Micropsi raises $30M Series B Funding to Scale Industrial Automation with Human Motion Trained Robots
Micropsi Industries secures a $30M Series B for its deep tech AI software for controlling and training industrial robots MIRAI robot control system enables hand-eye-coordinated actions for automation of tasks that improve productivity in industrial environments The Series B funding is co-led by Metaplanet, VSquared, and Ahren Innovation Capital as Micropsi is ready to scale in the US and Europe Micropsi Industries has just announced the successful closing of its $30 million Series B funding round. The company provides ready-to-use AI systems for controlling industrial robots to enable the automation of manufacturing processes that so far could not be automated. By using cameras and sensors to react in real-time to dynamic conditions in a workspace, Micropsi-powered robots can be trained by humans to perform hand-eye-coordinated actions in industrial environments. MIRAI is successfully deployed in assembly, material handling, and quality control applications in a wide range of industries. Companies like Siemens Energy; ZF Group, one of the largest automotive suppliers in the world, and BSH, the largest manufacturer of home appliances in Europe, are already using MIRAI in their production halls. New investors Metaplanet, VSquared, and Ahren Innovation Capital co-led the funding round. Existing investors Project A Ventures and M Ventures also participated. MIRAI’s “Different Approach” does what others only promise “Our technology makes it easy to transfer dynamic motion know-how from humans to robots,” said Ronnie Vuine, CEO and co-founder of Micropsi. “We have not optimized the textbook approach for specific applications but took a radically different approach inspired by how humans coordinate motions. MIRAI is a proven and independent technology that’s working 24/7 in the factories of our customers. That is what convinced our investors: Here is a company that can already verifiably do what many current startups only promise to develop.” Industrial robots can compensate for labor shortages and secure supply chains. The manufacturing skills gap in the U.S for example could result in 2.1 million unfilled jobs by 2030. Before factories can put robots into service, however, a lot of preparatory work is necessary, with specialists developing software code line by line to trigger the individual movements of the machines. This is complex, expensive, and makes robots inflexible, as variance in positions or materials throws the robots off. Micropsi’s MIRAI changes this. Using artificial intelligence (AI), workers are able to train the machines through demonstration. A human guides the robot arm through the work task, which then learns and carries out the movements autonomously. In doing so, it is able to handle variance and changes in the environment and the robot’s target at execution time. This expands the commercial potential of industrial robots, as it allows them to handle complexity and keeps them flexible even as conditions change. MIRAI augments industrial robots. Once configured with MIRAI, a robot arm can perceive its workspace through cameras and continuously adjust its movements as it performs a task. MIRAI skills are not programs, they have collected intuitions of human movement that MIRAI then intelligently transfers to robots. New funding plans: Expanding operations The new funding is going to be used to expand operations in the US, ramp up sales efforts and expand to more robot platforms. Micropsi Industries has recently hired robotics expert Prof. Dominik Bösl as managing director to be in charge of the company’s ambitious technology roadmap. Prof. Bösl previously held positions at Festo, Kuka, and Microsoft. Rauno Miljand, the managing partner at Metaplanet, says: “Intelligent robot automation could tap into a currently locked productivity pool. The end-to-end learning solution built by Micropsi is one of the most advanced systems in the market and is well-positioned to unlock potential in a wide array of industrial settings. The ease of use and the fast learning cycle make it one of the most scalable platforms in the industry.”
Kivnon presents its latest three innovations in mobile robotics
Kivnon expands its mobile robot portfolio with a new range of Automated Forklifts and a new rotational lifting platform AGV/AMR Kivnon, specialists in innovative mobile robotics solutions, presents its new three models of autonomous vehicles: the K03 Twister, the K50 Pallet Truck, and the K55 Pallet Stacker, capable of circulating around the environment using magnetic guidance or mapping navigation, based on SLAM technology. The new K03 Twister is a rotational mobile platform with dimensions of 700 x 500 x 280 mm, making it the smallest AGV of the Kivnon mobile robot portfolio. With a load capacity of up to 400 kg, this vehicle has a rotational lifting platform that allows it to rotate itself while maintaining the absolute position of the load. Thanks to its small size and great maneuverability, this mobile robot facilitates the design of more compact and flexible solutions, as well as the optimization of intralogistics processes, thus reducing operating times. The new Forklift mobile robots autonomously transport palletized loads of up 1,000 kg and lift heights of up to 1 meter. The new K50 Pallet Truck and the new K55 Pallet Stacker have the ability to move in both directions of travel and are equipped with lifting forks to transport and handle loads vertically and horizontally. Both products have been specially designed for the optimization of processes and tasks within a warehouse. The three new models reflect the manufacturer’s new design line, with new shapes and new colors, which mark the beginning of the new look of the future mobile robots (AGVs/AMRs) from Kivnon. Kivnon products are characterized by their robustness, safety, precision, and high quality, and have been designed following the user-friendly philosophy, that is, designed to create a pleasant, simple to install, and intuitive work experience. With this new launch, Kivnon consolidates its commitment to technological innovation and continuous improvement of its products to provide a response to the needs of its current and future customers. Today, the company offers a wide range of mobile robotics solutions for the automation of different applications within the automotive, food and beverage, Logistics and warehousing, aeronautics industries, among others.
