Bobcat reveals backyard makeover contest winners transformed outdoor space
Transformation demonstrates the possibilities for creating a dream backyard using Bobcat equipment Turlock, Calif., resident Julie Rummer now has her dream backyard thanks to the Bobcat backyard makeover contest. Last summer, Bobcat Company announced that Rummer had won the contest, which awarded her a $25,000 backyard makeover using Bobcat equipment. Rummer survived a car crash in 1995 that left her paralyzed as a quadriplegic and dependent on a power wheelchair. An avid gardener, Rummer loved to spend time in her backyard, but navigating loose, dusty soil and thorny vegetation in her backyard became a challenge. She described the yard as an “eyesore, a big disaster” and an “embarrassment.” Winning the contest has completely transformed her backyard into a wheelchair-accessible “paradise,” according to Rummer’s husband Rich. With the help of Bobcat and the use of equipment from local dealer Bobcat Central, Inc., as well as the work of area contractors and friends and family, Julie’s dreams became a reality. “I just feel happy; it’s a happy place to be,” she said about her new backyard. “I can’t even shut the curtains at night, the backyard is so beautiful. Having complete access to nature and my garden is freedom.” The backyard makeover demonstrated the power of Bobcat equipment to get the job done, transforming the overgrown and compact backyard into an accessible and aesthetic space for the Rummer family. “The team at Bobcat is thrilled that we could help Julie achieve her dream of a wheelchair-accessible backyard with room to garden, entertain and get away,” said Laura Ness Owens, Doosan Bobcat vice president of brand and marketing. “Bobcat exists to empower people to accomplish more, and this is a perfect example of doing just that. We hope others are inspired by this transformation and recognize the potential in their own outdoor spaces.” Rummer’s project was kicked off by using a Bobcat skid-steer loader to prepare the area, as well as the demolition and removal of an existing patio, which made room for a new ramp that the Rummers needed for their back door. Tree removal, relocation and planting was done by HIS Tree Service and concrete work preparations by Ultimate Concrete. Then came Bobcat Central with a Bobcat MT100 mini track loader to complete work in the fenced-in area. Crews installed concrete paths, which was preferred for accessibility rather than stone pathways or a patio. The finished landscaping includes a water and irrigation system, new drought-tolerant plants, compost and fertilizer. New cedar mulch was placed to prevent weeds and hold moisture during the summer. After additional lighting, a fire pit, sound system and other items were installed, the job was done. When Rummer submitted her contest application, she did not have her hopes up. However, when her story was chosen as a finalist entry, her community rallied to show support and help Rummer win the grand prize. “I appreciate everyone’s vote and everybody who picked up a shovel or lent a hand clearing, shredding, spreading,” Rummer said. “Every day can be a challenge for me, but the kindness, love and support from everyone during this process just fills my heart. So, thank you, Bobcat, for empowering me and making my backyard dream come true.”
Oshkosh Corporation to acquire AUSA
Complementary product portfolio deepens market reach, builds on partnership with JLG Oshkosh Corporation has announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire AUSACORP S.L. Upon closing, AUSA will become part of the Oshkosh Access segment. “AUSA’s history of producing high-quality, purpose-built equipment aligns with our Innovate. Serve. Advance. strategy, allowing us to broaden our product offerings in both current and adjacent markets,” said John Pfeifer, Oshkosh Corporation’s president and chief executive officer. “We look forward to welcoming the AUSA team into the Oshkosh family.” AUSA products will enhance the JLG® line of telehandlers, as well as Hinowa tracked dumpers and forklifts to strengthen the Access segment’s portfolio of equipment. The companies began working together through a partner agreement in 2020, with AUSA manufacturing the JLG-branded SkyTrak ® 3013 compact telehandler. “We are excited to join forces with a proven partner like AUSA,” said Mahesh Narang, executive vice president, Oshkosh Corporation, and president, Access. “Combining our advanced technology capabilities and robust training, support, and service infrastructures will allow us to better serve customers and enable targeted growth.” “We constantly pursue excellence in our products, services and business,” said Ramon Carbonell, AUSA’s chief executive officer. “A deeper relationship with Oshkosh will expand the reach of our products, which is an objective our companies share.” AUSA, which was founded in 1956 in Barcelona, Spain, reported sales of approximately $132 million euros in 2023. The company’s nearly 350 team members and 600 dealers bring with them a long history of innovation, quality, and customer service. The AUSA acquisition supports the Oshkosh accelerated growth strategy. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close within 90 days.
Tom Panzarella appointed Chief Technology Officer at Seegrid
Seegrid Corporation has announced Tom Panzarella as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). In this critical leadership role, Panzarella will spearhead Seegrid’s technological initiatives to continue guiding the development of cutting-edge autonomous solutions that work—meeting evolving customer needs and delivering unmatched ROI. Panzarella’s appointment underscores Seegrid’s commitment to innovation and industry advancement in the rapidly evolving field of robotics and automation. “I am very pleased to appoint Tom to the role of Chief Technology Officer,” said CEO and President Joe Pajer. “Tom’s exceptional leadership and dedication to technological innovation have been pivotal in shaping Seegrid’s market-leading AMR solutions. With Tom at the helm of our technology and development teams, I am confident that Seegrid will continue to revolutionize the future of material handling automation.” As CTO, Panzarella will lead Seegrid’s technology initiatives, including the development of cutting-edge autonomous solutions that empower customers to optimize their material handling workflows. His strategic vision will drive the advancement of Seegrid’s proprietary autonomy technology, further enhancing the safety, efficiency, and flexibility of its proven AMRs. “I am honored to take on the role of Chief Technology Officer at Seegrid,” said Panzarella. “Seegrid’s commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions is truly inspiring, and I am excited to lead our talented team of engineers as we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in autonomous material handling.” Panzarella began working with Seegrid in 2017 while he was building his first perception-based start-up company, Love Park Robotics (LPR). Seegrid partnered with LPR to successfully apply LPR’s pallet detection technology in its AMR solutions. After LPR was acquired in 2018 by ifm, he founded a second start-up named Box Robotics. Box was focused on rebuilding the AGV perception stack with human-like spatial awareness by leveraging long-range 3D LiDAR, Deep Learning, and HD Maps—in direct alignment with Seegrid’s long-term technology vision. Seegrid acquired Box Robotics in September 2020, making Panzarella and his co-founder John Spletzer technology leaders within the