Hy-Tek Intralogistics and Hai Robotics announce partnership
Hy-Tek Intralogistics has partnered with Hai Robotics to help reduce customers’ storage footprints, increase workflow efficiency, maximize order pick accuracy, and improve daily order fulfillment rates Hy-Tek Intralogistics, an integrator of full-service automation technology for the supply chain, has partnered with Hai Robotics, a provider of intelligent automated warehouse solutions. With Hy-Tek’s IntraOne enterprise logistics platform, the addition of Hai Robotics’ automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) solutions will help reduce a customer’s storage footprints, increase workflow efficiency, maximize order pick accuracy, and improve daily order fulfillment rate. “We are excited to start our partnership with Hai, an up-and-coming innovator for the G2P space,” said Zac Boehm, Vice President of Robotic Solutions at Hy-Tek Intralogistics. “By formalizing our partnership, it allows Hy-Tek to add to its existing solutions with a technology that allows for an earlier entry point with customers looking to adopt G2P technologies, further enforcing our goal to meet our customers where they are in their automation journey.” Changing economic conditions, an increasingly tight labor market, and consumer spending habits require today’s supply chain to be adaptable and provide a faster ROI for customers than in the past. Hai’s technologies, including their brand new HaiFlex and HaiPick A3 solutions, will allow Hy-Tek to provide solutions to their customers faster than ever. “The Hai technology allows us to provide solutions that require fast start-ups, future scalability, and competitive costs,” says Dave Tavel, Senior Vice President of Sales at Hy-Tek Intralogistics. “There is no reason to delay your adoption of robotics as a strategy for fulfillment. Hai’s technology will support your business today and into the future, and Hy-Tek Intralogistics’ platform, IntraOne will manage and optimize our customer’s operations.” With Hai’s solutions, customers can further improve operational efficiency and storage density, meeting the needs of warehouses, DCs, and factories in the apparel, retail, e-commerce, and 3PL industries. “Hy-Tek has been a strong organization in the market since before I began my career. I’ve always had a lot of respect for the quality of their solutions, equipment, and systems,” said Brian Reinhart, Hai Robotics CRO. “Hy-Tek’s commitment to growth and integration has positioned the company to be an industry leader for years to come and Hai Robotics, having done the same on the manufacturing side, is very excited about the partnership.”
HAI Robotics USA
MH Equipment Partners with OTTO Motors to provide Material Handling Automation Solutions
MH Equipment has announced its partnership with OTTO Motors, a provider of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). MH Equipment was selected as an OTTO Certified Dealer to develop, sell, deploy, and service OTTO Motors’ solutions. MH Equipment focuses on partnerships that meet the needs of their customers and the partnership created with OTTO Motors will help meet the rising demand for AMRs. It will also assist in solving top manufacturing challenges by implementing material handling automation solutions at scale. MH Engineered Solutions, a division of MH Equipment, specializes in custom solutions for warehouse design and efficiency and will provide a specialized knowledge base for implementing OTTO Motors’ solutions throughout the industry. “Customers demand exceptional service. We’ve built our OTTO Certified Dealer program like we’ve built our products, with an unwavering emphasis on quality to ensure that our customers receive the exceptional service they expect,” said John Stikes, Director of Global Strategic Alliances and Partnerships at OTTO Motors. Dan Gill, Head of Dealer Relations at OTTO Motors, added: “We have hand-selected the top material handling equipment organizations in the continent to locally deliver the technical support and maintenance needed to deploy, maintain, and scale automation systems.” MH Equipment’s President of Sales and Marketing, Woody Hartwell added, “We focus on our customers’ needs and facilitating outstanding customer service. Our team is well-trained and highly competent at designing, installing, and maintaining AMR solutions for our customers. We are excited to add OTTO Motors to our supply partners and look forward to identifying ways we can help each other grow.”
Kivnon expands leadership team to Leverage UK growth
Kivnon, a global provider of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and automated guided vehicles has appointed a new UK country manager and a sales director to help meet growing product demand in the United Kingdom. Jose Pantaleao will be the new UK Country Manager and Meir Ziskin will be the Sales Manager. Jose Pantaleao, who has been Kivnon’s France country manager since May 2020, will also manage the Kivnon UK subsidiary that provides AGV/AMR vehicles and related maintenance services to the UK. He will provide project management, sales, purchasing, and technical services to support the increasing demand for Kivnon solutions in the UK and France. Mr. Pantaleao brings many years of global automation expertise gained in logistics, e-commerce, automotive, goods-to-persons, and PLC programming positions, including projects in China, Spain, India, and Denmark. Meir Ziskin will be Kivnon’s new UK Sales Manager. He is an accomplished sales and business development professional with more than ten years of experience in the logistics and automation industries. He has a proven track record of driving business growth and establishing solid relationships with clients in various sectors, including automotive, e-commerce, and pharmaceuticals. Before joining Kivnon, Mr. Ziskin held multiple sales roles at companies such as K2 Automation and Su-Pad in Israel for Universal Robots and MiR. “Global digital transformation is intensifying interest in our AGV and AMR technologies and the UK has been one of our fastest-growing regions. We are pleased to announce that Jose and Meir are joining Kivnon to help us take full advantage of these emerging opportunities. We are already very familiar with Jose’s leadership talents through his successful management of our business and France and Meir comes to us with stellar experience in industrial automation sales management and business development,” said Thierry Delmas, Managing Director at Kivnon.