Pack a variety of products efficiently with the New 4000TL-Robotic Top Load Case Packer from Edson
See the 4000TL-Robotic in action March 16-18 in booth D10 at Tissue World Miami The new 4000TL-Robotic from Edson, a ProMach brand, is a top-load case packer aimed at small to midsize companies that manufacture a variety of SKUs within the away-from-home towel and tissue industry. Edson will be debuting the new 4000TL-Robotic on March 16-18 in booth D10 at Tissue World Miami. The 4000TL-Robotic is a cost-effective machine that uses a FANUC M-710iC/50 FP robot to provide a flexible top-load case packer with different end-of-arm tool options to efficiently handle specific applications. The machine can handle a wide range of products in a variety of pack patterns, primarily HSC cases up to 12 picks per minute. The 4000TL-Robotic is a great solution for contract packers and specialty product makers of rolled tissue, away-from-home, facial tissue, hand towels, folded napkins, diapers and incontinence products, feminine care, and other related paper products. The 4000TL-Robotic comes with a 10” Allen-Bradley color touch screen HMI for a simple operator-friendly interface. It achieves changeovers in less than 15 minutes to minimize downtime, and sturdy tube framing with automotive finishing to ensure the 4000TL-Robotic provides a long service life. An optional auto-adjust end-of-arm tool is also available, further minimizing changeover times. The robotic arm will also automatically adjust to the correct end-of-arm tool dependent on the application and product if there are multiple options. Another advantage the 4000TL-Robotic brings to customers is a compact footprint, occupying a similar floor space as hand-pack operations. The machine is also designed to be easily integrated into packaging lines with other end-of-line equipment. Features and benefits of the new 4000TL-Robotic include: Compact footprint for applications with limited space Ergonomic-designed with easy access to clean and maintain the machine External sealing options Low maintenance with robotic features Multiple roll layer pack patterns are available Case length: up to 30”; case width: up to 18”; case height: up to 18” including flaps Case dimensions 8” minimum height 14.5” maximum height 10” minimum length 30” maximum length 10” minimum width 18” maximum width To see the new 4000TL-Robotic in action, visit Edson in booth D10 at Tissue World Miami, March 16-18 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami, Florida.
Novanta Partners with MassRobotics to advance next generation of robotics
Novanta business units Celera Motion and ATI Industrial Automation will collaborate with MassRobotics to enable new innovations in medical/surgical robotics and other applications Novanta Inc. announced a new partnership with MassRobotics to help create and scale the next generation of successful robotics startups. Through the partnership, Novanta business units Celera Motion and ATI Industrial Automation will collaborate with MassRobotics to develop advanced innovations in medical/surgical robotics and improve robotic productivity. MassRobotics is an independent, nonprofit organization serving as an innovation hub for robotics and connected devices. Its efforts include providing innovative entrepreneurs and startups with the workspace and resources they need to develop and commercialize their products and solutions. Celera Motion is an award-winning provider of motion control components and subsystems for OEMs serving a variety of medical and advanced industrial markets. It will collaborate with MassRobotics and the other companies, organizations, and research institutions that it works with to create new innovations across a wide spectrum of applications, especially in medical robotics. “We are proud to support MassRobotics in its critical mission to create advanced robotics, particularly in the medical field,” said Matthijs Glastra, CEO of Novanta. “We are fortunate to be in a unique setting in the Boston area, surrounded by the world’s top hospitals, medical laboratories, and educational institutions. That has given rise to a unique regional ecosystem of resources — with the necessary talent, knowledge networks, infrastructure, and financial resources — to produce the best in medical/surgical robotics.” Added Brian Young, Chief Human Resources Officer of Novanta: “As a Boston-based company with technology development and manufacturing in Massachusetts, Novanta is uniquely positioned to be a leader in developing robotics talent for the region.” ATI Industrial Automation is the world’s leading engineering-based developer of robotic accessories and robot arm tooling. It will work with MassRobotics to develop sophisticated technological solutions that improve robotic productivity. “We’re thrilled to partner with MassRobotics to engineer the best innovations for the most demanding applications,” said Robert Little, president and General Manager of ATI Industrial Automation. “We love to work with people as passionate about robotics as we are, and we see incredible opportunities ahead for exciting new advancements.” MassRobotics currently leads a cluster of the highest concentration of robotics companies in the world, with roughly 400 companies, 65 resident startups, and 40 strategic partners. Through programming and events, MassRobotics helps bring together innovative startups and existing technology organizations to promote innovation and nurture the next generation of talent. “We’re excited to be part of the Boston area’s robotics community, one that is leading the next wave of technology,” said Kalpana Singh, president and General Manager of Celera Motion. “Together, we are simultaneously fostering and benefiting from our area’s incredibly innovative culture. The future is very bright for our industry, and we can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together.”
Robot sales in North America have strongest year ever in 2021
New Association for Advancing Automation (A3) report shows $2 billion in sales (39,708 units) in 2021 – up 28% over 2020 and 14% ahead of the previous high in 2017 Propelled by a surge in non-automotive sectors, the number of robots sold in North America set a new record in 2021, with 39,708 units sold at a value of $2 billion, a 14% increase over the previous high in 2017. According to new industry statistics released today by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), the number of robots sold in 2021 rose 28% over 2020. Record robot sales in the fourth quarter of the year—up 9% over Q4 2020—demonstrated the strong momentum already realized through the previous nine months as more industries look to automation to increase productivity and alleviate ongoing labor shortages. “More industries recognized that robotics could help reverse productivity declines and fill repetitive jobs human workers don’t want. It is no longer a choice whether to deploy robots and automation,” said Jeff Burnstein, president of A3. “It’s now an absolute imperative. As we’ve long believed—and users continue to confirm—robots help companies compete, ultimately creating more jobs to handle their growth.” 2021 shows a continued trend of non-automotive ordering more robots Non-automotive orders now represent 58% of the North American total. Unit sales to non-automotive industries saw the following increases in 2021 over 2020: Metals: up 91% over 2020 Food and Consumer Goods: up 29% Semiconductors and Electronics/Photonics: up 2% Plastics and Rubber: up 4% Life Sciences/Pharma/Biomed: up 4% All Other Industries: up 65% “Improvements in technology, new financing models, and simpler applications continue to be positive trend lines leading into 2022, in particular helping small companies automate and join the global stage,” Burnstein added. “Hiring technicians and machine operators in the Bay Area is always difficult, and it became even harder during the pandemic,” said Joe Montano, president and CEO of Delphon, a customer of A3 member Rapid Robotics. “Meanwhile, a new generation of rentable robots had made the costs feasible for facilities like ours to make a measured entry into automation. By hiring robots to operate machines for pad printing and component cleaning, we were able to redeploy eight operators to other jobs and see a $70,000 return on investment in less than a year.” Q4 sales and value explained October through December of 2021 marked the highest and second-highest quarter on record for units and revenue, respectively. Non-automotive customers ordered 6,618 robots in Q4, which represents 61% of the total units ordered. Automotive-related customers purchased 4,211 units, 39% of total orders. The following non-automotive industries in Q4 saw increases over the same quarter in 2020: Metals: Up 23% Food and Consumer Goods: Up 14% Semi and Electronics/Photonics: Up 12% Plastics and Rubber: Down 25% All Other Industries: Up 74% Learn more at Automate, June 6-9, in Detroit; Registration open Registration for Automate 2022, North America’s leading automation trade show and conference, is open at https://www.automateshow.com. The event, scheduled for June 6-9 In Detroit, hosts the industry’s leading manufacturers and system integrators in robotics, machine vision, motion control, artificial intelligence, and smart automation.