company, focused on the successful commercialization of the Box technology stack in our AMR solutions today. Panzarella has over 27 years of experience in engineering and robotics. As the new CTO, Panzarella will steer Seegrid’s technology and product development, working closely with our customers on the required technology and innovation initiatives, and represent Seegrid across the technical bodies that are driving the growth of autonomy across the industry. Q&A with Tom Panzarella: Q: What excites you most about your new role as CTO? A: The most exciting thing for me is the timing and the opportunity to make a lasting impact. Right now there is a convergence of several factors that is driving our market. First, the macroeconomic condition around the stability of labor supply creates an almost urgent need for autonomy technology. Second, our customers have what is seemingly an endless number of problems that they are trying to solve which lead to increased demand for our solutions. Third, foundational technology in areas such as sensors, embedded computers, artificial intelligence, and open-source robotics software have all matured to the point that they can be incorporated into cost-effective and robust solutions. This could not have been timed better. I am thrilled to be a part of a leading organization in the AMR space and to be appointed into a role where I can help to influence the next generation of industrial automation. Q: What are your primary goals and objectives as Seegrid’s new Chief Technology Officer? A: Seegrid was founded by a legendary roboticist, Dr. Hans Moravec. The company was formed around the commercialization of Hans’ work in infrastructure-free localization built on stereo vision and 3D probabilistic mapping. Seegrid was disruptive in commercializing Hans’ work—and we produced a solution that is highly predictable but requires no infrastructure changes, with routes that can be trained by simply walking the vehicle through the facility. Seegrid literally laid the foundation for the AMR revolution that we are all currently witnessing. Today, we are revolutionizing the industry again—by offering technology that can scale from this highly predictable solution which is appropriate in many cases, to solutions that offer tremendous flexibility, built upon Seegrid’s dynamic path planning. As Seegrid’s new CTO, my primary goal is to stay true to our heritage in innovating and commercializing deep robotics technology, to align this technology to our customer’s objectives, and to push our market forward for our customers and society as a whole. Q: How do you envision Seegrid’s technology evolving under your leadership? A: Our technology will evolve in support of our customers’ needs—a solution-based offering that supports full end-to-end autonomous workflows as we’re already seeing with our industry-leading Autonomous Buffer Management (ABM) solution. In the tech stack, this is an architecture that looks at AMRs and enterprise software as a single distributed computing system that is designed to solve problems, easy to tune, and is observable. By having direct exposures to the kinds of problems our lead customers are trying to solve, you can expect to see continued investment and market leadership in our manipulation stack and AI perception models, significant enhancements to our planning systems to include fleet-scale optimization, and an increasingly innovative set of capabilities offered in Fleet Central, our enterprise software platform. Q: What do you see as the biggest opportunities for Seegrid in the coming years? A: Growth in the autonomous lift truck market is a sweet spot for Seegrid. As we continue building out our Palion Lift Truck solutions—the CR1 and RS1—we focus on providing the most capable systems in the market today. We’ve made huge investments in our manipulation software—composed of perception feedback systems, dynamic planners, controllers, and safety systems over and above regulatory requirements—that will generalize to nearly any manipulation task that can be handled by a lift truck. Our leading-edge AI perception models segment the scene in real time into semantically relevant objects of interest. This facilitates high-level reasoning by our planning and execution software to ensure we can carry out the work safely and reliably. This core capability is an innovative and true differentiator between Seegrid and others in the market today and is setting a new standard
The new SENNEBOGEN Maxcab is modern and comfortable
Operator comfort is a priority at SENNEBOGEN, as the operator spends many hours in the cab every day. The maXcab is designed to make working in the machine as pleasant and easy as possible for the operator. The extensive cab update ideally rounds off the new features of the G-series and once again sets new standards. Comfort seat and climate seat In addition to the back-friendly comfort seat with air suspension adapted to the driver, individual ergonomic adjustment options such as adjustable armrests and optimally positioned controls ensure maximum comfort while driving. The optional air-conditioned comfort seat also contributes to this. Comfort audio system Noise is an omnipresent problem that machine operators are exposed to on a daily basis. The new SENNEBOGEN Comfort Audio System offers the solution: its advanced Active Noise Canceling technology can reduce harmful noise by up to 50 percent while providing a high-quality communication system. The optional SENNEBOGEN radio helmet enables easy communication with workers outside the machine via radio. The advantage here: no annoying cables, as the radio can be charged via USB cable. In addition, ambient noise is muffled by the microphone. Air conditioning and air flow In addition to the innovations already mentioned, the SENNEBOGEN maXcab is particularly impressive due to its large number of air nozzles. A total of 10 built-in air glands ensure even air circulation and a well-tempered workplace – whether in summer or winter. Driver support through safety cameras Important operating parameters and clear text displays of error messages for quick troubleshooting are clearly visible on the camera display. The driver is supported in his work by safety cameras – he can conveniently monitor the danger zone via the monitor system in the cab. In addition, the retrofittable Backeye360 camera system with its four cameras detects people and eliminates blind spots. A wide range of safety guards for every application provide additional safety for the driver, while bright LED headlights ensure safe working even in difficult lighting conditions. Amenities for the driver: sun visor, USB & cool box The cab is often not only the driver’s workplace but also their own personal space. This is why SENNEBOGEN attaches great importance to the driver’s well-being and integrates additional features into the maXcab, such as the sun visor, which provides improved visibility and protection from dazzling sunlight. The 12V, 24V and USB charging sockets make it easy to charge electronic devices directly in the cab, while an integrated cool box keeps drinks and snacks cool even in hot outside temperatures. Entertainment and safety for the driver is provided by the built-in radio, which has Bluetooth and USB functions in addition to an integrated hands-free system. Some customers had the opportunity to see the advantages of the new maXcab for themselves at the SENNEBOGEN Operators’ Xperience driver’s day in February. The outcome was overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the outstanding comfort of the cab.