CoEvolution’s multi-fleet orchestration solution improves warehouse efficiency by 30% for Fortune 500 retail giant
Smart logistics specialist CoEvolution has announced its revolutionary CO-PICK smart warehouse system delivered substantial increases in warehouse efficiency for South Korean multinational Lotte, raising throughput at the facility by 30% more SKUs per day. The AI-powered CO-PICK solution from CoEvolution used by Lotte has been tailored specifically to the customer’s needs, using a multi-vendor fleet of robots and orchestration software to deliver highly efficient picking, order fulfillment and integrated logistics support for 417 Lotte Super stores. Lotte Group is a Fortune 500 company and a leading retailer in South Korea, with a significant presence in retail, food, electronics, confectionary and other industries. Having considered and researched multiple options, it selected CoEvolution to work on a project to automate its entire warehouse transferring operations using a multi-vendor robot fleet. The challenge The wide variety of SKUs and high requirements for picking efficiency and accuracy within the retail industry places substantial pressure on warehouse operations. Lotte required a new system of warehouse automation to help ease pressures resulting from a rapid increase in the minimum wage in Korea. During a periodic review of its warehouse systems to see how the latest technology could deliver operational improvements, Lotte Global Logistics found isolated ‘islands of automation’, large amounts of manual work required for transfers, and unused vertical space within the warehouse that could be optimized for storage. Robots were identified as providing an opportunity for further productivity and efficiency. In order to ensure the warehouse system operated smoothly and at optimal levels of throughput, Lotte Global Logistics decided to look into a multi-fleet robot solution to carry out the range of tasks required. The solution Lotte Global Logistics considered multiple options from a range of different solutions providers and decided to adopt CoEvolution’s CO-PICK solution to accelerate its warehouse logistics operations. CoEvolution designed a custom multi-vendor robot fleet orchestration solution based on Lotte’s preferences to provide highly efficient goods delivery across 417 stores. The retailing warehouse project saw CoEvolution identify a range of solutions using different robot combinations that were then tested via its SIMULATOR product to ensure the best choice was made. For the Lotte solution, CoEvolution integrated the mobile robots with its robot control system (RCS) so they are able to operate as a single fleet. In this particular project, CoEvolution’s smart logistics control system docked with Lotte’s warehouse control system (WCS) to create a customized automated warehouse solution that provided full control and visibility of the new operation at Lotte’s warehouse. The solution involved a combination of high-tote robots used for efficient picking and latent autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), which were docked with the existing system, and equipment such as conveyors and robotic arms to facilitate smooth and efficient pallet transferring and order picking. CoEvolution’s CO-PICK smart warehouse solution utilizes different types of robots working collaboratively to deliver high throughput and high storage density, significantly reducing customers’ labor and storage costs in many different kinds of warehouses. The benefits As a direct result of the new automated warehouse solution connecting and accelerating order fulfillment, overall efficiency rates went up at the Lotte facility, with throughput raised by an additional 30% SKUs and storage capacity increased by 200%. In addition, a 20% release of manpower was achieved from heavy pallet transferring, which had previously all been handled manually (a crucial consideration in an era of ongoing labor shortages). Fast to deploy and easy to dock with Lotte’s system and existing automated equipment, the multi-fleet orchestration warehouse software from CoEvolution is simple to maintain and use. There is no complicated configuration required for setup, and little or no training is required for operators before they can start using it. The CoEvolution solution delivers highly efficient and accurate performance in Lotte’s warehouse, alongside improved use of space and secure data transfer. It has connected and automated the whole process, from issuing orders to implementation, with all the simplicity and ease of use of a fully integrated system. With the help of CoEvolution’s CO-PICK solution, Lotte Global Logistics was able to break the boundaries of the original independent islands of automation, scheduling robots to connect the whole transferring process and turning the warehouse into one open map. Commenting on the success of the retail warehousing automation project, Vice President of Lotte Institute of Logistics Technology Seungkee Baek, says, “We are delighted that we selected CoEvolution and CO-PICK to come on this automation journey with us. The new smart warehousing solution has increased our productivity and throughput, made optimal use of our warehouse space, and works seamlessly with our operators.” CoEvolution Co-Founder and COO Michael Wang add, “The best CO-PICK solution for Lotte combines high-tote robots and latent AMRs with the existing conveyors and robotic arms to deliver optimal efficient pallet transfer and order picking, connecting the whole logistics process. “With our Industry 4.0 CO-PICK solution it is possible to simulate and select the best multi-vendor robot fleet orchestration combination for your business and manage it through a single control system. Expected productivity gains are available within days, alongside the flexibility to scale at your pace. Automation doesn’t need to be complicated!” About Lotte Group Lotte Group is one of the top conglomerates in Korea with over $67B (USD) in global revenue. Lotte is engaged in diverse industries that include hotels, resorts, fast food, beverages, retail, financial services, heavy chemicals, electronics, IT, construction, publishing, confectionary products, and entertainment. To learn more, visit www.lotte.co.kr About CoEvolution CoEvolution is a leading solution provider of automation logistics. The company offers a unified robot control system that can orchestrate and optimize a mixed robot fleet’s task assignment, path planning, and traffic control, which gives customers the flexibility to choose the best combination of robots from multiple vendors. Current customer case studies can be viewed here. To learn more, visit www.coevolution.ai
Seven ways to get ROI from Robotics Integration in manufacturing
Technology is rapidly reshaping the way business is conducted, particularly for manufacturers. Robotics is poised to transform the entire manufacturing industry, and many business leaders are finding themselves faced with difficult decisions in regard to automation and robotics in their manufacturing facilities. At the core of these decisions is the calculation of what type of return on investment a robotic integration would provide. Here are seven factors to look at when evaluating potential ROI from the integration of robotics in your manufacturing facility. EFFICIENCY Efficiency is one of the most important measurables in business, and a robotic integration is likely to meet or exceed your expectations. Improved efficiency is often experienced in critical areas such as manufacturing processes, product throughput, uptime, and energy. RELIABILITY Reliability is an essential part of your production and planning process, and by choosing a robotic solution over fixed automation, your potential failures are minimal. The mean-time-between-failure of a FANUC robot, for example, is documented at 78,000 hours, depending on the model. UPTIME Uptime associated with a FANUC robotic turnkey system designed, built, and integrated by Wauseon Machine is very high when proper preventive maintenance practices are followed. FLEXIBILITY The flexibility of our turnkey systems allows you to not only reprogram your robot as required when processes change but also allows you to retool, redeploy, or redevelop your equipment in a more cost-effective manner than other fixed automation solutions. QUALITY Quality is built into every robotic system we deliver. Our vertical integration provides us with control over the design and build of a complete system, including components that are typically outsourced. Your project stays with us from start to finish. REPEATABILITY TOLERANCES Repeatability tolerances are unachievable by a human operator and can be reached with a robot. Companies that choose robotic automation may experience quality and employee safety improvements throughout the entire process flow. PRODUCTIVITY Productivity improvements will be witnessed quickly. Your downtime will decrease, throughput will increase, and total hours in production will be higher when compared to traditional human labor. About Wauseon Machine and Manufacturing Wauseon Machine and its sister company, McAlister Design & Automation, are industry providers in robotics automation, tube fabrication equipment, and build-to-print precision machine parts. With 40 years of experience, the company has four separate focus plants dedicated to Tube-Forming Technologies, Robotic Automation, and Precision Machining. Across their plants, they focus on tool development, machine building, automation, and providing contract CNC production machining of volume and custom precision piece parts and components for other companies. Wauseon Machine / MD&A are best-in-class suppliers of system integration to incorporate automation into a variety of industries, applications, and cutting-edge technologies for manufacturing.