Güdel Americas provides Innovative Automation Solutions and support for the region
Güdel, a global manufacturer of linear motion modules, robot track motion units, and gantry robots and components, has announced the formation of Güdel Americas, which brings together Güdel’s existing entities in the United States and Mexico to better serve customers. This alignment, and a new regional strategy for growth, will provide customers in the Americas with improved responsiveness, access to spare parts, and local service and support. “The integration of our North American entities into Güdel Americas is the beginning of great things as we continue to provide high-quality, innovative solutions in the Americas,” says David Treutle, Managing Director. “This reorganization will bolster production capacity and reduce lead times.” Güdel Americas will focus on controls software engineering for the future development of the Güdel Global Controls Center of Excellence. The field service team will continue to provide the same high level of service and installation support it currently delivers while adding greater reach and response times throughout the Americas. Based in Langenthal, Switzerland, Güdel is part of a family-owned business in its third generation. The company was founded in 1954 and has grown from a single precision machine shop to a leading global automation solutions business with operations in more than 20 countries. Güdel is known for manufacturing a full line of high-performance linear motion components, which are the building blocks for reliable linear motion modules, gantries, and press automation systems. Güdel Americas’ locations in the United States and Mexico will provide agile, world-class engineering and manufacturing locally to serve customers and grow the company’s regional footprint. Güdel continues to develop new products with the customer in mind and make significant operational changes that enhance the overall customer experience. By adapting to market demands, the company will improve performance and flexibility to meet all requirements in a demanding business environment.
Access Control Group launches AWARE Collision Avoidance System
Chaotic work environments, distracted workers, and equipment zooming through facilities such as distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, construction sites, or ports can cause collision risks. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction industry is responsible for more than 21% of all worker deaths in the U.S. while at the same time OSHA estimates forklifts cause 34,900 accidents that result in serious injury each year, costing a company from $38,000 to $150,000 for a single incident. Many such accidents could be avoided with the right equipment and training. Scalable Telematics provider Access Control Group is launching a proximity warning system to help companies protect their employees’ safety: AWARE, an Ultra Wide Band (UWB) based proximity system that measures the distance between moving objects and alerts both operators and pedestrians of approaching equipment. Additionally, UWB technology allows AWARE to penetrate most obstacles and operate around blind corners. Aware was designed to operate for the safety of pedestrians and mobile assets in material handling, construction, maritime, and distribution center industries. But unlike other collision avoidance systems, AWARE is an option you can add to our scalable telematics solution “Advanced” to avoid managing multiple gadgets and higher costs, while at the same time being able to track, measure, and report on equipment damage, productivity, and safety issues while additionally monitoring battery and fuel levels. How AWARE works When a wearable tag or a piece of equipment comes in the range of another piece of equipment, an audio-visual alarm indicator warns the operator. AWARE offers two settings, Alert and Alarm. After the initial 30 minute installation, the range settings can be adjusted from the system or the cloud to meet any specific requirements. The wearable tag is operated by a rechargeable battery that can last up to three weeks. Recharging can be done by simply placing the tag on a wireless charger.