April 2024 Logistics Manager’s Index Report® LMI® at 52.9
Growth is INCREASING AT AN INCREASING RATE for: Inventory Costs, Warehousing Capacity, and Transportation Capacity. Growth is INCREASING AT A DECREASING RATE for: Inventory Levels, Warehousing Utilization, Warehousing Prices, and Transportation Utilization. Transportation Prices are CONTRACTING. The Logistics Manager’s Index reads in at 52.9 in April 2024. This is down (-5.4) from March’s reading of 58.3, which was the highest rate of growth in 18 months. While this still indicates growth in the logistics industry, this breaks what had been four consecutive months of increasing rates of expansion and is the slowest rate of growth observed so far in 2024. The slowed pace of growth is driven by a significant decrease in the expansion of Inventory Levels (down 12.8-points to 51.0 which is the most marginal level of expansion). This has cascading effects across the supply chain, as lower levels of inventory led to a loosening of both Warehousing (+9.4) and Transportation (+1.8) Capacity, slower expansion for Warehousing Utilization (-8.5), and most importantly, Transportation Prices moving back into contraction at a rate of 44.1. There had been signs that the transportation market was moving back towards equilibrium. However, with the movements in our transportation metrics, Transportation Capacity is now 17.3-points higher than Transportation Prices (61.4 to 44.1) indicating that we are still firmly in a state of freight recession. There is some nuance to these movements however, as we saw that transportation, and the logistics industry overall were much stronger in the second half of the month. Transportation Prices jumped 27.3-points (back into expansion at 54.8) and Transportation Capacity dropped by 10.1-points (down to 57.4) in the back half of April. This may be reflective of seasonal restocking of summer items, or increased hopes that interest rates could come down in late summer after reading the tea leaves of the most recent Federal Reserve meeting. Whatever the cause, it is clear that the logistics industry was much stronger in the second half of April. It will be interesting to see if that trend continues into May, or if there were other forces at work causing some type of aberration. On that front, it should be noted that the second half of April is much more consistent with recent trends than the sharp contraction we observed in the first half of the month. Researchers at Arizona State University, Colorado State University, Florida Atlantic University, Rutgers University, and the University of Nevada, Reno, and in conjunction with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) issued this report today. Results Overview The LMI score is a combination of eight unique components that make up the logistics industry, including: inventory levels and costs, warehousing capacity, utilization, and prices, and transportation capacity, utilization, and prices. The LMI is calculated using a diffusion index, in which any reading above 50.0 indicates that logistics is expanding; a reading below 50.0 is indicative of a shrinking logistics industry. The latest results of the LMI summarize the responses of supply chain professionals collected in April 2024. The LMI read in at 52.9 in April, down (-5.4) from April’s reading of 58.3. While this is lower than what we had seen in any of the readings in Q1, this is still indicative of expansion and is the eighth time in the past nine months that we have recorded growth in the overall index. As mentioned above, this dip was largely a function of the pullback we saw from late March to mid-April when the overall index actually contracted. However, there was a recovery from this in late April when the index was significantly higher than earlier in the month (moving from contraction at 46.8 to growth at 56.5). Whether the rest of Q2 looks more like that fallow period, or like the robust growth we saw later in the month will have a significant impact on the direction of the economy as we head into summer. The motif of optimism that is still high, if not slightly dimmed, is reflected in the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index. Consumer sentiment was down slightly from March but remained high overall at 77.2 – which is up 17.5 points from a year ago. Consumers have been consistently optimistic on the economy throughout 2024, with all four readings from this year falling within a range of 2.5 points[1]. Likely the most important piece of economic information from April was the job report that was released last Friday. This so-called “Goldilocks” report states that 175,000 jobs were added in the U.S. in April. This is down from the 300,000 that were added in March (and the 240,000 that were predicted). Of the 175,000 jobs added in April, 22,000 were in the transportation and warehousing sector, reflecting the moderate rates of continued growth in the logistics industry. This slowdown is at least partially due to high employment participation, the 8.5 million unfilled job openings that employers reported on the last day of March is the fewest since early 2021[2]. It also suggests that the economy is growing at a more sustainable rate, and the stock market was up as traders are hoping this signal will allow the Fed to lower rates sometime in Q3[3]. When rates do eventually come down it is unlikely that they will be to the levels around 2.5% that had been common since the recession of 2008. The ongoing investment into green energy and AI has led many analysts to predict that the engines of growth in the economy mean that the Fed will set the current “neutral rate” (also known as r*), somewhere in the 3%-4% range[4]. So, while it is reasonable to expect rates to come down in 2024, it is unlikely that they will come down to their pre-covid levels. While there are some issues, the underlying strength of the U.S. economy contrasts with much of the rest of the world. According to the International Monetary Fund, the U.S. economy will account for 26.3% of GDP in 2024, which is the highest level in almost 20 years.
Alta Equipment Group announces First Quarter 2024 financial results
First Quarter Financial Highlights: Total revenues increased $20.9 million year over year to $441.6 million Construction and Material Handling revenues of $255.6 million and $174.3 million, respectively Product support revenues increased 6.5% year over year with Parts sales rising to $72.9 million and Service revenues increasing to $64.0 million New and used equipment sales grew 4.1% year over year to $228.6 million Net loss available to common stockholders of $(12.7) million Basic and diluted net loss per share of $(0.38) Adjusted basic and diluted net loss per share* of $(0.22) Adjusted EBITDA* of $34.1 million Alta Equipment Group Inc., a provider of premium material handling, construction, and environmental processing equipment and related services, has announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024. CEO Comment: Ryan Greenawalt, Chief Executive Officer of Alta, said “Our first quarter results, in line with history and expectations, once again reflected the seasonal nature of our business as the winter weather impacted the Construction Equipment segment in our northern regions. Despite the seasonality, we were able to achieve $441.6 million of revenues for the quarter, up $20.9 million from the same period last year. Additionally, activity-related key performance indicators presented well for the quarter and our combined product support and rental revenues grew $6.3 million, or 3.7%, on an organic basis when compared to Q1 2023, reflecting the resilience of our end markets and continued elevated levels of activity and equipment utilization in our customer base. While new and used equipment sales in our core lift truck