Seegrid’s Lift RS1 AMR is Leading the future of autonomous material handling
Vision-Guided autonomous lift truck boosts safety, efficiency, and productivity Seegrid highlights its Lift RS1 AMR. This autonomous lift truck is designed to transform material handling workflows, providing unmatched productivity, efficiency, and safety to manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics operations. Seegrid’s Lift RS1 AMR is capable of a 6-foot lift height, making it ideal for low-lift processes across the most prevalent industrial facility applications. With a payload capacity of 3,500 pounds, it enables facilities to handle heavy loads more efficiently, boosting overall operational productivity. The RS1 demonstrates exceptional reliability, consistently performing tasks with precision and minimal downtime, ensuring seamless material handling operations. The RS1 has been built with the same proven technology stack that has enabled Seegrid AMRs to log over 15 million autonomous production miles to date in customer facilities. With its vision-guided technology, Seegrid’s Lift RS1 can safely and reliably navigate even the most dynamic environments without the need for infrastructure such as magnets or reflectors. Moreover, the RS1 helps simultaneously address staffing shortages and respond to customer demands by providing facilities with a dependable autonomous solution. The RS1 features Seegrid’s pioneering Sliding Scale Autonomy, a unique-to-Seegrid innovation that blends the agility of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and the predictability of automated guided vehicles (AGVs). This allows the truck to navigate differently based on what is best suited for the specific customer application at hand. Whether performing long-haul routes or dynamically executing picks and drops, the RS1 excels by providing both the predictability and agility required by modern manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics environments. Equipped with LiDAR-based SLAM technology, the RS1 plans dynamic routes based on real-time perception feedback ensuring reliable picks and drops without explicit training. Sliding Scale Autonomy offers a level of capability unmatched by competitors, empowering customers to optimize their material handling workflows in ways traditional AMRs and AGVs cannot. Safety is a top priority for Seegrid, and the Lift RS1 offers 360° safety coverage. The truck has both primary and secondary safety sensing capabilities, a standout feature in the industry. While many systems rely solely on primary obstruction detection, which can only sense objects within 6 inches of the ground, Seegrid’s secondary obstruction detection technology provides precise scanning of the drop area prior to payload release. This guarantees an extra layer of safety, ensuring accurate pallet drops and further reducing the risk of errors. Seegrid continues to deploy its proven and trusted AMRs in live customer environments—with hundreds of successful deployments and thousands of AMRs—all transforming the way customer facilities operate, without a single reportable or recordable safety incident to date. Beyond offering pioneering autonomous solutions, Seegrid prides itself on its ongoing service and support, proven implementations, and industry-leading ROI. Supporting more than 50 global brands, Seegrid continues to revolutionize the way facilities operate. As seen in one customer manufacturing facility, more than a hundred Seegrid AMRs are responsible for nearly 80% of their non-conveyed material moves, cutting inventory levels by up to 30% and expected to deliver positive ROI in less than 18 months. And with fast deployment times of weeks, not months, the RS1 can be fully integrated into facility operations without any disruption to existing workflows, allowing for its benefits to be experienced almost instantly. The Lift RSI AMR is designed to not only meet, but exceed the ever-increasing demands of today’s modern manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics industries that rely heavily on palletized material handling. Seegrid’s pioneering autonomous lift trucks continue to bring real value to customers today, and as industry innovators, will continue developing new technology to enable its customers to automate their material handling workflows more than ever before.
Seegrid terminates Product and Distribution Agreements with Raymond Corporation
Seegrid Corporation, a manufacturer of autonomous mobile robot (AMR) solutions for palletized material handling, today announced its decision to terminate its product and distribution agreements with Raymond Corporation (a division of Toyota), effective upon the conclusion of a ninety-day notice period. “This move will allow us to sell and service the full Seegrid-branded product line across all market segments rather than serving a large portion of the market through Raymond,” said Joe Pajer, Chief Executive Officer of Seegrid. “We are seeing more customers desire a direct relationship with Seegrid as we roll out our new lift truck products and release innovative technology enhancements across our product line.” The decision emphasizes Seegrid’s commitment to fostering lasting customer relationships throughout their automation journeys. With this change, Seegrid can guide all customers from initial consultation through implementation to operational excellence, ensuring a seamless experience backed by Seegrid’s best practices and experienced post-support teams. “We appreciate Raymond’s partnership in our earlier years,” added Pajer. “At the same time, we have carefully studied our business relationship with Raymond and concluded that we are in a better position to deliver the benefits of our innovative technology to all customers if we do so directly and with Seegrid-branded products only. We are very excited to make our full product line available to all customers. This shift in go-to-market strategy follows a year marked by record-breaking end-user sales, with particularly high demand for our advanced autonomous lift truck solutions” Pajer concluded.
Seegrid’s Lift RS1 AMR is the Future of Autonomous material handling
Seegrid manufactures autonomous mobile robot (AMR) solutions for palletized material handling, highlighting its Lift RS1 AMR. This autonomous lift truck is designed to transform material handling workflows, providing unmatched productivity, efficiency, and safety to manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics operations. Seegrid’s Lift RS1 AMR is capable of a 6-foot lift height, making it ideal for low-lift processes across the most prevalent industrial facility applications. A payload capacity of 3,500 pounds enables facilities to handle heavy loads more efficiently, boosting overall operational productivity. The RS1 demonstrates exceptional reliability, consistently performing tasks with precision and minimal downtime, ensuring seamless material handling operations. The RS1 has been built with the same proven technology stack, enabling Seegrid AMRs to log over 15 million autonomous production miles in customer facilities. With its vision-guided technology, Seegrid’s Lift RS1 can safely and reliably navigate even the most dynamic environments without requiring infrastructure such as magnets or reflectors. Moreover, the RS1 helps simultaneously address staffing shortages and respond to customer demands by providing facilities with a dependable autonomous solution. The RS1 features Seegrid’s pioneering Sliding Scale Autonomy, a unique-to-Seegrid innovation that blends the agility of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and the predictability of automated guided vehicles (AGVs). This allows the truck to navigate differently based on what is best suited for the specific customer application. Whether performing long-haul routes or dynamically executing picks and drops, the RS1 excels by providing both the predictability and agility required by modern manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics environments. Equipped with LiDAR-based SLAM technology, the RS1 plans dynamic routes based on real-time perception feedback, ensuring reliable picks and drops without explicit training. Sliding Scale Autonomy offers a capability unmatched by competitors, empowering customers to optimize their material handling workflows in ways traditional AMRs and AGVs cannot. Safety is a top priority for Seegrid, and the Lift RS1 offers 360° safety coverage. The truck has primary and secondary safety sensing capabilities, which is a standout feature in the industry. While many systems rely solely on primary obstruction detection, which can only sense objects within 6 inches of the ground, Seegrid’s secondary obstruction detection technology precisely scans the drop area before payload release. This guarantees an extra layer of safety, ensuring accurate pallet drops and reducing the risk of errors. Seegrid continues to deploy its proven and trusted AMRs in live customer environments—with hundreds of successful deployments and thousands of AMRs—all transforming how customer facilities operate without a single reportable or recordable safety incident. Beyond offering pioneering autonomous solutions, Seegrid prides itself on its ongoing service and support, proven implementations, and industry-leading ROI. Supporting more than 50 global brands, Seegrid continues revolutionizing how facilities operate. As seen in one customer manufacturing facility, more than a hundred Seegrid AMRs are responsible for nearly 80% of their non-conveyed material moves, cutting inventory levels by up to 30% and expected to deliver positive ROI in less than 18 months. With fast deployment times of weeks, not months, the RS1 can be fully integrated into facility operations without disrupting existing workflows, allowing its benefits to be experienced almost instantly. The Lift RSI AMR is designed to meet and exceed the ever-increasing demands of today’s modern manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics industries, which rely heavily on palletized material handling. Seegrid’s pioneering autonomous lift trucks continue to bring real value to customers today. As industry innovators, they will continue developing new technology to enable their customers to automate their material handling workflows more than ever before.