DHL Supply Chain to invest $15 million to further automate warehousing
DHL is the first commercial customer for Boston Dynamics’ Stretch® robot Multi-year agreement furthers DHL’s commitment to accelerating digitalization of the end-to-end supply chain DHL Supply Chain, the global and North American contract logistics provider within Deutsche Post DHL Group, today announced a $15 million investment in robotics solutions from Boston Dynamics, the global provider in mobile robotics, to further automate warehousing in North America. The companies have signed a multi-year agreement that begins with equipping DHL facilities with Stretch, Boston Dynamics’ newest robot specifically designed to automate the unloading process in distribution centers. This agreement is the culmination of strategic collaboration between the two companies over the past few years as Stretch was being developed and tested. Boston Dynamics will deliver a fleet of Stretch robots to multiple DHL warehouses throughout North America over the next three years. The deal with DHL marks the first commercial purchase of Stretch, which was unveiled in 2021. The investment is part of DHL Supply Chain’s Accelerated Digitalization agenda, a strategy for developing and scaling innovative solutions and new technologies. Stretch will tackle several box-moving tasks in the warehouse, beginning with truck unloading at select DHL facilities. Following the first deployment, the multi-purpose mobile robot will handle additional tasks to support other parts of the warehouse workflow, which will effectively automate warehouse operations. “At DHL Supply Chain, we are committed to continuous innovation and digital transformation to optimize the end-to-end supply chain. Investing in warehouse automation plays an important role in increasing operational efficiency and improving service for our customers,” said Sally Miller, CIO, DHL Supply Chain North America. “We’re excited to partner with Boston Dynamics to deploy its best-in-class robotics in our warehouses. The Stretch robot addresses complex industry challenges through flexible automation, which we’ll be able to replicate and scale regionally and globally.” Stretch’s technology builds upon Boston Dynamics’ decades of advancements in robotics to create a flexible, easily integrated solution that can work in any warehouse to increase the flow of goods and improve associate safety by taking over physically demanding tasks. Stretch is equipped with a compact, Omnidirectional mobile base, custom-designed lightweight arm as well as a smart gripper with advanced sensing and controls that can handle a large variety of box types and sizes. It also includes Boston Dynamics’ computer vision technology, which enables it to identify boxes easily and without any pre-programming. Stretch is capable of working autonomously through complex situations like disordered stacking configurations and recovering fallen boxes. “Stretch is Boston Dynamics’ newest robot, designed specifically to remedy challenges within the warehouse space,” said Robert Playter, Boston Dynamics’ CEO. “We are thrilled to be working with DHL Supply Chain to deliver a fleet of robots that will further automate warehousing and improve safety for its associates. We believe Stretch can make a measurable impact on DHL’s business operations, and we’re excited to see the robot in action at scale.” Deployment of the first Stretch units in DHL warehouses will begin this spring, and DHL plans to gradually scale Boston Dynamics’ robots for additional tasks and across multiple facilities in phases over the next few years. To learn more, listen to the upcoming episode of DHL’s All Business. No Boundaries.™ podcast, which features Boston Dynamics and will be released on January 31. Podcast episodes are available here.
EP 249: Fizyr
In this episode, I was joined by the CEO of Fizyr, Herbert ten Have. Fizyr is focused on being the world’s best computer vision platform for robotics in the logistics space. We discuss computer vision, how Fizy’r system works and why they have had such success with their platform. Key Takeaways Fizyr means rifle scope in Dutch which is fitting considering they are utilizing vision and targeting items with their computer vision software. Originally they were an integrator who was developing picking cells for various fulfillment companies and they began to create their software along the way. As the software developed they really noticed that there was a standout difference in their software and it was something that was not being done by many others. They then spun the business off and began to develop Fizyr into what it is today which is one of the world’s leading computer vision companies. Computer vision utilizes artificial intelligence and allows robots to be able to decipher different objects to make decisions on what to do. As Herbert explains, typically a robot would see items as a CAD drawing but when it comes to the logistics space it is impossible for the robot to keep up with so many different SKUs. In order to tackle this, the computer vision system needs to be generalized and that is accomplished by building a neural network which Fizyr is doing. By generalizing, the robot now views the packages in certain shapes and sizes repetitively and understands more effectively what to do next. One of the most impressive things about Fizyr is its ability to be so effective and accurate out of the box. Artificial intelligence and machine learning can take some time to get to their most effective part after collecting lots of data but Herbert says that Fizyr is effective out of the box. Due to this, they are one of the best computer vision software in the world. Herbert explains how they have achieved this by really pushing their customers to tell them exactly what they need. Listen to the episode below and leave a comment with your thoughts. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 249: Fizyr
Kassow Robots expands sales team to support partners and expand manufacturer networks
Kassow Robots, a developer of 7-axis cobot solutions for machine tending, material handling, and related applications, is strengthening its sales team with the appointment of Ulrich Möller as sales manager for the DACH region. In taking this step, Kassow Robots reinforces its sales presence, an established goal for 2022. Möller is well acquainted with the robotics industry. He previously worked as a field sales engineer at Omron and continues to be involved in the German Robotics Association as head of mobile robotics. The engineering graduate will support systems integrators at Kassow Robots in their sales activities in DACH and drive forward the expansion of the company’s network of sales partners and end-of-arm (EOA) tool manufacturers. Alongside Dieter Pletscher, Kassow Robots’ global sales manager, he will represent Kassow Robots at in-person and virtual events and on social media. “We are delighted to have Uli Möller at Kassow Robots,” says Pletscher. “He is not only a very enthusiastic automation specialist with years of cobot experience but also a well-connected colleague who will vigorously communicate the added value of our 7-axis lightweight cobots.” Company founder and CEO Kristian Kassow stresses, “The DACH region remains an especially important region for us, and one that we want to strengthen with this new appointment. On the one hand, of course, is the economic power of the medium-sized industry in particular. This industry is hard hit by a severe shortage of skilled workers. Our cobots help companies overcome this challenge by automating repetitive tasks.” 7-Axis Cobots Help Medium-Sized Companies Möller looks forward to his new tasks at the Copenhagen-based cobot manufacturer: “Kassow Robots has an exciting and extensive product portfolio on the market. These five 7-axis cobots, with a payload of up to 18 kg and a reach of up to 1,800 mm, cover almost every need there is for cobots. I see huge opportunities for medium-sized companies since these really easy-to-use cobots can help them to cost-effectively defy the shortage of skilled workers. The seventh axis offers unique mobility that makes automation possible even in the most confined spaces — in other words, where conventional models fail.”