and construction segments increased $29.3 million from a year ago, equipment revenue mix negatively impacted equipment sales margins overall. Specifically, Ecoverse’s high-margin equipment sales were down $14.4 million versus the first quarter of last year on a record sales comparison, as Ecoverse was replenishing its sub-dealers’ inventories in the first quarter of 2023 amidst OEM equipment supply chain normalization. Additionally, within our Material Handling segment, our Peaklogix subsidiary, which sells high-margin automated warehouse system solutions, was down $8.7 million when compared to last year as its customer base has been impacted by the elevated level of interest rates leading to elongated capex decision making. While we believe the Peaklogix business will continue to be impacted by ‘higher for longer’ interest rates, we are confident that the Ecoverse variance in the first quarter is isolated as its customer base, which is focused on waste management, organics processing and composting, continues to realize solid annualized growth and equipment utilization remains strong.” Mr. Greenawalt added, “As we emerge from the weather-impacted first quarter and into construction season in the north, we remain bullish about the backlog of work and general activity levels at our customers for the remainder of 2024, which we believe will bode well for our product support and rental business lines, both of which experienced their natural seasonal increase in April. That said, we believe new equipment sales and sales profit margins, which have ebbed and flowed quarter to quarter historically, could be impacted over the remainder of the year by the increase of new equipment supply on the market and competitive pricing pressures. Nevertheless, we intend to continue to win our share of equipment deals by selling our overall dealership capabilities and what we believe to be an industry-leading value proposition.” In conclusion, Mr. Greenawalt commented, “Despite the potential for choppiness in new equipment sales, we remain positive regarding our opportunities this year and will continue to focus on customer equipment ‘uptime’ relative to our product support business lines as well as our absorption ratio and cost optimization. Industry indicators continue to be supportive of medium and long-term growth in our end-user markets. We have a solid equipment backlog in our Material Handing segment and our Construction Equipment business will benefit from strong non-residential construction activity, increased state DOT budgets and accelerated spending on federal infrastructure programs for years to come. I sincerely want to thank all of our employees for their hard work in the first quarter. I am grateful for their dedication to our Guiding Principles and for providing best-in-class service to our customers.” Full Year 2024 Financial Guidance and Other Financial Notes: The Company adjusted the top end of our 2024 guidance range and now expects to report Adjusted EBITDA between $207.5 million and $212.5 million for the 2024 fiscal year. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (amounts in millions unless otherwise noted) Three Months Ended March 31, Increase (Decrease) 2024 2023 2024 versus 2023 Revenues: New and used equipment sales $ 228.6 $ 219.6 $ 9.0 4.1 % Parts sales 72.9 68.4 4.5 6.6 % Service revenues 64.0 60.2 3.8 6.3 % Rental revenues 48.5 43.5 5.0 11.5 % Rental equipment sales 27.6 29.0 (1.4 ) (4.8 )% Total revenues 441.6 420.7 20.9 5.0 % Cost of revenues: New and used equipment sales 192.4 179.0 13.4 7.5 % Parts sales 48.3 45.4 2.9 6.4 % Service revenues 27.0 25.1 1.9 7.6 % Rental revenues 6.7 6.1 0.6 9.8 % Rental depreciation 27.1 22.9 4.2 18.3 % Rental equipment sales 19.5 20.9 (1.4 ) (6.7 )% Total cost of revenues 321.0 299.4 21.6 7.2 % Gross profit 120.6 121.3 (0.7 ) (0.6 )% General and administrative expenses 114.6 104.0 10.6 10.2 % Non-rental depreciation and amortization 6.9 5.2 1.7 32.7 % Total operating expenses 121.5 109.2 12.3 11.3 % (Loss) income from operations (0.9 ) 12.1 (13.0 ) (107.4 )% Other (expense) income: Interest expense, floor plan payable – new equipment (2.8 ) (1.5 ) (1.3 ) 86.7 % Interest expense – other (13.3 ) (10.5 ) (2.8 ) 26.7 % Other income 0.9 1.0 (0.1 ) (10.0 )% Total other expense, net (15.2 ) (11.0 ) (4.2 ) 38.2 % (Loss) income before taxes (16.1 ) 1.1 (17.2 ) NM Income tax (benefit) provision (4.2 ) 0.1 (4.3 ) NM Net (loss) income (11.9 ) 1.0 (12.9 ) NM Preferred stock dividends (0.8 ) (0.8 ) — — Net (loss) income available to common stockholders $ (12.7 ) $ 0.2 $ (12.9
Comau new Hollow Wrist industrial robots
Comaus S-Family robots are expressly designed for arc welding, e-mobility, food & beverage, and handling applications where accuracy, repeatability, and speed are non-negotiable. They combine flexibility, repeatability, and accuracy with smaller footprints and multiple mounting positions to increase robot density without sacrificing performance. With an element-resistant hollow wrist design and fully integrated arc and gigabit dressings, the compact red robots grant improved access to small spaces. The easy-to-use, easy-to-install, and energy-efficient design combines better performance with reduced energy consumption and costs. The first two high-speed robots, with payloads of 13 kg and up to 18 kg, are expressly indicated for assembly, arc welding and handling applications where accuracy, repeatability, and speed are non-negotiable. Characterized by their exacting performance and historical red robot design, they also reflect Comau’s dedication to making automation more accessible to diverse and non-automotive industries. The compact, robust and versatile robots can easily access small spaces and tight areas that are difficult to reach with other robots. And because they are highly energy efficient, as certified in accordance with Fraunhofer procedure instruction, the S-Family of 6-axis articulated robots help companies achieve higher production quality and better performance with reduced energy consumption and costs. S-Family robots are perfect for applications requiring extreme accuracy and speed while ensuring full protection from elements including water, dust and other contaminants. With their best-in-class protective IP68 hollow-wrist design, the electrical and auxiliary cabling runs inside the wrist which allows the robots to enjoy greater agility while minimizing the risk of damage. Furthermore, they are the only robots to feature fully integrated arc and gigabit dressings, which help remove layout constraints, make assembly and installation easy, ensure faster response times and significantly reduce cable kinking, breakage and subsequent maintenance costs. So, in addition to automating welding, handling, foundry, automotive, and battery manufacturing processes, the S-Family can be easily used for food & beverage and general assembly applications. Finally, the robots can be mounted on the floor, wall or ceiling to optimize space without sacrificing performance. “Comau’s new S-Family of small, high-speed robots combines efficiency and technical excellence with the features and functionality required for effective deployment within new markets and dedicated application areas,” explains Nicole Clement, Chief Business Unit Leader for Advanced Automation Solutions. “Our commitment to making automation easier to install and use, especially within non-automotive markets where automation is growing fast, is yet another way Comau is bringing the power of automation to an increasingly diverse sector of industries and applications.” S-Family robots have been tested and certified for energy efficiency in accordance with Fraunhofer procedures and are available in two different payload configurations (13 and 18 kg) with a 1700 mm reach and a repeatability of ±0,03mm.