Hai Robotics USA changes leadership structure to support a growing American market
As of May 10th, the American leadership team at Hai Robotics USA advances on a global scale as the company deepens its investment and dedication to the U.S. market. Richie Chen, the founder and owner of Hai Robotics, will assume the role of U.S. General Manager, Brian Reinhart, formerly the Vice President of Sales, Solutions & Marketing, will take on the role of Chief Revenue Officer, and Brian Zheng, formerly the U.S. General Manager, will advance into the role of Vice President of Operations. Hai Robotics and Hai Robotics USA have announced the advancements in their upper leadership to better support the rapidly growing North American market and best meet the demands and needs of customers here. When asked about the growing American market and Hai Robotics’ developing leadership structure to support it, Brian Zheng explains, “Leadership is about adaptability and strategic thinking. Sometimes, changing a leadership structure can be the key to unlocking new opportunities and achieving greater success. As I transition from General Manager to VP of Operations, my focus remains steadfast on fostering collaboration between the U.S. and our global entities and driving increased investment in the US for Hai Robotics.” With the founder of Hai Robotics taking on a direct leadership role for Hai Robotics USA, and the elevation of Brian Reinhart and Brian Zheng, the North American market is expected to take on more of a leading role in the direction and development of the company. “I am excited to take the role of GM of Hai Robotics USA.” Richie Chen stated. “The US market is one of the most important markets for Hai. I look forward to working side-by-side with the rest of our American-based team to create the best value for our North American customers. We will also continue to develop and improve our industry-leading ACR solutions based on the needs of this market.” “This is a very exciting time for Hai Robotics US. Our growing presence in the market, consistent order intake, and ever-growing network of customers, partners, and clients, demands the full focus and attention of not just our US group, but our Global Organization,” said Brian Reinhart. “I’m very excited to work closer with Richie on the day-to-day operations of Hai US, and alongside Brian Zheng as we further strengthen our coordination and collaboration with our Global HQ and other global entities. This new structure allows us to provide immediate reinforcement of our US operations while allowing us room to grow and scale in the short and mid-term, ever focusing on our customers, employees, and partners.” Hai Robotics is a global provider of intelligent automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS). Advanced Autonomous Case-handling Robots (ACRs) are the core equipment that operates Hai Robotics ASRS solutions. These robots are independent of any storage medium, meaning they free facilities of the rigid constructs of shuttle or grid-based systems and the high costs of their required unique, high-precision storage structures and containers. ACRs are intelligent enough to manage ASRS created from structures readily available on the market. Facilities can utilize almost any industry standard shelving or racking structure that provides ideal density and use of vertical space, use most sizes of bins, trays, or cardboard cartons that fit the needs of their product, and design a system that provides amplified workflow speed, accuracy, and efficiency. ACRs manage the storage and retrieval of goods in vertical space 5x higher than standard AMR technologies, up to 10m (32+ feet high.) They provide the unique combined advantages of the system flexibility typically seen with AMR or AGV technology while allowing facilities to obtain modern warehouse density with maximum use of vertical storage, and the workflow efficiency and speed gains seen in the shuttle or grid-based systems while utilizing industry standard storage material. By utilizing these robust robots for their ASRS solution, facilities have seen a reduction of storage footprint by 75%, workflow efficiency gains increase by 4x, order pick accuracy of 99.9%, and an increase of daily orders fulfilled by over 170%.
ABCO Systems plans Automation Innovation 2023
ABCO Systems will host a trade show on Tuesday, July 27, to showcase its innovative systems for warehouse automation and design. Automation Innovation 2023 will be held at ABCO’S headquarters in Carlstadt, N.J. The trade show will help material handling companies learn how effective material handling operations are designed with a unique blend of efficiency and resilience. People can register online at https://abcosystems.net/upcoming-trade-shows/ “Customers’ rapidly changing demands have left logistics professionals scrambling,’’ said Seth Weisberg, CEO of ABCO Systems. “Warehousing capabilities were once solely defined by the ability to store products in sufficient volume. But the tremendous pressure on retailers and suppliers to have wares ready the moment someone makes a purchase has pushed legacy logistics systems beyond their breaking point.” ABCO provides racking systems, multi-level pick modules, conveyors, sortation, and robotics to help logistics professionals meet needs for the lifetime of their industry. ABCO creates solutions by developing partnerships with the most innovative manufacturers of automation and storage technology. “The trade show gives us an opportunity to demonstrate how our solutions can help businesses get the most out of their warehouses and distribution centers,’’ Weisberg said. “We have more than 30 years of experience helping clients implement the tools they need. Big or small, we have unique warehouse design and automation solutions to meet a customer’s needs.” ABCO is offering free booth space, and sponsorship packages are available. The trade show runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Advance registration is required.