EP 248: Kivnon
In this episode, I was joined by Mike Kotzian of Kivnon. Mike is the Managing Director for the USA at Kivnon which is an AGV company providing automation solutions for the material handling industry. We discuss the evolution of AGVs, the concept of robots replacing jobs, and Kivnon’s offerings. Key Takeaways Kivnon provides innovative mobile robotic solutions which focus primarily on AGVs and AMRs. They have an extensive lineup of their base model robots that can provide many different solutions. However, even though they have base models they are also very flexible and open to customization of robotics. Mike gives us some detail on some customized solutions that they have done in the past which included a fully stainless steel AGV that could go through washdown. This is pretty unique as you typically would not get a robot wet due to all of the electronic components but pretty interesting they were able to achieve it. Mike has been working in the industry for 23 years now and has seen a lot of the evolution of AGVs over those years. He gives some great insight into our discussion on how things have evolved. He even drops a fact that I didn’t know and was actually pretty surprised by, the first AGV was in operation all the way back in 1954. For him, the most significant evolution revolved around safety how things have changed with bumpers and how guidance is conducted on these robots. As we are seeing massive growth in this part of the industry, Mike believes that the hardware has somewhat reached the level it can be at for now so the real development and thing to watch will be the software side and how that will make the existing hardware functioning in smarter ways. Being that Mike has been involved in AGVs for so long, I was curious how he has seen the debate of robots taking jobs away over the years. In the beginning, he said there was certainly a lot of anger going on even as far as robots being sabotaged on the overnight shifts with no explanation but as time went on people have gotten more comfortable with technology and accepted them. He also explains that on many implementations people did not get replaced but they got moved to more detailed tasks that the robots could not do. As we see this technology grow it really has taken over the jobs that people are not too interested in anymore and I believe that will continue. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 248: Kivnon
Jon Smalling joins BMG as Director of Sales at NAS Nalle Automation Systems
The new hire comes with deep knowledge and enthusiasm for automation across a range of industries including the medical market BMG has announced the appointment of Jon Smalling as Director of Sales at NAS Nalle Automation Systems based in Knoxville, TN. Smalling’s experience encompasses a wide range of paper and plastic industry applications including injection molding, thermoforming, and best practices for automation solutions. He has worked in sales and new business development leadership roles within the extrusion and raw material (resin) industries. Most recently Smalling was the Regional Sales Manager for a global injection molding automation company. Professionally, Jon volunteers as Chair of the PLASTICS industry Future Leaders in Plastics (FLiP) and serves on the NPE trade show content committee. “I am excited to join NAS Nalle Automation Systems, a leading supplier of innovative packaging and robotic material handling solutions for the paper and plastic industries. More than ever before, the labor and material constraints on manufacturing have driven the need to automate just about everything.” Smalling explains. “I look forward to building relationships with our current and future customers, partnering with them to find solutions that meet their needs. It is an exciting time to join NAS and make use of the many resources and capabilities of BMG’s family of companies.” “Throughout his career, Jon has been very active in the Plastics community, including being Chair of the Future Leaders in Plastics (FLiP). He is very well known throughout the plastics industry as a trusted mentor and technical advisor” says Bob Gordert, Vice President Sales – Americas. “We are very happy to have Jon join our team as we launch new and innovative automation solutions. Jon’s focus will be to lead the experienced NAS sales team to achieve our strategic growth plans, including new customer development and growing BMG’s medical presence with NAS automation solutions.” Visit www.BMG-Solutions.com for more information.
Helmut Schmid takes over the helm at AGILOX
AGILOX makes new top management appointments. Helmut Schmid takes over as CEO in January 2022, as successor to the previous CEO Franz Humer. Schmid will continue the AMR manufacturer’s ongoing strategy to expand its global market share. As the sole managing director of AGILOX, he also adds three new authorized signatories to the management team, Josef Baumann-Rott, Klaus Pucher, and Robert Mayer. Helmut Schmid, who was the head of Germany and Western Europe at cobot market leader Universal Robots for many years, is now taking over as CEO of AGILOX. With Schmid, an internationally experienced managing director, and robotics enthusiast, the company is continuing on its path of further expansion. In his previous appointment, Schmid was Managing Director of the German cobot pioneer Franka Emika GmbH in Munich. New leadership for AGILOX Helmut Schmid is a specialist in growth strategies, business development, change management, internationalization, sales and marketing. In his long career, he has already founded several companies, managed them profitably, and, in particular, implemented scalable business models, often developing new sales processes and structures and implementing new go-to-market strategies in a targeted manner. The graduate aircraft engineer has also made a name for himself as co-founder of the German Robotics Association and Robotics Ventures GmbH. Now, the new CEO of AGILOX wants to drive forward the company’s further development and internationalize it. “AGILOX is a brand with a strong base and an equally high market potential. I look forward to contributing my experience to the company in order to continue to develop it profitably and position it durably on the market,” says Schmid. Seamless transition “With his years of experience in the robotics environment, Helmut Schmid brings in-depth technical as well as management expertise, and now as CEO of AGILOX, can further develop the company from its excellent starting position and support our planned growth with the goal of becoming the world’s leading AMR provider,” said Dr. Thorsten Dippel, Managing Director of the Carlyle Group, which has been involved as a key partner of AGILOX since June 2021. Daniel Haider, Managing Director of Raiffeisen Invest Holding GmbH & Co KG, likewise highlights the international industry experience of the new CEO: “We are very pleased that such a renowned expert in robotics is putting his trust in AGILOX. With Helmut Schmid as our new CEO, we are continuing the drive for dynamic growth at an international level.” The company’s previous CEO, Franz Humer, is also pleased with the new top manager: “It was particularly important to us as founders that the new CEO continues AGILOX’s successfully established strategy for the future while furthering our brand DNA. In Helmut Schmid, AGILOX is getting a CEO who will develop the company progressively and keep us on the right track for the future.” Schmid is also looking forward to the new challenge: “I am looking forward to continuing the good preparation work with the entire team and from now on, become a contributor to the AGILOX success story. Internationalization and the further expansion of the headquarters in Neukirchen near Lambach are just a few of the major topics I am looking forward to addressing.” Franz Humer is joining the Board of AGILOX as Executive Chairman and will prepare the company’s next strategic steps, notably in the area of product development and organization in the US. Dirk Erlacher is moving to China and will build up the Asian market from Shanghai.