Toyota Material Handling partners with Bastian Solutions on 100th AutoStore installation
Toyota enhances its world-class parts distribution center with advanced AutoStore integration Toyota Material Handling unveiled a significant upgrade to its parts distribution center (PDC) at its Indiana headquarters on October 28 in collaboration with Bastian Solutions, part of Toyota Automated Logistics. This milestone marks Bastian’s 10oth AutoStore system installation, underscoring its automation expertise and enhancing Toyota’s capacity to process and deliver parts efficiently. “At Toyota, we will always be driven by what is best for our customers. This AutoStore integration will allow us to deliver parts to customers across North America faster than ever before, ensuring their forklift fleets are up and running when they need them most,” said Bret Bruin, Toyota Material Handling Vice President of Aftermarket Operations. “It’s amazing to see this project come together, in partnership with the teams at Bastian and AutoStore, to eliminate unnecessary waste and add efficiencies for the benefit of our customers.” The AutoStore integrates cutting-edge robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence into Toyota’s operations. In alignment with Toyota’s 2050 Vision for sustainability, the AutoStore system operates on rechargeable battery-powered robots, consuming energy only when in motion. The innovative system leverages vertical storage, maximizing unused space within the PDC. While the facility typically stocks an average of 55,000 stock-keeping units (SKUs), the new system dramatically increases storage capacity—from 40,000 to more than 128,000 storage locations—allowing Toyota to house more parts. This contributes to operational cost savings and indicates Toyota’s philosophy of Kaizen – or continuous improvement. “Today, we can reach over 80% of our customers with two-day shipping. Our goal is to reach 98% of our customers with next-day ground by 2030,” Bruin said. “This new AutoStore integration and enhanced Parts Distribution Center will play a significant role in helping us achieve that goal.” The AutoStore system minimizes manual labor by utilizing 28 autonomous robots that operate on a grid. These robots retrieve and deliver totes to four picking ports, each capable of processing up to 175 totes per hour. The system can fulfill up to 700 orders per hour, ensuring faster and more accurate order processing. AI-driven software strategically positions high-volume inventory for quicker access and provides real-time visibility to enhance operational efficiency further, ensuring Toyota Genuine Parts are readily available. The natural slotting system places low-volume parts at the bottom of the grid while keeping high-demand parts easily accessible to expedite order processing time. With the AutoStore system, Toyota ensures reliable order fulfillment, faster turnaround times, and improved customer satisfaction from its industry-leading North American dealer network. “Bastian is proud to support Toyota Material Handling in their efforts to deliver even greater customer service through an innovative, sustainable automation system,” said Aaron Jones, President and CEO of Bastian Solutions. “That focus on continuous improvement and quality solutions is at the heart of everything we do as Toyota group companies, and leveraging an incredible partner such as AutoStore is that final connection to ensure success now and into the future.” While robots and AI handle repetitive tasks, Toyota’s commitment to Jidoka—or automation with human touch—ensures associates spend their time on more strategic tasks. This allows Toyota to focus on problem-solving, innovation, and quality control, emphasizing the importance of human insight in driving operational excellence. During Toyota’s ribbon-cutting event at its Indiana headquarters, executives hosted guided tours to give stakeholders an exclusive firsthand look at the cutting-edge innovations and capabilities of the new AutoStore capabilities.
Signode unveils new Transit Packaging Innovations and Integrated Automation Solutions at PACK EXPO 2024
Signode, a global manufacturer of a broad range of transit packaging equipment, tools, consumables, automation, and support solutions, highlights new equipment and industry-leading technologies at PACK EXPO International 2024. The show is held at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, from November 3-6; visitors to booth S-3100 will have the opportunity to see live equipment demonstrations and explore the latest additions to the expansive Signode portfolio of end-of-line transit packaging solutions. “At PACK EXPO 2024, we are excited to demonstrate how innovation drives every aspect of our end-of-line packaging solutions, from automated equipment to packaging consumables,” said Mike Wolf, Senior Director of Signode Technologies. “The new solutions we’re introducing at the show highlight our commitment to creating easy-to-use, adaptable systems that align with the evolving challenges facing today’s manufacturers.” New Innovative Products Highlights at PACK EXPO For the first time at PACK EXPO, Signode will debut several new innovations in its portfolio of plastic strapping solutions, including equipment, tools, and consumables. Representatives will be on-site to demonstrate how these advancements can add efficiency and improved productivity to your unique operation. Among these innovations is the fully automated SGP-5330 strapping bundler. The latest addition to the SGP series expands on its predecessor’s capabilities, now offering a smart touchscreen HMI and advanced IoT integration for real-time equipment monitoring and proactive maintenance. Live Integrated Solution Demonstrations Signode will also host live demonstrations of an integrated packaging system featuring the new GCU-3 strapping unitizer and the fully automatic Octopus® S Series stretch wrapping machine. This combination streamlines end-of-line operations while improving load integrity throughout the distribution cycle. Equipped with up to six modular heads for enhanced flexibility and maximum throughput, the GCU-3 uses sensitive compression and variable head tension to enable the strapping of highly delicate loads. The Octopus S Series uses an “S” wrap pattern to optimize load containment and minimize film usage, enabling it to wrap up over 100 loads per hour. The integrated demo will incorporate custom protective packaging through Signode Engineered Solutions, such as leading Multi-Wall™, PDM™, and Reddi-Pac™ brands. Lightweight, durable, and fully customizable, Signode’s turn-key packaging solutions aim to improve output, minimize waste, and maximize efficiency for the most demanding jobs. Signode will also run live demos of its fully customizable Simplimatic® Robotic Palletizing Systems and Simpli-flex® Conveying Systems. Engineered for ultimate versatility, these systems provide flexible options for loading single or multiple pallets, with multi-axis and collaborative configurations that adapt to various product lines. Integrating a Simpli-flex conveyor system upstream in your operation helps set the stage for a continuous flow of materials throughout each phase of the distribution cycle, enhancing overall throughput and operational efficiency. Signode’s comprehensive approach is further strengthened by a diverse portfolio of protective packaging, dunnage, and transit packaging solutions designed to elevate our customers’ operations and reinforce our commitment to their ongoing success. These and all Signode offerings are backed by industry-leading service and support. Customizing solutions to meet transit packaging needs, Signode has expanded its offering to include total support through its Packaging Plus Reliability Services programs, leveraging IoT capabilities for remote monitoring and service alongside on-site support from the Customer Experience Center in Roselle, IL.
Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. has launched a low-cost Robot with largest reach
The MELFA RV-12CRL vertically articulated robot has the largest reach of any robot in Mitsubishi Electric’s low-cost robot series, at 1,504mm, and a 12kg payload capacity, making it a candidate for machine tending, case packing, and pick-and-place applications. Mitsubishi Electric Automation is reputable for its flexible and high-performance robots available in diverse payloads, reaches, and price ranges to accommodate customers’ unique needs. New to Mitsubishi Electric’s low-cost series of robots, the MELFA RV-12CRL vertical articulated robot offers a 1,504mm reach and 12kg payload capacity to cover a large work envelope, eliminating the need for a vertical life of an additional axis. Built-in features provide enhanced safety, streamlined implantation, and an overall reduction in downtime. The RV-12CRL features internal cables and air hoses for end-of-arm tooling, including 30 pins of signal cabling. Mitsubishi Electric has eliminated the need for encoder batteries that may cause tedious, expensive maintenance by adding MELSERVO-J5 servo motors, known for their battery-less encoder nature. Safety is a forethought, not an afterthought, with this robot launch through added safety via its CR800 controller to support safety monitoring functionality. The RV-12CRL series of robots possess versatile EOAT configurations, giving customers flexibility when selecting end-of-arm-tooling for the robot, making this series of robots appropriate for machine tending, case packing, and pick-and-place applications. When asked about the customer benefit of this launch, Product Manager (Robot) Curtis Sylliaasen stated, “The launch of the RV-12CRL robot marks an exciting opportunity for our customers to experience the quality and performance known by our industrial robot lineup at the price of a collaborative robot.”
Boston Dynamics, Toyota Research Institute partner to advance robotics research
Boston Dynamics and Toyota Research Institute (TRI) announced that they will merge, combining two of the world’s leaders in artificial intelligence and robotics. The research partnership aims to accelerate the development of general-purpose humanoid robots by utilizing TRI’s large behavior models and Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robot. The partnership looks to push humanoid research further Boston Dynamics has a longstanding reputation for advances in humanoids, from extreme mobility to bimanual manipulation. The latest generation of Atlas results from years of hardware/software co-design aimed at building the most capable humanoid platform regarding physical capability and software interfaces for authoring whole-body behaviors. According to the companies, this combination makes it an ideal platform for advancing the science of AI-based manipulation skills. Boston Dynamics and Toyota Research Institute (TRI) announced they will merge, combining two world leaders in artificial intelligence and robotics. The research partnership aims to accelerate the development of general-purpose humanoid robots by utilizing TRI’s large behavior models and Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robot. “There has never been a more exciting time for the robotics industry, and we look forward to working with TRI to accelerate the development of general-purpose humanoids,” said Robert Playter, CEO of Boston Dynamics. “This partnership is an example of two companies with a strong research-and-development foundation coming together to work on many complex challenges and build useful robots that solve real-world problems.” Concurrently, TRI is widely recognized as a leader in rapidly advancing large behavior models (LBMs) for robotics. This includes work on diffusion policy, which, according to the company, pioneered the successful application of generative AI to advance dexterous manipulation capabilities in robotics. TRI has also played a leading role in developing open-source robot AI models and datasets. Leveraging additional strength in computer vision and large-language model training, TRI’s work on LBMs aims to achieve multi-task, vision-and-language-conditioned foundation models for dexterous manipulation. “Recent advances in AI and machine learning hold tremendous potential for advancing physical intelligence,” said Gill Pratt, chief scientist for Toyota and CEO of TRI. “The opportunity to implement TRI’s state-of-the-art AI technology on Boston Dynamics’ hardware is game-changing for each of our organizations as we work to amplify people and improve quality of life.” Scott Kuindersma, senior director of Robotics Research at Boston Dynamics, and Russ Tedrake, vice president of Robotics Research at Toyota Research Institute, will co-lead the Boston-based research partnership. The project is designed to leverage the strengths and expertise of each partner equally. The physical capabilities of the new electric Atlas robot, coupled with the ability to programmatically command and teleoperate a broad range of whole-body bimanual manipulation behaviors, will allow research teams to deploy the robot across a range of tasks and collect data on its performance. This data will, in turn, be used to support the training of advanced LBMs, utilizing rigorous hardware and simulation evaluation to demonstrate that large, pre-trained models can enable the rapid acquisition of new robust, dexterous, whole-body skills. The joint team will also research to answer fundamental training questions for humanoid robots, the ability of research models to leverage whole-body sensing, understanding of human-robot interaction, and safety/assurance cases to support these new capabilities.
Seegrid’s Lift RS1 AMR looks to the future of Autonomous Material Handling
Seegrid manufactures autonomous mobile robot (AMR) solutions for palletized material handling, highlighting its Lift RS1 AMR. This autonomous lift truck is designed to transform material handling workflows, providing unmatched productivity, efficiency, and safety to manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics operations. Seegrid’s Lift RS1 AMR is capable of a 6-foot lift height, making it ideal for low-lift processes across the most prevalent industrial facility applications. A payload capacity of 3,500 pounds enables facilities to handle heavy loads more efficiently, boosting overall operational productivity. The RS1 demonstrates exceptional reliability, consistently performing tasks with precision and minimal downtime, ensuring seamless material handling operations. The RS1 has been built with the same proven technology stack, enabling Seegrid AMRs to log over 15 million autonomous production miles in customer facilities. With its vision-guided technology, Seegrid’s Lift RS1 can safely and reliably navigate even the most dynamic environments without requiring infrastructure such as magnets or reflectors. Moreover, the RS1 helps simultaneously address staffing shortages and respond to customer demands by providing facilities with a dependable autonomous solution. The RS1 features Seegrid’s pioneering Sliding Scale Autonomy, a unique-to-Seegrid innovation that blends the agility of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and the predictability of automated guided vehicles (AGVs). This allows the truck to navigate differently based on what is best suited for the specific customer application at hand. Whether performing long-haul routes or dynamically executing picks and drops, the RS1 excels by providing both the predictability and agility required by modern manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics environments. Equipped with LiDAR-based SLAM technology, the RS1 plans dynamic routes based on real-time perception feedback, ensuring reliable picks and drops without explicit training. Sliding Scale Autonomy offers a level of capability unmatched by competitors, empowering customers to optimize their material handling workflows in ways traditional AMRs and AGVs cannot. Safety is a top priority for Seegrid, and the Lift RS1 offers 360° safety coverage. The truck has primary and secondary safety sensing capabilities, which is a standout feature in the industry. While many systems rely solely on primary obstruction detection, which can only sense objects within 6 inches of the ground, Seegrid’s secondary obstruction detection technology precisely scans the drop area before payload release. This guarantees an extra layer of safety, ensuring accurate pallet drops and further reducing the risk of errors. Seegrid continues to deploy its proven and trusted AMRs in live customer environments—with hundreds of successful deployments and thousands of AMRs—transforming how customer facilities operate without a reportable or recordable safety incident. Beyond offering pioneering autonomous solutions, Seegrid prides itself on its ongoing service and support, proven implementations, and industry-leading ROI. Supporting more than 50 global brands, Seegrid continues revolutionizing how facilities operate. As seen in one customer manufacturing facility, more than a hundred Seegrid AMRs are responsible for nearly 80% of their non-conveyed material moves, cutting inventory levels by up to 30% and expected to deliver positive ROI in less than 18 months. With fast deployment times of weeks, not months, the RS1 can be fully integrated into facility operations without disrupting existing workflows, allowing its benefits to be experienced almost instantly. The Lift RSI AMR is designed to meet and exceed the ever-increasing demands of today’s modern manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics industries that rely heavily on palletized material handling. Seegrid’s pioneering autonomous lift trucks continue to bring real value to customers today. As industry innovators, they will continue developing new technology to enable their customers to automate their material handling workflows more than ever.