Seeq Announces Industrial Enterprise Monitoring Capabilities with Seeq Vantage
The new Seeq Vantage app scales subject matter expert-driven insights for accelerated value across the enterprise Seeq has announced the launch of the Seeq Industrial Enterprise Monitoring Suite with the release of Seeq Vantage, the company’s first industrial enterprise monitoring app. Today’s industrial operations face numerous enterprise-level reliability, performance, and sustainability challenges, which are difficult to systematically identify, prioritize and correct to maximize operational potential. With siloed teams and information, and limited visibility to historical knowledge and insights from previous operations and events, it can be challenging for organizations to achieve measurable impact. The Seeq Industrial Enterprise Monitoring Suite provides a comprehensive, automated view of operational performance—past and present. This broader view enables better decision-making and continuous improvement across today’s complex, industrial ecosystems. The Seeq Industrial Enterprise Monitoring Suite leverages the combined power of the Seeq Industrial Analytics and AI Suite and the context that only teams of experts can provide—all at the scale needed to drive truly impactful results across the operational footprint. The Seeq Industrial Enterprise Monitoring Suite provides the flexibility, speed, and robust capabilities needed to operationalize a condition-based prioritization and decision strategy. Grounded in frontline expertise and insights, Seeq Industrial Enterprise Monitoring helps ensure decision-makers have key insights at their fingertips, allowing for faster, better decisions and actions. “Industrial Enterprise Monitoring builds upon and elevates the Seeq mission to enable the creation of the insights that empower decisions and actions that increase operational excellence, drive sustainable manufacturing, and, ultimately, the customer’s bottom line,” said Mark Derbecker, Chief Product Officer of Seeq. “We’ve always known that the people across the organization are the secret ingredient, and Industrial Enterprise Monitoring enables a company to turn local insights and expertise into a powerful system-wide advantage.” Through the Seeq Vantage app, industrial organizations can tailor, deploy and automate enterprise-level use cases, such as asset and process monitoring, condition-based maintenance, reliability and downtime tracking and more. Coupled with the Seeq Industrial Analytics and AI Suite, customers now have an integrated ecosystem to capture, analyze, aggregate, monitor, triage, investigate, and document insights and actions at the local level and the enterprise level. The app provides proactive and automated enterprise surveillance for daily operational decisions, and a comprehensive assembly of operational effectiveness and utilization understanding to prioritize longer-term investment decisions.
The Plastics Show exceeds 50k registrants
The largest plastics trade show in the Americas embraces learning & networking opportunities all week long NPE2024: The Plastics Show received an incredible turnout with more than 50,000 attendees. The event, which runs from May 6-10th in Orlando, Florida, attracts thousands of attendees across the globe, displaying the continued strength and innovation of the plastics industry. “The energy and excitement at NPE2024 are truly palpable,” said Matt Seaholm, PLASTICS’ Chief Executive Officer. “From established industry giants to groundbreaking startups, this show is a testament to the unwavering spirit and ingenuity of the plastics community. We can’t wait to see how this next generation of the plastics workforce will use these resources and connections to foster the future of the industry.” NPE2024 features an expansive show floor, highlighting the latest advancements in plastic materials, machinery, and technology. Attendees can network with industry leaders, attend educational sessions, and explore new solutions to meet the growing demand for sustainable and innovative plastic applications.
WERC 2024: Register now to advance warehousing knowledge
Gain warehousing insights from experienced industry leaders WERC 2024 speakers are trail blazers who bring their real-world experiences with the latest technology and trends from the frontlines of logistics. Join WERC 2024 to learn from their expertise and take home the tools you need to improve your warehouse and distribution center operations. Annual Conference June 2-5 2024, Dallas, TX Register and join today
Wauseon Machine Joe Gemma awarded Joseph Engelberger Robotics Award
Recognizing Exceptional Leadership in the Automation Industry Wauseon Machine announced that Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), Joe Gemma, was awarded the prestigious Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Award for 2024, recognizing his exceptional leadership and contributions to the automation industry. The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) recognized Joe Gemma alongside two other industry pioneers for their significant impact within the field. This award, named after the late Joseph F. Engelberger, who is widely regarded as the father of industrial robotics, celebrates excellence in technology development, application, education, and leadership in robotics. Established in 1977, the award has been presented to 139 leaders globally and is often referred to as the “Hall of Fame” for the robotics and automation sector. The award will be presented at the Automate conference in Chicago on May 8, 2024. Joe Gemma’s recognition in leadership underscores his profound impact on the automation sector throughout his distinguished career. His tenure includes pivotal roles as a board member of the Robotics Industries Association (RIA), currently known as A3, and as the president of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). Jeff Burnstein, president of A3, commended this year’s Engelberger Robotics Awards honorees, stating, “Joe Gemma’s valuable leadership and contributions over the last 35+ years have been instrumental as we bring greater innovations to users worldwide.” At Wauseon Machine, Joe Gemma has been a pivotal figure since joining in 2022, bringing with him a wealth of experience from his time working for both system integrators and robotics OEMs. His responsibilities as CRO focus on leading the front end of the business, building on his extensive background in engineering, project management, business development, and sales management. Upon receiving the award, Joe Gemma expressed his gratitude, saying, “This recognition goes out to all the people I have worked with through the years. It is an honor to accept this award on their behalf. I am thankful to have been given the opportunity to share the passion that many of us have for what automation means and what it does for manufacturing, for people, and for the world in general.” Wauseon Machine is proud to have Joe Gemma on our team. His expertise continues to drive our mission of providing leading automation solutions, precision machining, fabrication, and tube forming technologies to manufacturing organizations across North America.