Proton.ai raises $20M Series A Led by Felicis Ventures
Company to expand its AI-powered growth platform for distributors Proton.ai, the leading AI-powered growth platform for wholesale distributors, announced today that it closed $20M in Series A funding led by Felicis Ventures. Proton.ai helps distributors compete in the increasingly digital world with an AI-powered sales enablement solution created for the unique dynamics of B2B distributors. “We are excited to partner with a company that’s poised to transform the massive and critical distribution industry,” said Niki Pezeshki, general partner and managing director at Felicis Ventures. “There are approximately 700,000 wholesale distributors in the US, with 32,000 of them doing more than $10 million a year in sales. Digital tools are desperately needed to modernize the sales stack for these distributors, so we believe there is a tremendous market opportunity for Proton’s solution.” Pezeshki will be joining Proton’s board. Also participating in the round were leaders in enterprise SaaS and distribution, including Battery Ventures, Abstract Ventures, MSC Direct, and J Ventures. Technology angels include Godard Abel, CEO of G2; Ray Grady, CEO of Conexiom; and Rob May, General Partner at PJC. Distribution angel investors include Mike Page, CTO/CMO of R.S. Hughes; Jonathan Bein, partner at Distribution Strategy Group; and Michael Marks and Michael Emerson, partners at Indian River Consulting Group. Proton’s platform connects and centralizes distributors’ customer, product, and transactional data that is dispersed across many systems. It then analyzes that data in real-time with deep learning models and produces AI-powered product recommendations that help distributors grow their sales. “Proton customers average a 17x improvement to gross margin and 5%-10% bump to top-line sales,” said Benj Cohen, founder and CEO of Proton.ai. “Because we’re focused on an industry that’s responsible for 28% of the U.S. GDP – or more than $6 trillion annually – we believe our technology can be a disruptive force for the B2B market.” Cohen learned first-hand the challenges of distribution through his family’s business, Benco Dental, the largest private dental distributor in the United States. He believes distributors have been chronically underserved by technology. Cohen founded Proton.ai to rectify that. “Distributors face tremendous pressure to deliver an exceptional omnichannel experience for their customers – a need that’s heightened by competition from online-only players like Amazon,” said Cohen. “Delivering this experience is extremely challenging due to the complexity of managing tens of thousands of SKUs across fragmented systems, resulting in distributors missing hundreds of billions in sales annually. Proton cuts through this complexity by identifying which customers need which products, and empowering salespeople to act on this information.” According to Cohen, Proton intends to leverage the infusion of capital to further invest in three areas: aggressive product development and enhancement, building out a world-class customer success team, and expanded sales and marketing capacity.
AutoStore unveils R5+ Robot, expanding its Bin-Handling capabilities to meet the needs of rapidly evolving warehouses
The new robot, built based on the proven technology of the R5 model, can handle bins up to 425mm Warehouse automation company, AutoStore, has announced the arrival of its R5+ Robot. The newest addition to the AutoStore Robot fleet will enable warehouses to manage larger items, thanks to the R5+’s ability to handle Bins up to 425 mm, the tallest Bins available in the AutoStore system. Until now, this has been a premium feature possible only with AutoStore B1 Robot installations. The R5+ is now available for operations globally. The R5+ will give customers the same confidence and first-class performance that has been proven by the R5 for over a decade – with a significant addition. AutoStore has now introduced a more economically competitive offer to companies operating in a wider variety of markets, such as footwear, semiconductors, and other similar applications. The maximum Grid height for AutoStore customers utilizing the R5+ with 425 mm Bins will be slightly higher than a Grid with the R5 using 330 mm Bins, creating a Grid composed of 14 layers of Bins that are around 6,044 mm tall. “Sometimes the simplest solutions make the biggest transformation,” said Carlos Fernández, Chief Product Officer at AutoStore. “We continue to innovate to help retailers improve the customer experience they offer. If there is one thing we’ve witnessed over the past two years, it is that the retail landscape, particularly in regard to eCommerce, has evolved to demand precision and speed. We’re committed to supporting our customers in becoming even more competitive in high throughput applications.” The R5+ will continue to provide the fast and reliable service that the AutoStore system is known for, allowing customers to benefit from a solution that is capable of continuous operation.
Cimcorp expands its North American Sales Executive team
With 20 years of combined experience in the material handling industry, new hires Adam Gurga and Collin Russell will grow Cimcorp’s presence in the U.S. grocery retail market Cimcorp, a manufacturer and integrator of turnkey robotic order fulfillment and tire handling solutions, announces the addition of Adam Gurga, Sales Manager, and Collin Russell, Director of Business Development, to its North American sales team. With extensive backgrounds in the supply chain, material handling, and automation, the two seasoned sales executives will foster new and existing client relationships to support Cimcorp’s growth strategy in the U.S. grocery distribution market. “The need for automation is on the rise in the U.S. fresh food and grocery sector, as businesses face increasingly high customer expectations and unprecedented supply chain disruptions. At Cimcorp, we’re focused on growing our North American presence to satisfy this demand,” explained Derek Rickard, Director of Sales, Cimcorp Automation Ltd. “I am very excited to welcome Adam and Collin to the team, and am confident they will be tremendous assets in helping our clients solve their biggest fresh food distribution challenges.” A motivated and results-driven sales professional, Adam Gurga boasts 14 years of experience in the supply chain, warehousing, and food & beverage industries. He is skilled in building long-term customer relationships, with a passion for delivering solutions that meet each client’s unique needs and objectives. Gurga’s extensive knowledge of reusable packaging methods will also prove invaluable in the grocery and fresh food space. “I’m very proud to be joining Cimcorp in its efforts to provide innovative intralogistics solutions to grocery retailers across North America,” commented Gurga. “Through automation, grocers and fresh food providers can realize incredible gains in their warehousing and distribution operations, and I am excited to introduce many new customers to the full range of solutions Cimcorp has to offer.” Collin Russell also joins Cimcorp’s roster of sales professionals, bringing a strong focus on developing strategic partnerships with high-level decision-makers and driving regional growth. His ample knowledge of the material handling sector includes micro-fulfillment—a growth strategy in the grocery retail market to reduce order fulfillment costs while boosting speed and consumer satisfaction. “Global trends all point to the rise of micro-fulfillment, as online orders and at-home deliveries for groceries and fresh food show no sign of slowing down,” noted Russell. “I am excited to lend my experience in micro-fulfillment strategies to Cimcorp, helping to bring automated solutions while fostering partnerships to further sustainable packaging to some of the biggest players in the grocery retail space.” Gurga and Russell will both report to the Director of Sales, Derek Rickard. To contact Cimcorp’s North America sales office, email: sales_na@cimcorp.com.