Elevating your Business with AI
I’m thrilled to join Material Handling Wholesaler as their newest columnist. I jumped at the opportunity when Garry Bartecki suggested I help address readers’ AI-related questions. As a Partner at Connor Group, I’ve led many business transformations, technology strategies, and automation efforts, enabling companies of various sizes to grow, drive profitability, and improve cash flow. This experience has given me firsthand exposure to the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation. As a guest columnist, I’m excited to share how even the simplest forms of AI can be transformative, making our organizations more efficient and resilient. Current Trends in AI Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology allows computers to perform tasks that traditionally require human intelligence, such as reading, writing, pattern recognition, problem-solving, and decision-making. Additionally, the AI ecosystem is broad, encompassing a variety of technologies with different capabilities. Here are a few important technologies to be aware of: Generative AI (GenAI) can create new content, such as text, images, or music, by analyzing and mimicking patterns from existing data. It “generates” new outputs based on the information it has learned. Machine Learning (ML) is a method of teaching computers to learn from past data to make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed. For example, ML can analyze past sales data to forecast future sales. Large Language Models (LLMs) are advanced AI models trained on vast amounts of text data. It can understand and generate human-like text, making it useful for tasks like answering questions, writing essays, reading documents, or summarizing information. Although AI technology might seem complex and unapproachable, it’s already embedded in many applications we use daily. For instance, Netflix employs ML to recommend shows based on your watch history, and Amazon uses GenAI to summarize product reviews. These AI-enabled functions contribute to a seamless and user-friendly experience. However, it’s not only tech consumers who benefit from AI; numerous organizations are also reaping its rewards. A recent Connor Group survey found that 78% of respondents plan to adopt AI, highlighting that this technology is here to stay. Practical Applications of AI A common misconception is that large IT departments and expensive resources are required to implement AI in your organization. This does not have to be the case—there are several tools that are relatively inexpensive, easy to deploy, and can significantly increase efficiency and productivity. Here are some practical uses for AI in your daily operations: Simpler uses: ChatGPT and other LLM-powered Chatbots can be leveraged for the following tasks: Document & Content Creation: Generate detailed policies, standard operating procedures, marketing materials, emails, etc. Document Summarization & Data Extraction: Transform lengthy contracts into digestible summaries, highlighting key terms and pull data points (e.g., prices, products) with ease. How-to Guide: Are you struggling to figure something out? Ask your AI—it can recommend step-by-step technical guides, ways to solve system issues, etc. Meeting Assistant: Use AI capabilities within communication tools like Zoom and Teams, for automated summaries and action lists. More complex uses for AI: Accounts Payable Automation: Automate vendor invoice processing and matching to purchase orders. Predictive Analytics: Examine past data and predict future outcomes such as customer upsell, potential machine issues, product returns, etc. Recommendations: Optimize warehouse operations and recommend on-hand inventory and/or buying levels. Customer service management: Support your agents with quicker access to large volumes of technical documents or facilitate direct customer interactions for support or sales. These are just a few examples and there are countless ways organizations can start utilizing AI to realize meaningful gains. Which Tools Should You Start With? To embark on your AI journey, start by exploring accessible AI tools with straightforward use cases. Here are several options to consider as you explore AI technologies: Chatbots like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Edge Chat (included in your Microsoft Edge browser), and Claude – most of these are available in free, premium, and enterprise versions. Microsoft Copilot provides AI across all Microsoft Office products (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.). It is available for individuals or company accounts with a qualifying Microsoft 365 plan. Purpose-built tools help with specific tasks such as document management or customer service applications. An example is VIVI from KSG, which can help organizations (typically $50M+ in annual revenue) with sales, support, customer services, etc. AI in your existing system. Most modern technologies are rapidly adding AI capabilities, so I recommend reaching out to your software providers. You might get some exciting features for free! A Few Words of Caution The top two concerns surrounding AI are the AI making mistakes and data confidentiality. Firstly, if you are using Generative AI, you will find that most of the time, it provides accurate information. However, at times, it can hallucinate, providing inaccurate or entirely made-up information. You must always ensure there is a human-in-the-loop – someone to review the AI-generated outputs to ensure they are accurate, especially for business-critical decisions. Secondly, many of these AI technologies can gather, save, and use the data you provide, which could include sensitive or proprietary information. Enterprise versions, purpose-built tools, and applications from Microsoft tend to be more secure. Ensure you understand how any data you input is being used, and be extra careful with any private or highly confidential information. There are very secure AI options – make sure you know how your AI tools operate. Future Trends and Best Practices In summary, AI is a practical tool that offers many benefits that are accessible to businesses of all sizes. Looking ahead, AI integration in daily operations will become increasingly sophisticated, with advancements in predictive analytics, AI assistants, and robotics. Staying informed is the key to staying ahead—invest some time each week to explore AI developments on LinkedIn (feel free to follow me), read my upcoming articles, and subscribe to AI newsletters. If you have any questions, contact me at ai_automation@connorgp.com. I would be happy to answer them. About the Author: Jason Pikoos is a Managing Partner and leads Connor Group’s Technology and Innovation, including AI-driven solutions. He brings over 20 years of accounting, operational,
Cyclonaire welcomes Scott Berner as Channel Sales Manager
Cyclonaire has announced the appointment of Scott Berner as Channel Sales Manager. In this newly established role, Scott will lead our commercial relationships with Manufacturer Representatives and drive initiatives to enhance year-over-year sales of Cyclonaire systems. Scott brings a robust background to this position, with six years of experience at Cyclonaire and over 15 years in the bulk material handling industry. His previous roles at ASI, CST Storage, and STT Enviro Corp have equipped him with a deep understanding of the industry and a network of valuable connections. Scott’s return to Cyclonaire is marked by his extensive expertise and strong relationships with our Manufacturer’s Rep Network and key accounts. In addition to his new role, Scott will also take on the responsibilities of Business Development Manager for Cyclonaire’s Rail Sanding sector. His strategic vision and industry expertise make him an excellent choice for advancing our rail sanding initiatives. “Scott’s comprehensive understanding of the rail industry and his proven ability to drive results make him an outstanding addition to our team,” said Jay Anzelmo, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “We are confident that his leadership will propel us to new achievements in the Rail Sanding sector and enhance the value we deliver to our clients.” Scott holds a degree from the University of Nebraska and is enthusiastic about contributing to Cyclonaire’s continued success. Please join us in welcoming Scott Berner to the team. We are excited about his leadership’s positive impact on our sales efforts and market presence.