AutoScheduler introduces centralized warehouse orchestration
AutoPilot Central provides aggregated, bird’s eye view across multiple sites AutoScheduler.AI has introduced Centralized Warehouse Orchestration, which gives companies a centralized view of multi-site data. Called AutoPilot Central, the solution enables supply chain executives to get an aggregated bird’s eye view across multiple sites and, more importantly, rank them and take corrective action for areas out of service to mitigate risk across the network. “With the pace at which warehouses introduce new technology and dynamically change, managing an operation has become overwhelming, especially since leading shippers with multiple sites often have different Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) at each location,” says Keith Moore, CEO of AutoScheduler.AI. “AutoPilot Central provides a birds-eye view of multi-site data for centralized command and control of an entire distributed warehouse network. At the network level, the history and result of these plans can then be bubbled up to Directors and VPs of distribution to identify the potential flow issues that are going to occur inside of a network, which customers/shipments are at risk, and where action can be taken to avoid service failures.” AutoPilot Central aggregates multi-site AutoScheduler data. Using predictive analytics, it enables top supply chain officers to rank the sites, quickly see which areas across the network are out-of-tolerance or at risk and take corrective action to mitigate risk before chaos happens. With AutoPilot and AutoPilot Central, leaders can: Reduce planning time by 97% Increase productivity per headcount by 16% Reduce inventory waste by 13% Reduce intra-campus transportation costs by 31% Double cross-docking utilization Optimize labor planning Aggregate multi-site data for centralized warehouse optimization and risk mitigation
KION North America and Fox Robotics announced non-exclusive strategic partnership
KION North America (KION NA), manufacturer of Linde Material Handling equipment, and Fox Robotics have entered into a non-exclusive partnership wherein KION NA will manufacture and assemble FoxBot autonomous trailer loader/unloaders (ATLs) at its facilities in Summerville, South Carolina. “We are at a pivotal moment in the logistics and transportation industry, where innovation is key to addressing some of the most pressing challenges we face. Specifically, in the realm of automated trailer loading and unloading, the last remaining piece of the end-to-end warehouse automation puzzle, Fox Robotics stands out by far as the dominant leader with the most robust AI/ML algorithms, tech stack, and deployed robot fleet we’ve ever seen,” comments Jonathan Dawley, President and CEO at KION North America. “We are delighted to announce our collaboration with Fox Robotics to launch this groundbreaking product in the U.S. market. This partnership signifies a major leap forward in our commitment to enhancing efficiency, safety, and reliability in our customers’ operations.” “Fox Robotics is scaling and expanding its supply chain capabilities significantly via the partnership with KION North America,” said Marin Tchakarov, CEO and President at Fox Robotics. “Our traction in the marketplace is tremendous, and Fox Robotics is at an inflection point in its growth arc. We are experiencing unprecedented demand and have a massive list of bookings for Fox Robotics products and solutions. The partnership with KION NA will most certainly pave the way to capture all this commercial growth.” The FoxBot autonomous forklift is the world’s first Class 1 electric, stand-up autonomous forklift designed for load/unload operations on warehouse loading docks. Classified as an autonomous mobile robot (AMR), the FoxBot robotic forklift automates various operator tasks to improve workplace safety, increase productivity, and enhance employee satisfaction. The company started selling ATLs commercially in 2019 and is the first mover in the category. Recently, Fox Robotics announced that its installed base of FoxBot ATLs has processed nearly 3 million pallet pulls to date. “The logistics space is the single biggest market for automation for the next ten years. Converting the shipping and receiving dock, the gateway to the warehouse, from a manual operation to an automated one will drive the greatest growth and change,” said Till Reuter, Board Director for Fox Robotics and former CEO of Kuka Robotics. “Fox Robotics is poised to capture this growth in automation as the dominant leader in this space and the first one to deliver on the promise of true end-to-end automation of the warehouse of the future.”
Episode 483: Customer-Centric delivery experiences with Veho
Welcome to The New Warehouse Podcast! In this episode, we are thrilled to host Itamar Zur, co-founder and CEO of Veho, a company at the forefront of revolutionizing e-commerce delivery services. We will explore Veho’s innovative approach to logistics, focusing on enhancing customer experience and solving prevalent delivery challenges. Veho’s story is particularly compelling, given their unique model that integrates advanced technology with flexible gig economy logistics, aiming to redefine the speed and quality of delivery. Join us as we delve into the intricacies of modern e-commerce logistics, customer expectations, and the visionary leadership driving Veho. Empowering E-Commerce Through Enhanced Delivery Experiences Itamar explains his “moment of truth” was a failed meal delivery experience that left him hungry for the night. Hunger is a powerful motivator, and so is a glaring problem like a lack of a quality delivery experience. “We designed our company completely around customer experience… It means that when the customer receives the box, it’s not only about visibility but having full control.” This customer-centric approach to delivery experiences contrasts sharply with traditional models, which prioritize efficiency over user engagement. Veho leverages technology to create what Zur describes as “delivery on remote control,” enabling consumers to tailor the delivery experiences to their specific needs, thus enhancing satisfaction and loyalty. Overcoming Logistics Barriers with Innovative Technology Addressing the economic challenges in traditional logistics, Itamar Zur points out, “The package usually needs to be on the road for 8 hours a day. With the gig economy, most of our routes are 4-6 hours. You can reroute within the route, allowing us to start routes at various times and adjust on the fly.” This flexibility is crucial for handling the dynamic nature of e-commerce demands. Veho’s approach not only improves delivery efficiency but also addresses significant pain points like missed deliveries and package theft, which Zur himself experienced. “We can reroute, reschedule, or even facilitate returns with ease, unlike traditional fixed-route models,” Zur adds, highlighting the transformative impact of Veho’s solutions. Shaping Delivery Experiences with Customer-Centric Strategies Looking ahead, Itamar Zur is optimistic about Veho’s role in the evolving e-commerce landscape. “Consumer expectations are always climbing. They want faster, more reliable services,” he states. Veho’s platform is well-positioned to meet these demands by delivering most packages within one day and exceptional service reliability north of 99%, which are becoming the new benchmarks in the industry. “Our technology and flexible model prepare us to scale and adapt quickly, not just to meet but exceed these expectations,” Zur predicts. This forward-thinking approach indicates Veho’s potential to significantly influence future e-commerce logistics practices. Key Takeaways Veho’s model emphasizes customer control and experience, enhancing satisfaction and brand loyalty. Utilizing gig economy strategies allows Veho to offer adaptable and efficient delivery options. Leveraging ratings and reviews motivate drivers to want to keep their scores high. The New Warehouse Podcast Episode 483: Customer-Centric Delivery Experiences with Veho
Yale announces expanded dealer territory for LiftOne
Hyster-Yale Group, Inc., Yale Lift Truck Technologies has announced LiftOne® will be appointed the authorized Yale® dealer for all territory served by WMH Solutions, formerly known as Wheeler Material Handling. The territory change becomes effective June 1, 2024, expanding LiftOne’s existing Yale territory across portions of North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia, served by 20 locations. Yale Lift Truck Technologies is committed to solving customers’ toughest labor, safety, and productivity challenges through innovation in the warehouse and technology space. LiftOne has been integral in progressing Hyster-Yale’s distribution strategy, and this territory expansion will accelerate the realization of Yale’s commitment to excellence in delivering warehouse solutions. “LiftOne has a proven record of customer satisfaction as a Yale dealer, regularly recognized as Dealer of Excellence for extraordinary customer sales and service support in a dynamic material handling industry,” says Bob Sattler, Vice President of Dealer Business Development and Financial Services, Yale. “It is imperative that we have the right dealer partners who are willing to invest with us to ensure the best customer experience and outcomes. Since 2012, LiftOne has demonstrated its ability to grow with us, while never losing sight of its strong, family-owned values.” “Our sales and support teams are eager to welcome customers and facilitate a smooth transition,” says Mark Drummond, President, LiftOne. “As Yale works to bring the most advanced, technology-driven lift truck solutions to market, our commitment is to be the trusted resource for all aspects of material handling operations and help our customers get the most out of robotics, telematics, electric power, and more. To meet the needs of this expansion, we are bolstering parts stock, increasing equipment inventory, enhancing rental investment, and expanding our team of factory-trained technicians from 650 to over 700.”