Seegrid Partners with Applied Intuition for AMR Simulations
Autonomous Mobile Robot provider to leverage Best-in-Class Simulation tools to accelerate delivery of Next Generation Material Handling Automation Solutions Seegrid Corporation, a manufacturer in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for material handling, and Applied Intuition, a best-in-class simulation and software tools provider for autonomous vehicle development, just announced an agreement to collaborate on creating 3D virtual warehouses, factories, and distribution centers in support of accelerating advancements in autonomous technology for the material handling industry. The partnership involves significant investment by Seegrid and will enable Seegrid to quickly validate product innovations in more environments and use cases across the supply chain than feasible with manual testing. Seegrid was recently named #1 for all mobile robots in the United States and #1 in market share worldwide for automated tow tractors, launched several new robot models in 2021 including the company’s newest AMR, Palion Lift, the only autonomous lift truck in the market with industry-leading 3D perception. Applied Intuition is generally considered best-in-class for simulation tools that deliver high-fidelity simulation modeling to comprehensively test and rapidly accelerate autonomous vehicle development and deployment. “Applied Intuition’s platform simulates a wide range of environments, layering in different conditions to safely pressure test next-generation ideas in autonomous vehicle technology,” said Peter Ludwig, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Applied Intuition. “Manufacturing and distribution facilities are a complex, highly dynamic operational design domain—we’re thrilled to collaborate with industry leader Seegrid to help enable the rapid acceleration of the growing AMR market.” “Consumer demand and a shrinking labor force are putting pressure on nearly every industry, and in turn, putting pressure on AMRs to effectively and consistently interpret and respond to ever-changing situations,” said Jim Rock, Seegrid’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our customers rely on Seegrid to deliver industry-leading automation solutions that can safely ensure productivity—highly advanced simulation during ideation, test, and development speeds up our ability to deliver next generation AMRs best equipped to address the unpredictable events in facility workflows.” The two companies, heavily focused on and recognized for creating safe and efficient autonomy solutions, will also co-develop advanced simulation features and environments to support use cases unique to supply chain mobile automation. The collaboration is a development effort from Seegrid’s Blue Labs, the company’s research and development team dedicated to quickly identifying new automation technologies for their leading global brand customers in logistics, eCommerce, and manufacturing.
Santa’s digitalized warehouse
Automation key for ensuring presents are produced on time With Christmas around the corner, it is time to focus on the world’s oldest warehouse — the one where Santa tirelessly packs millions of gifts. Things at Santa’s workshop have changed, the days of elves manufacturing toys using outdated devices are gone. Instead, Santa must invest in smart technologies to optimize production and distribution. Here Claudia Jarrett, US country manager at automation parts supplier EU Automation, advises Santa on how to implement technologies to automate his warehouse and keep up with the times. Like many of us, Santa is familiar with the challenges of global supply chains — speed, traceability, and the necessity to accurately predict demand are just some of his headaches. There are roughly 2.2 billion children around the globe, which equals around 25 percent of the world’s population. If the average gift weighs 2.2lb, Santa must deliver 600 tons of presents in only one night. Such a task requires solutions like collaborative robots and an Internet of Things (IoT) system to build a resilient supply chain for global distribution. IoT tracking systems To maintain an updated customer database and to keep track of orders, shipments, and inventory stock levels, Santa requires an incredible level of visibility across his supply chain. Thankfully, an Internet of Things (IoT) tracking system can help store and process data to vastly improve operations. IoT asset tracking systems are vital for any distribution business as they reduce connectivity issues and ensure that every product is continuously monitored. Asset tracking provides IoT-based remote monitoring and management of assets by applying tracking devices, connectivity methods, and software. However, Santa is not the only one to have realized the potential of this technology — by 2027, around 267 billion asset tracking devices will be deployed globally, according to the Industrial IoT Asset Tracking report. Connected sensors and machine-to-machine communication protocols help warehouse managers get real-time updates at every stage of the supply chain. They provide useful insights on asset locations, temperature, functionality and send the data reliably and continuously from anywhere in the world. Not only will Santa be informed in real-time about the location of each present but will also be able to track his sleigh’s fuel consumption and prevent any maintenance issues. Collaborative robots Supply chain management and efficient travel are just a couple of the festive activities Santa needs to worry about on the build-up to Christmas Eve. Another, and arguably the most important, is toy production. Instead of elves manufacturing toys using manual equipment, advanced tools — such as collaborative robots — can produce billions of presents in the same time frame. Cobots are designed to optimize the workflow while allowing the warehouse to maintain its infrastructure design and processes. According to MarketsandMarkets, the collaborative robot is projected to grow from $1.2 billion in 2021 to reach $10.5 billion by 2027. Some of the most innovative cobots are also very easy to program, even for workers with no knowledge of robot programming, as many of Santa’s older employees. Sometimes the process involves only physically moving the robot’s arm to the correct location. This further reduces initial automation costs and contributes to the return on investment (ROI), because there is no need to invest in training. To demonstrate how automation can help with the festive season, Universal Robots employed two UR3e cobots to decorate a Christmas tree. These cobots are ideal for such a scenario, due to their lightweight of