says: “Tier one suppliers and OEMs have already been turning to Swisslog and benefiting from our turnkey solutions designed to streamline their work-in-process manufacturing, kitting, and parts storage.  [Read more…] about Swisslog Americas forms automotive group

Fetch Robotics unveils expanded line of autonomous mobile robots

by

Company says it now offers “comprehensive options” for autonomous collaboration with transport robots

Fetch Robotics has introduced two new autonomous mobile robots to its fleet: Freight500 and Freight1500.

Both new robots, like the Freight predecessor, operate safely in commercial and industrial environments where they are deployed to automate the delivery of bulky and heavy loads.

The company and the new robots were showcased at ProMat 2017 in Chicago, Illinois, a few days ago.  [Read more…] about Fetch Robotics unveils expanded line of autonomous mobile robots

KernPack signs exclusive distribution deal with robotics experts Skilled Group

by

kernpack industrial robot small

Signs exclusive distribution deal with robotics and laser guided vehicle specialist Skilled Group

KernPack, a distributor of specialist packaging machinery and solutions, has signed an exclusive UK and Ireland distribution deal with Skilled Group, enabling it to sell the company’s complete range of robotic palletising systems and automatic guided vehicles.

Part of KernPack’s strategy to widen its capabilities, by adding end-of-line warehouse automation to its packaging and mailing solutions, the deal also takes the company into the warehouse and logistics market.

Designed for automated warehousing and truck loading, Skilled Group’s products are already used around the world by Bridgestone, Coca-Cola, Nestlè, Kraft, Unilever and Johnson & Johnson in installations costing up to €10m.

The company’s wide range of robotic equipment includes articulated robotic arms, gantry and SCARA robots for the automatic palletising of products or pallet handling and automatic guided vehicles, or AGVs, for any situation where a traditional forklift truck is used.  [Read more…] about KernPack signs exclusive distribution deal with robotics experts Skilled Group