Swisslog’s SynQ powered AutoStore solution to automate parts distribution for Komatsu’s Tennessee distribution center
Swisslog, a provider of best-in-class warehouse automation and software, has announced that Komatsu will install a Swisslog automation solution within its Ripley, Tennessee, distribution center to meet its growing omnichannel distribution needs. Designed by Swisslog experts, the solution features the AutoStore system optimized by Swisslog’s SynQ software. It is expected to be operational by January 2025. The automation solution from Swisslog supports Komatsu’s emphasis on innovation and will enable its state-of-the-art parts and service program in the USA. It will be the second system globally with Swisslog’s integration of AutoStore and SynQ, with the first system being installed in Australia in 2024. The existing 685,00 square-foot Ripley, Tennessee distribution center is a critical hub for parts and equipment, containing parts needed for Komatsu’s heavy construction equipment. The automation solution, which comprises 16,000 bins and nine robots, is designed to help ensure timely delivery for its dealers and end customers. Swisslog automation experts worked with Komatsu to integrate the system into the existing facility and operations so that it would not interrupt existing operations. The automation solution to be deployed in the facility operates on Swisslog’s SynQ software. This software provides warehouse execution, material flow, and automation control system functionality in a single, modular platform. It can integrate seamlessly with existing warehouse management systems (WMS) to orchestrate the material flow. “We are thrilled to partner with Komatsu to automate its second distribution center globally with AutoStore and our SynQ software to help ensure fast turnaround times for parts delivery,” said Sean Wallingford, president and CEO of Swisslog Americas. “We designed the automation solution to easily grow as the need for capacity is expected to increase. The system helps ensure continuous operation as Komatsu expands capacity to handle more parts.” As an experienced integrator of AutoStore, Swisslog currently has over 400 AutoStore projects in over 26 countries.
Emerson to help drive greater industrial edge interoperability
The company brings a deep legacy of driving industry standards to the Margo initiative, enabling more flexible, scalable automation for customers Global automation and technology provider Emerson joins the Linux Foundation’s Margo, a new open-standard initiative designed to make edge applications, devices, and orchestration software work seamlessly across multi-vendor industrial automation environments. As process and discrete manufacturers implement enhanced digitalization, they encounter challenges at the edge due to multi-vendor and multi-technology devices, apps, and orchestration environments that do not easily integrate. The Margo initiative addresses these challenges through the creation of practical reference implementations, open standards, and testing toolkits. This approach will help remove obstacles and simplify the process of building, deploying, scaling, and operating complex, multi-vendor industrial edge environments, helping manufacturers of all sizes build new and better digital operations or modernize existing ones. “The modern OT edge is the backbone of our next-generation automation architecture, enabling the availability of data and computing closest to where it is needed,” said Peter Zornio, Emerson’s chief technology officer. “Successful implementation will require open edge standards that will enable scalable, simplified, and seamless interoperability among applications, edge devices, and orchestration software – no matter the vendor technology. “Emerson is pleased to join the Margo initiative to help create a unified and cohesive edge management ecosystem. Our collective progress will make it easier, faster, and less costly for our customers to develop digital transformation programs that realize the full potential of AI, machine learning, and analytics at the edge.” The Margo initiative complements Emerson’s Boundless Automation™ vision for a next-generation, modern automation architecture designed to break down data silos and enable computing power where it is best suited, whether that’s in the field, edge, or cloud. Drawing its name from the Latin word for edge, Margo is supported by some of the largest automation providers globally. Emerson joins Margo as a steering member along with industry peers to develop open and secure edge interoperability standards for industrial automation ecosystems. The Margo project represents a significant industry collaboration to define mechanisms for interoperable orchestration of edge applications, workloads, and devices. It will deliver the promise of interoperability through an open standard, reference implementation, and comprehensive compliance testing toolkit. More details on the project can be found at margo.org.
Seegrid announces closing of $50M Series D investment
Seegrid Corporation, a provider of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for pallet material handling, today announced the successful closure of its $50M Series D investment round, funded by its existing lead investors Giant Eagle Incorporated and G2 Venture Partners, as well as smaller investments from other existing shareholders. The investment allows Seegrid to accelerate its autonomous lift truck market initiatives, generating more growth than expected in a market projected to reach nearly $3.5B by 2027 (Interact Analysis, Mobile Robots – 2023). “We are thrilled to have secured this additional funding from our investors. It enables us to drive our innovative AMR technology and solutions into the market faster, delivering even more value to our customers sooner,” said Seegrid’s CEO and President, Joe Pajer. “In addition, this investment is a testament to our investors’ confidence in our vision, the strength of our leading-edge AMR technology and solutions, and the accelerating market traction we are achieving. Seegrid pioneered and remains the leader in the autonomous tow tractor market. We are revolutionizing the industry again as we successfully develop, manufacture, and deploy innovative new autonomous lift truck solutions.” “Unrelenting labor shortages and wage inflation, accompanied by increasing consumer demand, are driving rapid market adoption of autonomous technologies in manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics,” continued Pajer. “This is particularly true in the area of palletized material flows, which are addressed by Seegrid’s autonomous tow tractors and lift trucks. This market segment is just now ‘coming into its own,’ and Seegrid is a clear leader. “Seegrid is leading this market in part because of innovative technologies we have introduced in the last six months, including Sliding Scale Autonomy, which provides high levels of both flexibility and predictability in autonomous navigation and manipulation, and Enhanced Pallet and Payload Detection, which enables reliable recognition and manipulation of the broad range of payloads required by world-class manufacturers. In addition, Seegrid is on track to introduce its second autonomous lift truck later this year. The CR1 will lift even heavier payloads to heights of up to 15 feet. When these unique-to-Seegrid technologies are combined with decades of industry-leading deployment experience acquired from our leadership in the autonomous tow tractor market, we are chosen again and again by blue-chip customers who seek autonomous solutions that work in the real world.” This recent funding marks a significant milestone for Seegrid, underscoring its leadership in the AMR space and setting the stage for continued success and innovation in the future of material handling automation.