Korea Association of Robot Industry operates Korea Pavilion at AUTOMATE 2023
Korea Association of Robot Industry‘s first national pavilion in the U.S. The Korea Association of Robot Industry(KAR) has announced that it will be operating a “Korea Pavilion” at “AUTOMATE 2023“. Nine Korean companies will feature their products in Korea Pavilion located in booth no. 3250 and 3452. KAR has participated in many tradeshows held in Europe and East Asia for decades, but it has never participated in AUTOMATE or any other tradeshows held in the US. While China remains the largest market for Korean robot companies with exports worth of $319 million, The United States is the second-largest market with exports amounting to $204 million(“Korean Robot Industry Survey 2021”, 2022. 12). According to Markets and Markets, demand for collaborative and industrial robots in North America is expected to grow due to the increasing aging and labor shortages in the existing workforce in the manufacturing sector. Growing demand for energy conservation, higher efficiency and productivity, and remote monitoring will drive the growth of automation, too. In response to the increasing demand for automation facilities and systems in the United States, some of the major Korean robot companies such as Hyundai Robotics, Doosan Robotics, Rainbow Robotics, and Neuromeka have opened offices in the country to expand their operations. AUTOMATE, North America’s Largest Automation Tradeshow, is attended by 600 companies, including major players such as ABB, FANUC, Kawasaki, KUKA, and Universal Robots. The show has become a reliable platform for global companies in the automation and robotics industry to showcase their new technologies and exchange ideas, which makes it a perfect place for Korean companies to make their debut in North America. A KAR official stated, “The North American market has been the market that Korean robot companies have been longing for, but individual small and medium-sized enterprises have faced many limitations despite various attempts. We hope to alleviate the difficulties of Korean SMEs and promote marketing for them to expand their channels to the North American market. Korean products show high performances and are reasonably priced, which make them appealing to North Americans who seek products with decent prices.” He added, “We look forward to further exchange of technology and information with North America in the robotics and automation industry for mutual goods. If there are any institutes or companies that would like to build a cooperative relationship with us, we are open.” To give a brief introduction to 9 companies in Korea Pavilion, COBOTSYS Co., Ltd., Neuromeka Co., Ltd., and Rainbow Robotics Inc. will feature collaborative robots used in manufacturing and Food & Beverage services. DOGU Co., Ltd. will show autonomous mobile robots for security while TWINNY Co., Ltd. will introduce autonomous mobile robots specially designed for order picking in logistics. HCNC will demonstrate integrated IT services to perform robot-based automation. RS Automation Co., Ltd. will show a PC-based multi-function controller and servo drive for factory automation. TAEHA CORPORATION will demonstrate an auto-dispensing system and equipment.
Episode 385: Portable Intelligence’s Smart Warehouse Platform
In this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, Kevin welcomes Jeff Lem, President and Founder of Portable Intelligence, to discuss the next generation of warehouse management systems and his book, now in its second edition, Your Warehouse is Not Your Fridge. Portable Intelligence is working on smart warehouse solutions incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and real-time locating systems (RTLS) for indoor tracking. By pushing the boundaries and challenging the manual processes in traditional WMS systems, Portable Intelligence is creating a new frontier in warehouse management. Automating Prioritization and Task Allocation in a Smart Warehouse Platform Smart warehouses like Portable Intelligence’s platform aim to hold workers accountable and distribute tasks based on priorities, contributing to efficiency improvements. Lem explains how the Task Engine Distributor (TED) from Portable Intelligence assigns tasks to the most available worker using AI and RTLS, improving warehouse efficiency and reducing travel time by 25%. He adds, “Despite the implementation of barcoding, wifi, and other wireless technologies, many processes in the industry still rely heavily on manual methods and require a considerable amount of tribal knowledge.” Standardizing processes and monitoring production lines can lead to better conversations around efficiency and best practices. One successful example was assigning a pool of workers to a zone, offering flexibility in defining the size of the zone, which led to more consistency in service and eliminated the need for drive-bys. Tasks are now monitored, and start and stop times and distance traveled are tracked, leading to efficient discussions and improvements in the workplace. Leveraging Data and Analytics of a Smart Warehouse Platform Can Improve Warehouse Safety Portable Intelligence’s Smart Warehouse platform provides real-time maps and analytics that improve the safety and analysis of tasks. Installing a real-time map and heat map allows management to track worker locations, specific tasks, and safety incidents. According to Lem, “From a safety perspective as well, now I’ll have a history of that if there is an accident. In a certain area, they can always do what we call playback and review all the traffic that occurred in that area where the traffic, where the accident may have happened, where the accident had happened.”The system has been successful, and ideas for new features are coming from the workers. What’s new in the 2nd Edition of “Your Warehouse is Not Your Fridge.” Lem recognized that the world changed dramatically over a very short period of time since his book, Your Warehouse is Not Your Fridge, was published in 2019. With the pandemic and supply chain disruptions, it became apparent that warehouses needed to improve their processes. In the second edition of his book, Jeff highlights the need for accurate inventories and the challenges of dealing with limited space and workers. The book also emphasizes advancing warehouse technology beyond barcoding and wireless systems. Lem mentions Zebra’s warehouse maturation process, which outlines the five stages of warehouse growth. Most companies can only achieve stage three, which involves a typical WMS with a barcoding and wireless system. However, he encourages companies to challenge themselves to reach stage four and beyond with task management and AI integration. As automation becomes more prevalent in warehouses, it is crucial to synchronize and orchestrate the work of humans and machines. Jeff also points out that there has been an increase in inventory due to recent shortages. Companies must manage their inventory effectively by utilizing basic inventory principles such as inventory turns and ensuring that products do not become stale. Key Takeaways Warehouses often rely on rules of thumb and tribal knowledge, with little accountability. Smart warehouses improve efficiency by holding workers accountable and distributing tasks based on priorities. Deploying a task engine distributor like Ted can improve warehouse operations by automating prioritization, providing real-time tracking and analysis, and enabling continuous improvement. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 385: Portable Intelligence’s Smart Warehouse Platform
Bastian Solutions awarded Gold in the 2023 Edison Awards
Bastian Solutions, a Toyota Advanced Logistics company, was named a gold winner in the 2023 Edison Awards. The company is being honored in the Enhanced Automation category for its Bastian Solutions SmartPick™, a robotic bin picking solution, that combines cutting-edge AI-powered vision technology, industrial robotics, and goods-to-person technologies to create goods-to-robot solutions capable of picking the most complex assortment of products with 99.9% accuracy, gaining knowledge from previous picks to better handle various product shapes, sizes and surfaces. The Edison Awards, named after the American inventor Thomas Alva Edison, recognizes some of the most innovative products and business leaders in the world with past winners including Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, General Motors, and Genentech. The prestigious awards honor excellence in new product and service development, marketing, design, and innovation. All nominations go through a review process by the Edison Awards Steering Committee with the final ballot being determined by an independent judging panel. “We are honored and grateful for this recognition and proud that our efforts, to think of new and better ways to serve our customers, are being recognized by such a prestigious award. Bastian Solutions keeps its customers at the core of everything we do, and our incredibly talented employees help us serve our mission of being a best-in-class organization,” said Ron Daggett, Senior Vice President, Technology and Engineering All winners were officially recognized at the 36th annual Edison Awards™ Gala in Fort Myers, Fla. On April 20, 2023, where the finalists were granted Gold, Silver, or Bronze status.