Softeon named a visionary in the 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™
Softeon’s recognition as a Visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Warehouse Management Systems for the 13th consecutive time is based on our ability to execute and completeness of vision Softeon has announced that it has been named a Visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Warehouse Management Systems for the 13th time in a row. A Gartner Magic Quadrant is a culmination of research in a specific market, giving you a wide-angle view of the relative positions of the market’s competitors. According to Gartner, “Depth and breadth of WMS functionality remain very important factors in choosing a new WMS, especially for companies replacing aging legacy systems. Increasingly, the technical architecture of the WMS is an important consideration for new WMS customers where adaptability, extensibility, user experience and cloud are priorities.” Softeon’s robust WMS solution empowers supply chain executives to oversee extensive and intricate integrations within a unified platform, encompassing material handling equipment, robotics, and additional enterprise software. It streamlines warehouse operations by facilitating the rapid integration of robots from multiple vendors, thus fostering efficient decision-making and task coordination. Designed to meet unique operational and workflow demands, the system boasts adaptability to evolving operational needs and the seamless incorporation of new technologies. This positions Softeon at the forefront of managing some of the world’s most complex, highly automated warehouses effectively. “We are honored to once again be named a Magic Quadrant Visionary in Warehouse Management Systems by Gartner,” said Jim Hoefflin, CEO of Softeon. “We believe this recognition is a nod at our commitment to serve and prepare our customers to grow through the ebbs and flows of the ever-changing warehousing market. Furthermore, it is a validation of our innovative capabilities and solutions road map.” Supported by a committed tech support team and the industry’s top experts, Softeon’s WMS revolutionizes operations for businesses in complex, high-demand, and unpredictable sectors aiming to enhance growth and efficiency. The proof of Softeon’s capacity to assist clients in scaling their operations is clearly reflected in its own significant growth, demonstrating the system’s effectiveness and the value it brings to every customer. For Softeon, recognition of its forward-looking and innovative WMS by Gartner for a second year in a row is the latest in callouts pertaining to the company’s significant growth. In addition to being named a leader by G2, Softeon recently announced office expansions in India and Atlanta, a rebrand, and updated WMS and WES solutions. The WMS provider also introduced a new executive leadership team, and hosted a customer-focused leadership forum – all in commitment to delivering limitless customer-centric solutions for propelling businesses through the ever-changing warehousing challenges.
Toyota Industries Corporation launches Toyota Automated Logistics Group to house acquired companies
Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO) has launched Toyota Automated Logistics Group (TALG) to house its existing subsidiary, Toyota L&F, alongside the companies it acquired in 2017 (Bastian Solutions and Vanderlande) and 2022 (viastore). As a result, it has increased its presence in all integrated and automated projects worldwide and capitalized on the synergies between the respective organizations and the added value they offer to the market. TALG’s company name has been created to reinforce the added value of the reliability, stability, commitment and security of TICO as the group’s parent company. In addition, customers will benefit from the wide portfolio which ranges from the integration of automated solution projects to end-to end automated solutions offered by the four group companies to the global logistics market. As a global partner for integrated logistic process automation, TALG is committed to helping customers meet the challenges specific to their industries by incorporating its integrated portfolio of scalable systems, intelligent software and life-cycle services. With a full range of automated logistic solutions – from receiving to shipping – TALG supports all aspects of its customers’ manufacturing facilities, distribution centres and airports. It also complements the worldwide logistic solutions and high-quality products, such as forklift trucks and warehouse equipment, offered by the Toyota Material Handling Group. While Toyota L&F focuses on the development of reliable and efficient systems to improve customers’ logistic processes, Bastian Solutions provides added value to companies of all sizes through leading technology resources and strong system integration capabilities. Furthermore, Vanderlande meets the complex challenges faced by businesses with the provision of sustainable and future-proof logistic process automation, while viastore provides customers with guaranteed success through customised warehouse and material flow logistic solutions. “As a group, TALG is not only trusted to improve the competitive position of our customers, but also confirm our status as a leading global player in integrated logistic process automation,” says Nerio Wakabayashi, Senior Executive Officer of TICO. “Wherever we operate in the world – and whatever the industry – through a combination of innovation, integration and automation, the Toyota Automated Logistics Group stays true to its guiding principle: for every challenge, a reliable solution.”
Magri Group Strengthens Market Presence with GRI
GRI and the Magri Group strengthened its position in Italy with a new strategic partnership that emphasizes its continued commitment to excellence in tire distribution as the leading distributor of Agriculture Tires in the region. The Magri Group announced a significant partnership with GRI and the recent acquisition of DONATI GOMME, a historic player in the Agricultural Tire sector. These collaborations confirm the group’s commitment to the key sectors of its history and align with the objectives of exclusive national distribution, enhancing the entire product portfolio. By combining its expertise and resources, the partnership aims to enhance market coverage, improve customer service, and strengthen both companies’ positions in the competitive Italian tire market. The partnership with GRI represents an opportunity that is perfectly aligned with market demands. With a strategic focus on differentiated approaches and expanding the customer base through exclusive domestic distribution agreements, the Magri Group aims to further enhance the positive perception of its products in retail outlets. With a commitment to excellence and strategic partnerships, the group continues to offer GRI tire solutions to its diverse customer base. At the heart of Magri Group’s business model is the national distribution of tires for cars, trucks, and agriculture. Operating in the competitive landscape of multi-brand distribution, the group has found success through collaborative projects within organized networks such as CDG and KWIKFIT. GRI is a leading specialty tire producer renowned for its innovative products and sustainable practices. With a global presence spanning over 50 countries, GRI is committed to providing high-grade tires for agriculture, construction, and material handling vehicles. Known for its modern manufacturing facilities and advanced R&D capabilities, GRI is constantly pushing the boundaries of specialty tire technology to meet the changing needs of its customers around the world. In addition, GRI strongly emphasizes environmental responsibility, seeking to minimize its carbon footprint through eco-friendly manufacturing processes and new tire development. As a reliable partner in the tire industry, GRI remains dedicated to excellence, sustainability, and customer satisfaction.