Episode 515: Mujin tackles warehouse industry challenges
In this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, Kevin sits down with Josh Cloer, the Director of Sales at Mujin. Mujin, a robotics technology company initially founded in Tokyo, has been at the forefront of developing cutting-edge solutions that address some of the most pressing challenges in warehouse operations. From the company’s revolutionary MujinController to their groundbreaking TruckBot, Josh delves into the advancements shaping the future of warehousing, emphasizing the importance of integrating intelligent control systems to maximize efficiency and reduce manual labor. The Mujin Controller Enables Smart Automation At the heart of Mujin’s technology is the Mujin Controller, a sophisticated brain that powers their robotic solutions. Josh highlights how this controller has transformed how the industry approaches warehouse automation. “The concept behind the Mujin controller is really that you no longer have to very directly describe how to move the things as the person that’s programming the system. It’s really a digital twin. Once the Mujin controller has an understanding of the surroundings, there are these real-time motion planning aspects. So there’s no predetermined route that the robot’s going to take to move from point A to point B.” he explains. Unlike traditional systems that require explicit programming, the controller operates through real-time motion planning, allowing robots to adapt on the fly to their environment. For robots like Mujin’s TruckBot, this means they can autonomously determine the best way to accomplish tasks such as unloading containers or mixed palletizing. The controller’s ability to “know itself and its surroundings” marks a significant leap towards fully autonomous warehouse operations. Tackling Warehouse Industry Challenges Mujin’s Truckbot has gained significant attention for its ability to automate one of the most challenging jobs in warehousing—unloading floor-loaded containers. Josh shares that customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with the Truckbot effectively addressing the “back-breaking work” of case handling. By pairing the Truckbot with robotic palletizers, Mujin offers a comprehensive solution that not only unloads containers but also palletizes goods, significantly reducing the need for manual labor. “It’s solving the challenges it’s meant to solve, and we also get a lot of folks asking can you do this and that” Josh notes, emphasizing the importance of integrating robotics across the warehouse workflow to achieve maximum efficiency.” Flexible Automation for the Warehouse Industry Looking ahead, Josh discusses Mujin’s focus on making automation more accessible to small and medium-sized warehouses. Historically, only large warehouses with substantial budgets could afford advanced robotic systems. However, with the introduction of flexible and modular solutions like Mujin’s robotic case-picking system, smaller warehouses can now adopt automation without significant upfront investment. “I think you’re going to see more and more flexible automation to enable small to medium-sized warehouses to do much more and closer to lights out with the caveat that you always have maintenance,” Josh says, pointing out that this shift will enable more warehouses to move towards lights-out operations while still accommodating human oversight for maintenance and handling exceptions. Key Takeaways Mujin Controller: Powers real-time motion planning, enabling robots to adapt to their environment autonomously. Truckbot: Automates the challenging task of unloading containers and can be paired with robotic palletizers for a complete end-to-end solution. Flexible Automation: Mujin makes automation accessible to small and medium-sized warehouses, allowing them to adopt advanced robotic solutions without significant upfront costs. The New Warehouse Podcast Episode 515: Mujin Tackles Warehouse Industry Challenges
Duravant acquires packaging equipment manufacturer T-TEK
Automation equipment leader Duravant expands packaging solutions portfolio with the acquisition of end-of-line equipment provider T-TEK Duravant LLC (“Duravant”), a global engineered equipment and automation solutions provider to the food processing, packaging, and material handling sectors, announced that it had acquired T-TEK Material Handling LLC (“T-TEK”), a manufacturer of high-speed packaging machinery and systems solutions headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama. T-TEK designs, builds, and services innovative end-of-line equipment, including palletizers, depalletizers, conveyors, and custom automated lines for blue chip producers of packaged food, beverage, and consumer products. Recognized for their extensive technical knowledge of palletizing applications, T-TEK is a leader in delivering turnkey systems as well as equipment rebuilds and upgrades for any existing machinery brand. “We’re excited to welcome T-TEK to Duravant,” said Mike Kachmer, Chairman and CEO of Duravant. “T-TEK has an impressive history of fostering strong customer relationships through a differentiated service delivery model. Their technical sales and consultation process is key to their longstanding partnerships with brand owners, facility operators, engineering firms, and integrators.” T-TEK’s approach begins with understanding customers’ production goals and tailoring a line plan that blends current assets and processes with new technologies to deliver maximum investment output. T-TEK has a proven reputation for delivering innovation and quality for high-speed production environments. With deep experience in high-volume beverage production, T-TEK also excels at customized solutions that tackle small, non-standard packages that are fragile and difficult to palletize. T-TEK is a strategic acquisition for Duravant as the company expands its reach in the growing packaged food and beverage sector. T-TEK’s portfolio is highly complementary to Duravant’s product offering across its nVenia, Mespack, and Wulftec brands, which are all members of Duravant’s packaging segment. “T-TEK’s technology and equipment offering aligns perfectly with palletizing solutions offered by nVenia,” said David Malinas, Chief Operating Officer, Duravant. “We now have a complete, comprehensive solution set for all palletizing applications. And with adjacent load containment solutions offered through Wulftec’s premier stretch wrapping and strapping technologies, customers have a trusted source for all their end-of-line packaging needs.” “We are excited to join forces with Duravant and to collaborate across their family of Operating Companies,” said Michael Traff, President of T-TEK. “Duravant’s established infrastructure and extensive aftermarket network through Duravant Lifecycle Services will help us accelerate our growth with new customers and invest in resources and new technologies that will enable us to serve our existing customer base better.”