Ocado Group announces an Agreement To Acquire 6 River Systems
Ocado Group (“Ocado”) has reached an agreement with Shopify to acquire 6 River Systems. 6 River Systems is a collaborative AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot) fulfillment solutions provider to the logistics and non-grocery retail sectors, based in Massachusetts, USA. It was founded in 2015 and developed an Autonomous Mobile Robot product called ‘Chuck’ that provides automated assistance to pickers in a warehouse, working collaboratively with human operators. James Matthews, CEO of Ocado Technology, said: “We are delighted to welcome new colleagues to the Ocado family. 6 River Systems brings exciting new IP and possibilities to the wider Ocado technology estate, as well as valuable commercial and R&D expertise in non-grocery retail segments.” “Chuck robots are currently deployed in over 100 warehouses worldwide, with more than 70 customers. We’re looking forward to supporting 6 River Systems to build on these and new relationships in the years to come.”
Plus One Robotics utilizes Yaskawa Motoman to expand its induction and mixed depalletizing solutions
Plus One Robotics, a provider of advanced AI vision software and solutions for robotic parcel handling, has announced new customer programs using Yaskawa Motoman robots. These customer deployments are for Plus One’s induction and mixed depalletizing solutions. This deployment of Plus One and Yaskawa robotic solutions consists of 12 new induction systems acquired by FedEx Corp. This purchase builds upon the four existing robotic systems in use at the FedEx Express Hub in Memphis, TN. Additionally, Plus One successfully introduced its mixed depalletizing systems at the FedEx Reno, NV facility. Plus One’s mixed depalletizing systems will allow for easier, more efficient movement of cases from palleted shipments throughout the FedEx facility. FedEx will utilize Plus One’s human-in-the-loop software Yonder, allowing for remote supervision of the robots. “The technology in these depalletizing arms helps us move certain shipments that would otherwise take up valuable resources to manually offload,” said Brian Marflak, FedEx vice president of Global Engineering, Research and Technology. “Having these systems installed allows team members to perform more skilled tasks such as loading and unloading airplanes and trucks. This has been a great opportunity for robotics to complement our existing team members and help them complete tasks more efficiently.” “We’re proud that the Plus One solutions not only achieve the throughput necessary to fill the workforce gap experienced by all distribution centers, but do so with near 100% fulfillment accuracy,” said Plus One CEO and co-founder, Erik Nieves. “This not only keeps the operations running 24/7, but also provides benefits like ergonomics, safety, and the flexibility to handle the variance associated with seasonal shipping schedules.” Key to Plus One Robotics’ effectiveness is its remote supervision software, Yonder. Utilizing human-in-the-loop capabilities employees, or Crew Chiefs, can supervise multiple robots from any location allowing robots to handle a pick exception and return to autonomous operation within seconds. Utilizing Crew Chiefs to remotely supervise the robots helps organizations reduce downtime and creates a workforce multiplying effect that keeps parcels moving while freeing up on-site employees for other higher-value work. The software then uses this data to improve the machine-learning model for future picks. “With Plus One’s incredibly fast image acquisition and processing, Yaskawa robots can achieve maximum production potential,” stated Doug Burnside, Yaskawa Motoman Vice President of North American Sales and Marketing. “This, combined with the intuitive Yonder remote supervisor support helps to efficiently and accurately manage robot operation for more fluid production.”
SVT Robotics appoints Cole Heffernan as Chief Financial Officer
Heffernan brings a decade of senior finance and accounting experience to the position SVT Robotics, a provider of enterprise software for the implementation of industrial robotics, just announced the appointment of Cole Heffernan as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Heffernan joins the SVT executive team having most recently served as Head of Operations at SEI Novus, a cloud-native portfolio intelligence and analytics platform for institutional investors. Prior to SEI Novus, Heffernan served as CFO at Novus Partners, Inc., where he reconstructed the finance function of the organization and reduced operational costs while accelerating growth. “Cole comes to SVT Robotics having assisted founders and private equity-backed organizations in implementing systems, processes, and KPIs necessary to meet strategic goals,” said A.K. Schultz, CEO of SVT Robotics. “We’re thrilled to welcome him to the team, and we look forward to what he’ll achieve both personally and for the future of SVT.” “Over the years, I have worked to improve productivity, communication, and execution to drive strategic business development. It is a pleasure to join the innovative team at SVT Robotics,” said Cole Heffernan. “SVT is providing the solution to automation’s greatest barrier, and I am eager to work alongside the executive team to assist in stewarding the organization’s next season of growth – and beyond.” Heffernan resides in Austin, Texas, and holds a master’s degree in accounting from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas.