Presence: A key to effective leadership and an emergent culture
The world is transforming faster than ever. Many employees and leaders are feeling overwhelmed by rapidly evolving markets, a new generation entering the workforce, and the impact of the digital age. To adapt to these changes and continue to enable your organization to grow, you first need to look within. It all begins with presence. What does presence mean to you and do you know how to experience what it is to be present in this moment right now? What is Presence? Presence is about relearning how to be in the world and fully engaging in all of life’s unique moments. Many people are unproductive and unhappy because they haven’t learned to slow down and maximize their effectiveness or optimize their innate intelligence. The impact of this extends beyond just the individual; the people around you, the people you lead, and the culture of the organization are all impacted by someone who isn’t clear and grounded (not present). There are four main areas of development to consider when it comes to equipping yourself to be present. Focus on Full Presence The working world is full of things that can take you out of the present moment. Multitasking, keeping your cell phone on, constantly checking your emails, and having many open windows on your computer are all things that distract people. Cognitive overload is the result of these distractions, leading people to experience an inability to focus and stay on track, bouts of agitation, and increased distress, culminating in decreases in productivity and strained work relationships. No matter the skill or competence level, when a human being has too many things to keep track of, it’s difficult to focus and complete tasks. The impacts of distractions and cognitive load are not limited to productivity and relationships with others either. A Harvard study found that mind wandering is also an indicator of a person’s happiness. The more present someone was, the happier they reported themselves to be. One of the most important things to do to get present is to remove yourself from the world of distraction. Attempt to implement some liberating constraints, such as turning your cellphone off during periods of focus, signing out of your email account and only logging in during scheduled email sessions, keeping only 1 or 2 windows open on your computer, and blocking out time to focus on specific tasks or projects. Another way to keep yourself on track and in a present state of mind is to know, understand, and experience what your ultimate purpose is and define what it looks like to operate in alignment with that purpose. When you do that, you give yourself the opportunity to tune in to what is important and how to work in service of that purpose. Embrace Childlike Wonder Childlike wonder is being completely immersed in the world around you. It’s about coming from an open/neutral perspective, getting curious, asking questions, and being aware of when you are judging and evaluating. Many people become entrenched in their perspectives, beliefs, preferences, points of view, etc. as they grow up. To be fully present with others, you have to let go of your inherent or historical biases. Otherwise, it’s as if you are viewing the world with orange-tinted glasses. Everything you experience is tinted orange because that’s how you see and perceive. In this mindset, you won’t be able to accept new and different ideas or engage with others you speak to. When it comes to childlike wonder, it’s about setting aside all biases, agendas, perceptions, and beliefs about how things are going to go and being curious so you can truly connect and interact with others as an “empty vessel”. When you are empty of perceptions, preferences, judgments, biases, and beliefs, you are truly able to meet people where they are and enable them to not only feel like they are contributing but to actually contribute. Master Sensory Acuity Sensory acuity is using all our senses to observe the world around us to gather detailed information about the present moment. This is especially important for communication because there are other factors that contribute more to understanding someone than just their words. In fact, words make up only about 7% of communication. Mastering sensory acuity requires using your other keen senses to expand how you see, perceive, understand, and communicate with others. Things like tonality, where their eyes are looking, what color their face is (i.e. blushing), the shape of their mouth, and how they are standing or sitting are all indicators of the way someone feels that is not communicated through their words. Developing this skill requires you to focus entirely on the person with whom you are communicating with. Mastering this not only allows you to read people at a higher level, but to also understand and relate to them in a deeper manner, which is directly related to the fourth category. Develop Rapport Developing rapport is essential to cultivating healthy and harmonious relationships with those you work with and those in your personal life. Rapport is about understanding and respecting the feelings of others and in doing so, strengthening your ability to work together. Developing rapport requires you to establish trust. To do that you need to be able to offer support, communicate effectively, and follow through with what you say. The number one way to break trust is to make promises you can’t or don’t keep. When you can’t keep a commitment, make sure to alert people affected by it as soon as you know. Life gets in the way sometimes. People will understand that a lot better when they are notified in advance of you breaking your agreement. Be Present to the World Around You and Elevate Your Leadership and Culture Presence at work is about being attuned to the task, function, or project you’re working and the people around you. To be a high-performance leader and to cultivate an emergent culture, it’s crucial that you make developing presence a core tenet of
AFORMIC showcases innovative low-profile AMR for flexible manufacturing at Automate 2024
AFORMIC, a provider of Autonomous Intralogistics Solutions, will open its showroom of cutting-edge autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for flexible manufacturing and warehousing during the Automate Show 2024, the largest exhibition of automation in North America, taking place from May 6 to 9 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The AFORMIC’s smart robotics solution is a proven choice for real-time intralogistics management, by providing automation in material handling to reduce operational expenses and increase efficiency in manufacturing and warehouse processes. The solution includes an AI-powered integrated software management system called Qursor and customized AFORMIC F-series AMRs. The company will showcase its solution, including its latest NextGen AMR models, at Booth 1019 during Automate 2024. “AFORMIC offers end-to-end solutions that include robotics, innovative technology, and software from a single source. We are one of North America’s leading providers in the material handling automation industry with one of the world’s most comprehensive fleets of AMRs and intralogistics software suites. Understanding the potential of Industry 4.0, we have designed a solution that not only automates the flow of materials within the company but also allows for changing the logic of the production process itself”, says Tim Meyer, Vice President of AFORMIC. Customizing AMRs unlocks new possibilities for production During Automate 2024, the company will showcase the latest models of AFORMIC AMRs from the F series, including the AMR F12, a super-safe, low-profile autonomous mobile robot designed for automating transportation operations within manufacturing plants. With a maximum payload of 800 kg and a speed of 1.5 m/s, the robot offers ergonomic and efficient handling of complex logistics processes. “Aformic’s unique business strategy aims to perfectly tailor the solution to the individual needs of each company. Customization applies to both the software system and the mobile robots from the AFORMIC AMRs family, as well as other devices and equipment that are part of the vehicle’s setup”, adds Tim Meyer, Vice President of AFORMIC. AFORMIC’s robots are implemented using process simulation to test and optimize their behavior in virtual environments. AFORMIC’s AMRs move materials and products around a factory floor, adapting to changing production needs and minimizing human intervention. “It’s not just about automating point-to-point deliveries. For example, AFORMIC AMRs are implemented as product carriers and automate the flow of goods within the facility and warehouse. However, this type of AMR can also be an integral part of the production process, ensuring the transport of the manufactured product or interacting directly with automation and information systems. Such use of autonomous mobile robots allows for creating of flexible production scenarios, improving the manufacturing process and its handling”, explains an AFORMIC expert. Thanks to artificial intelligence and machine learning methods, AFORMIC AMR vehicles can be autonomously managed, without operator supervision, by the Qursor Fleet Management System. This software solution ensures smooth communication with any production and warehouse management systems, as well as real-time process monitoring (RTLS). “We can indeed integrate our solution with the entire factory and warehouse environment, including MES/WMS systems, the traffic control system, access management to special zones, and many other processes. This unique solution opens up entirely new possibilities for automatic management of material flow and logistics at large,” says the Vice President of AFORMIC.