The Warehouse Automation Journey: Moving from understanding to action
When writing our book The Warehouse Revolution – Automate or Terminate, we were committed to creating a comprehensive overview of the warehouse automation space. We knew a rapidly growing number of companies were soon to embark on a challenging journey, yet they had no way to get up to speed quickly. Since its publication, and after multiple conversations with readers and corporate leaders, they most commonly ask: “Ok, now I understand the context and the technologies, but how do I turn it all into action?” For the last ten years, Logistics, Warehousing, and Supply Chain operations have been severely strained and continue to be today. Some of this strain can be attributed to episodic events like the pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, or recent disturbances in significant trading routes. The main cause, however, has been a permanent transformation of the role that supply chain operations play in the global economy and, more directly, in company business performance. On the distribution side of logistics, e-commerce has changed the business metrics by which logistics centers and professionals are measured. Order fulfillment lead time and order accuracy measurements replace shipping volume and cost per shipment metrics. We have gone from order lead times of weeks or even months to hours. On the supply side, just-in-time manufacturing has reduced in-transit inventory quantities, which, combined with globally stretched supply chains, result in very fragile supply lines. To compound the problem, qualified labor has become scarcer, more expensive, and less attainable where it is needed most, near large urban areas that drive the need for shorter shipment and distribution times. Despite the increased use of air freight, the speed at which we can transport goods economically has not improved enough. In the case of distribution, improvements in physical speed have been negligible. The nodes in the supply chain (ports, distribution, and fulfillment centers) bear the brunt of the needed changes. Industry leaders are applying a blend of automated equipment and advanced information systems to tackle these challenges. It used to be the case that executives could tolerate suboptimal performance of their supply chains without putting their company’s survival in danger. This is no longer the case. If shipping times or order accuracy are uncompetitive, customers will go elsewhere. Even minor hiccups in supply chains may result in production disruptions that break commitments or impair product availability. In The Warehouse Revolution, we discuss the case for automation in detail and describe the many processes and technical options that should be focus areas for companies of all types and sizes. The risk and complexity of automation may be daunting for many small- and medium-sized businesses. Breaking down the components of risk is critical. To achieve this and ultimately address the risks, it is crucial for companies to execute multiple non-trivial, internal sub-projects: 1. Operational Process Assessment: Once the operation crosses a threshold of volume and complexity, logistics and material handling systems show behaviors that are difficult to understand and predict without the help of sophisticated analytics and optimization tools. Identifying bottlenecks, the impact of order mix in volume, determining multi-product and multi-echelon inventory policies, order release, batching, etc., requires specialized knowledge and non-trivial effort. 2. Technology Assessment: By their very nature, material handling projects deal with the intersection of the physical world with the information world. They require expertise in building construction, including fire and other regulations, mechanical equipment and layout, electrical power, electronics and communications, real-time and enterprise software, human factors, and ergonomics. Technology in all these disciplines evolves rapidly and needs to be selected, applied, and integrated together. 3. Project Execution Assessment: No individual or small team can master all required technologies, and very few organizations can either. Professionalized project and program management becomes a critical element in the success of these projects. In many cases, this capability is provided by the project’s primary systems integrator. Only very large companies implement a sufficient number of projects over time to justify the development of this capability in-house. 4. Organizational Change Assessment: Even projects with stellar design and execution will fail if the organization that needs to implement them is not ready or is unwilling to embrace them. In extreme cases, some even suffer from active sabotage. Organizational communication, training, and change management cannot be ignored or relegated to an HR topic. They need to be an integral part of the project. While these challenges are very real, they are not insurmountable if appropriately addressed, but the investment required will be significant, and the executive team must understand the associated ROI clearly. The ROI may be realized by reducing the overall operating costs or enhancing revenues. Cost reduction is by no means a certain outcome of an automation project. The real effect of automation projects is a change in the operation’s cost structure. There will be a shift from variable costs associated with direct hourly labor to indirect costs based on a combination of financial investments, equipment maintenance, operational expenses, and salaried labor. This means that the per-unit costs before and after the project depend heavily on the volume at which the system will perform. Lower volumes favor an operation with a more variable cost structure, while higher volumes can more easily justify a larger investment. It is essential to consider how costs change if the volume begins to exceed an operation’s capacity. The change may be incremental in less automated operations and addressed with overtime or extra labor. For automated operations, the limits to the system may be much more strict and require upgrades or significant reconfiguration of the system. Executives and project leaders must determine the performance profile of the operation (order and item variability, volume, etc.) and decide on its design capacity. As shown in the figure taken from the book, the capacity may differ significantly from the simple average of expected volumes. On the revenue front, apart from the apparent effect of capacity increases to support more business, automation can improve customer satisfaction by increasing order accuracy, reducing order lead time, and making order fulfillment
Cyngn reports Second Quarter 2024 financial results
Recent Operating Highlights: Joined John Deere supply base Rolled out a partnership with RobotLAB, adding the autonomous DriveMod Tugger vehicles to its portfolio of 200+ robots Received a notice of allowance for a 20th U.S. patent and 21st U.S. patent for its AI-powered autonomous vehicle solutions Highlighted its proprietary computer vision advancements with NVIDIA accelerated computing Expanded the Cyngn Dealer Network to include Alta Equipment Group, with more than $1 billion in annual sales Cyngn, developer of industrial autonomous vehicles, today announced financial results for its second quarter, which ended Jun 30, 2024. “During the second quarter, we continued the momentum we made in Q1, marked by rapid strides toward broad commercialization,” said Cyngn CEO Lior Tal. “In addition to the progress we made with John Deere, another key priority has been to expand our sales channels to access more opportunities via established dealers and partners. We are well on our way toward bringing Cyngn’s autonomous industrial vehicle products to even more facilities by partnering with experienced material handling and automation leaders like Motrec, Alta, and RobotLAB. “Our expanding dealer network yields channels that consistently deliver commercial opportunities. On the advertising side, we doubled the number of marketing-sourced leads and decreased the acquisition cost of these opportunities by 67%. “Overall, our pipeline is very healthy. We continue to make progress with automotive manufacturers and their tier-1 suppliers, defense contractors, and heavy equipment manufacturers. We are largely engaging with known brands in the Fortune 500, and we will continue to work closely with our customers to share these exciting logos with the public when we can.” “Autonomous vehicle deployments have a long sales cycle,” said Ben Landen, VP of Business Development. Vehicles need to be put through their paces at customer facilities to ensure they will operate as reliably and safely as a well-trained human driver. Cyngn passes this test easily, but it takes time. These big organizations with well-established workflows need to see for themselves that Cyngn vehicles are the best employees they’ve ever had. “By all accounts, this process is working. Our pipeline is growing, we keep adding industry veterans with extensive experience to our sales team, and we have the resolve and partners to stay the course in our pursuit of the significant industrial automation market in front of us. “We look forward to providing additional updates and continuing to increase momentum.” “Regaining compliance with Nasdaq’s minimum bid price was a significant priority,” added Don Alvarez, Cyngn’s CFO. “Our balance sheet remains clean with no debt, and these factors underscore our financial health and position us favorably as we move forward. Our solid foundation and strategic direction are positioning us for a successful future.” When reviewing the financial information below, note that all share and per share information, Common stock, and Additional paid-in capital have been restated to reflect the 1-for-100 reverse stock split effected on July 3, 2024. Q2 2024 Three-Month Financial Review: The second quarter’s revenue was $8.7 thousand compared to $550.9 thousand in the second quarter of 2023. In the second quarter of 2024, revenue consisted of EAS software subscriptions from DriveMod Stockchaser vehicle deployments, whereas prior year revenue resulted from NRE contracts. Total costs and expenses in the second quarter