Kassow Robots KR1805 7-Axis Lightweight Robot brings extended reach to industrial companies in North America
Kassow Robots, a developer of 7-axis robot and cobot solutions for machine tending, quality assurance, material handling, and related applications, brings the KR1805 industrial cobot to North America. The cobot offers the longest reach in the company’s KR series while maintaining a considerable payload. The 7-axis KR1805 has a payload of 5 kg and a reach of 1800 mm, making it the ideal cobot for completing precise and repetitive industrial tasks that require long reaches, such as machine tending, assembly, quality assurance, or pick-and-place tasks. “The KR1805 is Kassow Robots’ king of reach, with the longest reach of any of our five high-performance cobots,” says Dieter Pletscher, global sales manager at Kassow Robots. “That extra-long reach combined with seven degrees of freedom makes this cobot ideal for myriad industrial applications for North American manufacturers. Stop by our booth at Automate in Detroit to see the KR1805 in person.” The unique 7th axis, or “wrist joint,” enables continuous dispensing, welding, and material removal applications, regardless of access angle, without the need to reorient the arm. The 7th axis also gives the KR1805 a small footprint (160 x 160 mm), a huge advantage in maneuverability, and an increased range of motion to perform such tasks as bin picking or packaging tasks as labeling. The safety-compliant design allows the KR1805 to share a workspace with humans following a safety check at the site where the solution will be implemented. Weighing just 38 kg, the cobot is easy to relocate to perform tasks in different areas of a facility. Programming is simple with Kassow Robots’ specially designed, intuitive user interface. The graphical user interface provides the same kind of intuitive use seen in smartphones, allowing operators at any technical expertise level to program the cobot.
CapSen Robotics officially launches CapSen PiC Software for robotic bin picking with 3D Vision
CapSen Robotics, an innovator in 3D machine vision and motion planning software for robotic bin-picking applications, has announced the official v1.0 release of its CapSen PiC solution, which turns any industrial robot arm into a robot work cell designed to tackle today’s most challenging pick-and-place applications. CapSen PiC software combines 3D vision, motion planning, and control algorithms to give robots the ability to locate, pick, and manipulate objects from cluttered bins and shelves. It correctly detects 3D objects in a range of different positions and orientations, even when partially occluded or in tight, variable workspaces. The software provides consistent and complete control of a robot, end effector, and 3D cameras within a robot cell, greatly reducing the integration burden of deploying a bin-picking system. “Tasking a robot with making high-speed, accurate picks of parts presents several challenges, including the fact that parts can be randomly piled in containers, stacked on top of one another, or even entangled,” said Jared Glover, CEO, CapSen Robotics. “CapSen PiC takes aim at the most challenging bin-picking problems by combining 3D vision with advanced motion planning and control software to give robots spatial intelligence, and it does so without the need to custom program new parts.” See PiC-Powered Pick-and-Place Robots at Automate 2023 A hardware-agnostic platform, CapSen PiC v1.0 offers advanced motion planning algorithms that ensure collision avoidance while delivering fast and accurate parts picking, regrasping, and even advanced tasks such as detangling and assembly. Image processing and planning times of less than one second make it the fastest bin-picking software on the market. PiC-powered robot cells can pick and place up to 30 parts per minute, representing a reliable automation solution for short-run assemblies and repurposing robots for disparate plant-floor tasks. CapSen PiC v1.0 debuts at this year’s Automate show, which runs May 22–25 in Detroit. In the live demonstration in booth 1632, the software will be paired with a DENSO VP-6242 — a small assembly robot known for speed, precision, and longevity — helping the robot disentangle hooks. “Deploying CapSen PiC allows DENSO robots to manipulate a range of pick-and-place tasks — from small, difficult-to-grasp parts to heavier objects that must be moved quickly and efficiently,” said Mark Anderson, Regional Sales Engineering Manager at DENSO, the largest manufacturer of small assembly robots in the world. In addition, CapSen PiC will be shown in Calvary Robotics’ booth (#4007) as part of a medical supply pick-and-place demonstration. Calvary Robotics is CapSen’s systems integrator partner. “At Calvary Robotics, we believe in identifying the right partners to help us deliver cutting-edge systems to our customers,” said Michael Marseglia, VP of Sales and Business Development at Calvary Robotics. “CapSen PiC is a game-changing software for robotic bin-picking applications, enabling fast and accurate pick-and-place capabilities even in cluttered environments. We are proud to offer this innovative technology to our customers and provide them with exceptional solutions.”
Cold Robots revolutionize Cold Chain Logistics
The labor attraction to the cold chain facilities is not growing, however, the market does. The global cold storage market size was valued at USD 138.97 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.2% from 2023 to 2030. Therefore, the cold chain turns to automation to meet internal productivity needs and customer expectations and that’s where mobile robots play an essential role. “Autonomous Mobile Robots will contribute significantly to efficient and productive use of increasingly vital cold storage. This kind of automated solution is not a question of luxury but one of need ” explains Vincent Jacquemart , CEO of iFollow. This has become critically important given how issues such as Brexit, the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the weather have each highlighted the role chilled and frozen warehousing has in creating resilience in our food supply chains; not forgetting of course how Covid revealed the centrality of low-temperature storage in medicine and pharmacology. Research and development and many advanced industrial processes also depend on the ability to maintain goods and materials at low temperatures. Efficiency in every way ‘Efficiency’ here has several connotations. There is the efficient use of the available space. Many cold stores are quite small – often ‘cold rooms’ within larger buildings. But demand for cold space, from private companies, own facilities to ‘public’ stores operated by a 3PL for multiple customers, is increasing. In the food chain in particular, companies from processors to distributors and retailers are looking for larger facilities – the Cold Chain Federation (CCF) has identified 678 units of over 50,000 square feet, and there are many that are much larger still. But cold stores are expensive to build and equip, and although the CCF recently estimated that some 16.7 million square feet of new space are under construction or being fitted out, that may not meet increased demand, especially as so much of the existing stock (34%) is over 25 years old and some of this is converted, not always very effectively, from other uses. Cold stores must also be efficient in operation, which is key at a time of gas and electricity bills rising remorselessly. Although a well-built, equipped, and run cold store uses a lot less energy