only 25lb, but also because of their 360-degree rotation ability on all wrist joints and infinite rotation on the end joint. ABB also used twelve robots to decorate retail spaces in New York for Christmas. Its famous dual-arm YuMi® cobot was used to serve coffee and interact with humans to create a unique merchandising experience. The flexibility of cobots is just as useful in a warehouse context, and not just to serve coffee to hard-working elves. Cobots reduce the physical workload of warehouse employees, resulting in fewer injuries and increased job satisfaction. Cobots can also guide workers to maximize their productivity — for example, they can use artificial intelligence and advanced machine vision systems to plan the best picking routes, eliminating unnecessary walking. Collaborative robots and IoT solutions are no doubt the future of automation, providing reliability and efficiency while reducing costs as well. Nevertheless, as with all technologies, they are prone to technical issues that need to be resolved in a timely manner to avoid downtime. EU Automation provides new, refurbished, and obsolete parts for a large variety of automation manufacturers. And just like Santa, EU Automation quickly delivers all over the world. Whether they are based in the United States, Canada, or the North Pole, all warehouses need to invest in smart technologies to remain competitive and increase efficiency. To find out more about the offerings for a smart warehouse at EU Automation, head to www.euautomation.com. About EU Automation: EU Automation stocks and sells new, used, refurbished, and obsolete industrial automation spares. Its global network of preferred partner warehouses, and wholly-owned distribution centers, enables it to offer a unique service within the automation industry, spanning the entire globe. It provides worldwide express delivery on all products meaning it can supply any part, to any destination, at very short notice.
EP 234: Zebra Technologies and Fetch Robotics
In this episode, I was joined by Jim Lawton of Zebra Technologies. Jim is the Vice President and General Manager of Robotics Automation at Zebra Technologies and has a long career of being involved in the robotics world. We discuss Zebra’s recent acquisition of Fetch Robotics, their new solutions for fulfillment, and the current state of robotics. Key Takeaways Zebra Technologies has always been involved in the automation and robotics world but they took a step into the next evolution by recently acquiring Fetch Robotics. They had previously invested in and partnered with a Fetch on a few different initiatives so it only makes sense that they took the path of acquiring them. As Jim discusses, what Fetch adds to the overall Zebra solution suite is the ability to address the travel time issue for the fulfillment space. Zebra had already been addressing the issues of inefficiencies companies were experiencing without handheld technology but now they can address the additional inefficiency of the walking and travel time operators are doing. Even though they just recently acquired Fetch, they have gotten right to work on new solutions. Jim tells us about the FlexShelf, FlexShelf Guide, and RollerTop Guide which all work together to provide an all-encompassing fulfillment solution. With these new solutions coupled together with Zebra’s handheld technology, they are able to truly make the entire fulfillment process more efficient. The FlexShelf allows for increased capacity of each robot by increasing the number of bins that items can be picked too. Paired with the FlexShelf Guide which is a touch screen onboard the robot, it allows the work to happen right at the robot and really increases productivity. For those utilizing conveyors, the RollerTop Guide allows the robot to sync right up and transfer the bin directly onto the conveyor reducing the need for human interaction to make the transfer. Jim threw out a really amazing stat at the beginning of the episode that less than 5% of warehouses are automated. With this being said, there is a huge opportunity for companies to take on automation and robotics projects to help improve their overall process flows. We discuss how the pandemic has driven consumers to rely more on e-commerce than ever before and is putting a huge workload on warehouses and fulfillment centers. Due to this increase in demand, Jim is seeing rapid growth and adoption of robotics to help companies keep up. We can only imagine how quickly warehouses will keep automating in the next few years. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 234: Zebra Technologies and Fetch Robotics
EP 229: Mujin
In this episode, I was joined by Brandon Coats of Mujin. Brandon is the Director of System Integration at Mujin which is a robotics company focused on creating industrial robots for everyone. We discuss what Mujin does, how they are making robots for everyone, and some of their offerings. Key Takeaways Mujin is focused on robotic solutions for the warehouse and manufacturing space. Their slogan is “Industrial Robots for Everyone” which is a very great thing. As Brandon explains, this slogan is all about getting them to the point where industrial robots are widely adopted and easy to use. He likens it to Microsoft and how they were able to put together a usable platform so that computers started to become more accessible and easier to navigate. With this mindset, they are really focused on making their solutions extremely user-friendly. For the logistics space, Mujin is currently focused on providing solutions for palletizing, de-palletizing, and piece picking. They are utilizing robotic arms to accomplish this with sophisticated grippers. Mujin has been building out these types of solutions for many customers across the globe and has been developing their technology so that the robots can have very smart visibility into what they are gripping. This allows for them to palletize in special ways, do layer palletizing with multiple different SKUs assorted in the proper configuration, and much more. With Mujin just expanding into the United States this year it will be interesting to see how their product offerings grow and evolve in the US market. One of the things Brandon also discusses is how Mujin listens to the customer and what their problem is. Not only do they have their core offerings but they also customize solutions for specific applications. This allows them to truly listen to the voice of the customer and explore different ways to improve their product. The one case that Brandon discusses involves a serious gripper that took a lot of detail and parts to get right. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 229: Mujin