were $5.8 million, down from $7.0 million in the second quarter of 2023. This decrease was primarily due to a $447.7 thousand decrease in cost of revenue, a $239.1 thousand reduction in G&A expenses, and a decrease in R&D expenses of $538.7 thousand. The decrease in the cost of revenue is driven by the lower costs associated with EAS revenue compared to the NRE contracts in 2023. The decrease in G&A expenses is due to a decrease in personnel costs, reduced premiums for Director and Office Liability Insurance, and spending improvements on general office expenses. The decrease in R&D expense was primarily driven by capitalizing costs for specific customers and capitalizing costs related to the development of software. The headcount at the end of the second quarter of 2024 was 85 versus 75 at the end of the second quarter of 2023. Net loss for the second quarter was $(5.8) million, compared to $(6.4) million in the corresponding quarter of 2023. The second quarter of 2024 net loss per share was $(4.11), based on basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding of approximately 1,416.8 thousand. This compares to a net loss per share of $(12.97) in the second quarter of 2023, based on approximately 489.9 thousand basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding. Q2 2024 Six-Month Financial Review: Year-to-date second-quarter revenue was $14.2 thousand, compared to $1.4 million in the second quarter of 2023. Second-quarter 2024 revenue consisted of EAS software subscriptions from DriveMod Stock chaser vehicle deployments, whereas prior-year revenue was the result of NRE contracts. Total costs and expenses in the second quarter were $11.8 million, down from $13.8 million in the second quarter of 2023. This decrease was primarily due to a $950.6 thousand decrease in cost of revenue, a $606.6 thousand reduction in G&A expenses, and a decrease in R&D expenses of $414.1 thousand. The decrease in the cost of revenue is driven by the lower costs associated with EAS revenue compared to the NRE contracts in 2023. The decrease in G&A expenses is due to a decrease in personnel costs, reduced premiums for Director and Office Liability Insurance, and spending improvements on general office expenses. The decrease in R&D expense was primarily driven by capitalizing costs for specific customers and capitalizing costs related to the development of software. Net loss for the second quarter was $(11.8) million, compared to $(12.0) million in the corresponding quarter of 2023. The second quarter of 2024 net loss per share was $(12.15), based on basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding of approximately 970.3 thousand. This compares to a net loss per share of $(24.48) for the first six months of 2023, based on approximately 489.4 thousand basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding during the period. Balance Sheet Highlights*: Cyngn’s cash and short-term investments at June 30, 2024, total
Episode 507: Live from WERC 2024: Rapyuta Robotics
Today, we’re diving into a fascinating discussion from the New Warehouse Podcast, recorded live at the WERC 2024 conference in the vibrant city of Dallas, Texas. Kevin sat down with the dynamic Misbah Virani from Rapyuta Robotics, who handles partnerships in North America. Here’s a rundown of their engaging conversation on Rapyuta Robotics’ foray into the North American market and their innovative automation solutions. Entering the North American Market Rapyuta Robotics, originally based in Tokyo, Japan, has made significant strides since entering the North American market about a year ago. Misbah shared that the company has firmly established its presence in the Japanese market, boasting a 70 percent market share with their pick-assist robots. This success has emboldened their expansion into North America, with new offices set up in Schaumburg, Illinois. Misbah pointed out that both the Japanese and North American markets are eager for automation, largely driven by labor shortages. What’s fascinating is the quick impact on productivity levels, evidenced by their data showcasing a twofold increase in productivity where these robots are deployed. Pick-Assist Robots: Enhancing Productivity For those unfamiliar with their offerings, Misbah elaborated on the pick-assist robots. Designed to work alongside humans, these robots optimize tasks like picking items by minimizing travel time for employees and reducing errors. Instead of employees running around, the robots guide them efficiently through the warehouse, increasing overall productivity. Misbah emphasized that Rapyuta Robotics’ solutions are scalable. Businesses can add more robots as their operations grow, ensuring they meet productivity goals even during peak seasons. What sets them apart is their dedication to support. Rapyuta Robotics offers 24/7 on-call support and onsite engineers to ensure seamless integration, with robots designed to work in narrow aisles ranging from 3 to 5 feet, showcasing extraordinary agility. Tailored Automation Solutions One crucial takeaway from Mizba’s insights is that automation doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach. Rapyuta Robotics offers a unique simulator to help businesses understand the ROI and the number of robots they might need. This consultative approach is a hit among potential clients, as it provides a clear picture without upfront costs. If you’re intrigued by these innovations, Rapyuta Robotics offers several ways to see their robots in action. From virtual and onsite demos to live demonstrations at client facilities, they ensure potential customers get a comprehensive look at their solutions. The New Warehouse Podcast Live from WERC 2024: Rapyuta Robotics
NetLogistik announces Testing as a Service (TaaS)
Partnership with Cycle Labs helps clients elevate testing precision with high-quality, reliable automation NetLogistik, a provider of transformative services for supply chain digitalization, announces its “Testing as a Service” offering. Progress is often limited with manual testing, which is prone to errors, and is limited to eight hours per day, as well as the subject matter expertise of the tester. Testing-as-a-Service (TaaS), Netlogistik’s testing automation offering, can help companies overcome the challenges associated with manual testing while delivering accurate, reliable results. This is crucial in helping identify potential problems earlier in the technology deployment process, reducing risk before it costs precious time, money, and resources. “NetLogistik has a global presence with over 500 logistics and commerce experts to be the trusted partner for clients,” says Jagan Reddy, Managing Director US at NetLogistik. “We use Cycle Labs patented Cycle Continuous Test Automation Platform to help clients accelerate change with better, low-risk solutions for complex problems faster than ever before.” Netlogistik’s TaaS can eliminate the need to procure, install, and learn testing automation solutions and the dedicated staff required to manage them—which can dramatically reduce overhead costs while speeding time-to-market. Outsourcing the testing workload to testing automation experts can also give companies more freedom to focus on their core competencies and innovate within their supply chain process. Additional benefits TaaS provides include: Peace of Mind: The confidence of knowing testing processes and results are consistent and predictable. Proactive Changes: Test configuration changes before deploying them into production. Faster Adoption: Deploy the newest functionality sooner with a more streamlined release adoption strategy. Highest Quality Assurance: Improve quality by eliminating the factor of human error. Improved Customer Experience: Deliver consistent customer results on the latest user interfaces. Cost Efficiency: Automated testing can save time and money by running testing off-hours.
Sumitomo Corporation and Dexterity establish joint venture to accelerate AI-Powered Robot adoption in Japan
Dexterity-SC Japan will leverage market-proven AI Technology to address labor shortages and boost efficiency in Japanese warehouse operations with Intelligent Robotic solutions Sumitomo Corporation and Dexterity Inc. have announced the creation of Dexterity-SC Japan, a new joint venture focused on accelerating the adoption of AI-powered intelligent robotic solutions for warehouse, supply chain, logistics, and other labor-intensive industrial operations. Building on a successful distribution agreement between the two companies in 2022, the newly formed Dexterity-SC Japan will sell, market, localize, and provide financing options for AI-powered robotic solutions. These solutions will leverage cutting-edge AI technology and intelligent robotics to solve the most complicated, dynamic material handling challenges in industrial settings. “The timing has never been more urgent for companies in Japan to adopt technological solutions to address the combined impacts of labor shortages and rising demand for e-commerce,” said Norihiko Nonaka, Automotive Group CEO at Sumitomo Corporation. “Dexterity-SC Japan will help close that gap by enabling Japanese companies to leverage proven technology already used by leading parcel, 3PL, and manufacturing companies in the U.S.” Recent labor statistics in Japan estimate that there will be up to a 35% transportation capacity shortage by 2030,[1] impacting industries across the Japanese economy. Dexterity-SC Japan will offer truck loading, truck unloading, palletizing, and depalletizing products that will help better leverage existing manpower in the logistics industry. “In partnership with a trusted industry leader like Sumitomo Corporation, we are confident that Japanese companies will be able to quickly realize the benefits of market-proven AI-powered robotic solutions in their logistics operations,” said Dexterity CEO Samir Menon. Sumitomo Corporation and Dexterity previously announced a partnership to deliver 1,500 Dexterity-powered robots by 2026, including 500 truck-loading robots for Japanese warehouses. Sumitomo Corporation invested in Dexterity in 2020 through Presidio Ventures Inc., its U.S.-based corporate venture capital arm. [1] https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2023/09/28/economy/kishida-2024-problem