than is commonly supposed, there is still an imperative to improve storage density and operations to minimize the heat coming in through open doors. And contrary to popular opinion, cold chain warehousing is not usually about minimally manned, long-term, bulk storage. Many cold chains move goods in and out of stores rapidly and involve all the break-bulk, order-picking, stock rotation, and other operations familiar to ambient warehousing. That has to be performed just as efficiently and productively but in much more arduous conditions. This means that labor, too, has to be deployed efficiently. In November, the Cold Chain Federation noted “10 percent to 20 percent shortage rates” among its members. The pool of workers prepared to perform arduous, even hazardous, tasks in cold conditions is decreasing. In addition, there is an increasing realization of the need to limit the length of time that workers spend in the cold before taking a break in warmer areas, and of the long-term impacts of heavy manual tasks in cold conditions. Overcoming technical issues Given all this, the cold store would seem an obvious arena for the introduction of automation. But this is not without its problems. There are technical issues – operation at low, and especially sub-zero, temperatures, can embrittle and otherwise degrade materials including metals, plastics, and rubber tires. Electric and electronic components can be affected by ice and condensation. Batteries, in particular, have degraded performance and shorter lives at low temperatures. Fixed mechanization, such as conveyors, takes up refrigerated space that isn’t being used to store the goods. There are safety and operational issues too – it isn’t easy to perform complex control operations or to ensure that people are adequately protected from machinery when workers are wearing heavy and cumbersome protective clothing and both their physical and mental agility may be compromised by the low temperatures alongside the hazards of condensation and ice. Not all AMRs can work in cold storage. iFollow, however, has a range of robots for cold chain logistics that transport from 300 kg to 1500 kg payload down to -25°C and is specific to the cold store environment. This is due to its approach to safeguarding electronics and batteries. The temperature of key electronic components is regulated by an iFollow-developed servo system which eliminates condensation (and therefore, icing,) at temperatures as low as -25° – a particular issue when moving regularly between cold and temperate spaces. This also means that battery life is not degraded. Depending on the size of AMR, between 12 and 18 hours of autonomous operation are available from a 2-hour charge time. Fewer battery charges or changes obviously improve productivity, but also reduce the space needed for recharging. Using AMRs rather than ride-on vehicles eliminates the known hazards of the latter – present in any warehouse operation but exacerbated in cold and slippery conditions. Specialized cold-store standard trucks are also not cheap. Operator control is also suited to cold store conditions. It is not reasonable to expect workers to input complex instructions while wearing heavy gloves or to require them to take their gloves off for extended periods. The Mycelium WCS software from iFollow, which is compatible with all available WMS/ERP systems, can be used through any computer or tablet with most instructions available through just one or two clicks. AMRs do not require the segregated space of conveyor-based systems and they can turn in their own footprint, unlike most AGVs which require a defined bend to corner. This maximizes storage space, or to put it another way, minimizes the volume of fresh air being refrigerated. Also unlike AGVs, AMRs do not require semi-permanent predefined pathways, thus allowing more flexible use of warehouse space. They also do not require especially smooth and even floors
Comau is developing a new mobile robotics solution featuring Collaborative Robots
Comau Is Developing A New Mobile Robotics Solution Featuring Collaborative Robots In The Context Of 3 EU Projects Part of R&D initiatives and applied within three different EU projects, the new Mobile Robotic Arm combines collaborative safety features, industrial performance, and complete mobility when and where it is needed Modular approach enables the robot to address a large number of applications in different areas of the plant without changing the SW and HW architecture The platform can be used across multiple different industries Comau is designing a powerful mobile robotics platform as part of an open, highly collaborative production environment, in the context of 3 different European Projects. The integrated solution, which leverages Comau’s proven expertise in IoT-enabled technologies and collaborative robotics, is a natural evolution of the company’s automated workflow optimization systems. Modular, scalable, and completely re-configurable, the platform can be easily adapted to different applications without changing the system’s underlying software or hardware architecture. Furthermore, because the robotic arm is mounted on an autonomous mobile platform it is not tied to a single operation but can address a large number of applications in different areas of the plant as needed. Comau’s mobile robotics paradigm integrates the company’s high-payload Racer-5 COBOT, a 6-axis articulated robotic arm that can work at industrial speeds of up to 6 m/s when human operators are not present, and its Agile1500 autonomous mobile vehicle. It supports customized and efficient operations where human operators and machines work side-by-side, and is designed to handle individualized production within an Industry 4.0-enabled manufacturing environment. It can also be seamlessly integrated within Comau’s digital infrastructure, further safeguarding productivity and profitability across the entire manufacturing line. Visual feedback for pick and place operations, as well as other tasks, is provided thanks to an integrated vision system, such as the novel Comau MI.RA, installed directly on the arm. Finally, the robotic arm is mounted on an autonomous mobile platform equipped with two independent batteries that power the AGV and the robotic arm separately and can be managed using different types of navigation modes and a standard Comau controller. The solution is currently being used within several European projects. In the first application, with DIMOFAC, an EU initiative aimed at helping companies implement a smart factory architecture, the platform is being used for pick and place and warehouse automation tasks within a machining scenario. For PeneloPe, on the other hand, is being used for glue dispensing and non-destructive quality inspection in the public transport domain. Here, the goal of the Horizon 2020 program is to develop a closed-loop, end-to-end digital manufacturing solution that facilitates bidirectional data flows across the entire manufacturing value chain. Finally, the platform is being used as part of ODIN to support the manipulation of mechanical parts for automotive applications with the aim of demonstrating the technical and performance feasibility of collaborative robotics on the factory floor. The global market for collaborative mobile robots is significant, based on an internal analysis of published market data. Especially considering that collaborative robotics already represent up to 13% of the industrial robotics market and Automated Mobile Robots are expected to achieve a 5-year CAGR of 15% (2022 to 2027).
SVT Robotics delivers rapid Warehouse Automation Integration for Tecsys WMS customers with a SOFTBOT® Platform Connector
The Tecsys connector will bring rapid, plug-and-play automation connectivity to robotics integration and warehouse automation solutions SVT Robotics, a provider of enterprise software for the rapid deployment of industrial robotics, has announced a new SOFTBOT® Platform Connector for Tecsys Inc., a supply chain management software company. SVT and Tecsys worked together to develop and launch the pre-built connector between the Tecsys WMS and SVT’s SOFTBOT® Platform. The integration will provide Tecsys Elite™ customers with much faster deployment and lower complexity without the need for custom code development often involved in multi-system automation and robotics deployments. “A SOFTBOT connector is one of the basic building blocks of the SOFTBOT Platform, like a Rosetta Stone for data information between systems,” said Nick Leonard, SVP of Product at SVT Robotics. “With this connector to the Tecsys WMS, we can normalize data from their standard API to create interoperability between Tecsys and other solutions from leading providers. This allows Tecsys customers to rapidly deploy the specific automation they need today with little to no customization.” “This is a game-changer for our customers,” said Bill Denbigh, Vice President of Product Marketing at Tecsys. “With a growing and evolving automation market, orchestrating warehouse automation across multiple automation vendors has the potential to quickly become unsupportable. Our collaboration with SVT allows Tecsys to offer a hardware-agnostic warehouse automation solution perfectly tailored to each use case. It liberates them to choose automation that best addresses their warehouse challenges, rather than limiting them to a specific WMS provider’s preferred automation partner.” Click here to see a demo of the Tecsys Connector in action on the SOFTBOT Platform.
Robotics and technology bring expanded efficiencies to warehouses
As the material handling industry works to quickly and accurately meet customer needs while navigating labor and supply chain trends, in certain situations automation can fill some of the gaps. This month, Material Handling Wholesaler looks at a few of the latest developments in robotics and driverless forklifts, along with exploring overall warehouse automation strategy. Transforming forklifts Balyo specializes in transforming standard forklifts into driverless robots, offering tools that simplify the shift from manual to autonomous material handling, according to a company press release. The robot Balyo Reachy, for example, can pick pallets of up to 1.5 tons to a height of 37 feet and achieve a 360-degree turn in only 9.9 feet, the release said. Many companies are scaling up instead of out, according to Mark Stevenson, Balyo’s chief sales officer. “The only way to safely and efficiently be part of this vertical revolution in materials handling is to automate the storage and retrieval of goods,” he said, in the statement. Rob Patey, marketing and digital director, said a two-shift operation sees a return on investment in utilizing Balyo technology in about two and a half years. “And if you’re a 24-7 operation, you’re going to get a return on investment right out of the gate,” he said. The company’s automated guided vehicles include all of the functions needed, according to Patey. “All of the brains are on board the robot,” he said, noting there are sensors and cameras and lasers on the AGV to identify what to pick and drop. Balyo is a global company, according to Patey. “We started in France and Germany and two years ago shifted to start focusing on the U.S.,” he said, noting the focus in the States on alignment with consumer demands. “People want to get things to their house the minute they order them. There is a lot happening on the back end to make that happen,” said Patey, noting how the trend is driving the need for third-party logistics providers. He said Balyo is always improving the technology of the robots themselves, including better cameras, better lasers, and guidance tech. “There are less errors and a smoother sense of operation,” said Patey, adding that the technology can “better identify and navigate and increase safety. “On the software side, we’re building tools, working on the tools to make the process go smoother,” he said. Other companies also offer options for warehouses. Vanderlande, which bills itself as a global partner for future-proof logistic process automation in warehousing, airports, and parcel sectors, showcased a modular workstation leveraging an item-picking robot at the recent ProMat, according to a release. Some of the solutions showcased included: the Fastpick suite of goods-to-person picking solutions, which includes Goods-to-Picker 2.0 and Adapto, according to a press release. The former is a second generation of Vanderlande’s modular workstation and is designed to simplify the picking process, the statement said. “Leveraging the benefits of 1:1 picking and exceptional ergonomics, it improves pick performance while reducing errors and training,” the release said. Adapto is a roaming shuttle-based automated storage and retrieval system, with advanced sorting and sequencing capabilities that work with a variety of cartons, trays, and totes, according to the company. Dual-mode options Others point to the advantage of equipment designed with dual-mode capabilities. At Crown Equipment, Jim Gaskell said automated forklifts provide the flexibility of operating in manual modes, further enhancing the flexibility associated with mobile automation. Gaskell, director of global automation and emerging technologies for Crown, said the dual-mode operation should be considered an essential feature of an automated forklift. Dual-mode forklifts have been designed “from the ground up as automated vehicles while retaining the flexibility to operate in manual mode when required,” Gaskell said. “With automated dual-mode forklifts, warehouses can operate more predictably, have greater visibility into product movements, and don’t have to compromise the versatility that makes forklifts so valuable to warehouse operations,” he said. “Because the lift trucks are integrated with the warehouse management system, there is continuous visibility into their location as well as the loads on the forks, and the vehicles can perform consistently over multiple shifts.” Other technological advances gaining speed include telematics and data analytics, according to Gaskell. “Telematic systems can play a vital role in implementing forklift automation, identifying potential use cases, informing your automation strategy, measuring performance, and helping you ensure access,” he said. When to automate Gaskell recommends strategically planning an automation investment. “Any effort to introduce automation into your facility should be guided by a realistic plan with achievable expectations that can also be scalable based on success and growth,” he said, adding that realizing tangible benefits requires “the right frame of mind.” That means looking beyond industry hype and unrealistic expectations, Gaskell said. What should be considered are the genuine operational challenges and the tangible goals sought to be accomplished, according to Gaskell. “You must also identify the tasks and equipment within your operations that are good candidates for automation,” he said. The more processes are standardized, the better the interaction of automated forklifts within the environment, Gaskell added. “It is important to understand that not all warehouse tasks are candidates for automation. It depends on the available technology, the amount of customization and complexity involved, and how easy it is to incorporate new workflows and processes to integrate the automation,” he said. Warehouse managers need to identity tasks and equipment that are well-suited for automation, according to Gaskell. “Some warehouse tasks that have shown to be ideal candidates for automation include load transportation throughout the warehouse, pallet put away and retrieval and order picking,” he said, advising considering how forklifts are being used and how and when pallets are moving when looking at automation. “Many of today’s challenges, including hiring issues, supply chain disruptions, and changing consumer demands can be resolved or significantly diminished with automation technology that exists today,” Gaskell said. At Balyo, Patey agreed. Meeting labor needs is one of the biggest drivers of interest in automated technology, according to Patey. “That’s