Locus Robotics expands range with new AMRs

Locus Robotics, a leader in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for fulfilment warehouses, announced at MODEX that it has expanded its line of warehouse AMRs with the introduction of Locus Vector and Locus Max.

These new form factors join the Locus Origin robot to form a comprehensive family of AMRs for a broad range of warehouse use cases. The new line addresses use cases from ecommerce, case-picking, and pallet-picking to scenarios requiring larger, heavier payloads to support the full range of product movement needs in today’s fulfilment and distribution warehouses.

“With these new LocusBots, we’re able to help our clients alleviate significant labour challenges and achieve optimal productivity by using the right bot for the job,” said Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics. “Locus is the proven leader in developing highly productive and innovative AMR technology that efficiently solves our customers’ needs for total warehouse optimisation, while delivering a fast time to value.”

“Locus’s innovative multi-bot solution has helped DHL to consistently double our workers’ productivity all around the world,” added Adrian Kumar, Global Head of Operations Science & Analytics at DHL Supply Chain. “This new robot line-up – with the different form factors all working together as a coordinated fleet – means we always assign the right robot, even as our needs change dynamically throughout the workday.”

The LocusBots are fully integrated within LocusOne, the intelligent, multi-bot warehouse orchestration platform that delivers predictable, efficient, and scalable productivity and cost optimisation for all product movement within the four walls of the warehouse. The platform seamlessly centralizes and coordinates a dynamic, multi-bot fleet while also providing detailed, forward-looking, and actionable business intelligence and reporting for effective management and planning.

The new offerings further extend Locus’s position as the industry AMR leader for the automation and digitisation of warehouses, distribution and fulfilment centres to meet increasing order volumes, labour shortages, and rising consumer expectations.

The new line of LocusBots consists of:

Locus Origin – Engineered for maximum warehouse efficiency, Locus Origin delivers proven fulfilment productivity coupled with agile manoeuvrability, incorporating the latest navigation and vision system technologies. It works easily and collaboratively with associates in dynamic warehouse environments.

Locus Vector – The industrial-strength AMR with the flexibility for a wide range of roles from fulfilment to transport to putaway. Locus Vector features omnidirectional mobility, compact design, and robust payload capacity for use in any environment. Locus Vector will ship to customers starting this summer.

Locus Max – Heavyweight payload capacity and unparalleled flexibility to easily transport a wide variety of heavy materials, cartons, or pallets across your facility. Locus Max is ideal for industrial and material handling applications. Currently deployed at several sites, Locus Max will have limited availability in 2022 and expanded availability in 2023.

All LocusBots will be available through the company’s all-inclusive, Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) pricing model and can be added to existing and new workflows, enabling operations to dynamically scale and adapt to changing market demands.

 

OSCA brings supply chain visibility to textile licensee

Whether it’s Superman, Batman or the Avengers: The German licensee of these motifs is relying on Setlog’s software OSCA to better manage its supply chain for the production and transportation of clothing with movie and comic motives.

The German marketing specialist for textiles and accessories of popular licensed brands signed a contract with Setlog at the end of 2021. With that, the company set the foundation to be up to date in terms of digitisation of supply chain management. Setlog’s OSCA SCM and OSCA CSR modules will go live at the end of the first quarter of 2022.

“With OSCA SCM, we can track our orders digitally via a transparent supply chain. We chose Setlog’s tool since it is the best solution in an international benchmark,” emphasises Holger Schmies, Managing Director and co-owner of the company. One of the reasons why the enterprise also uses OSCA CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) is to be able to comply effortlessly with the regulations from future supply chain due diligence laws.

OSCA is easy to implement and makes it possible to quickly manage and control all supply chain processes. “The software replaces emails, Excel lists and last-minute calls about delivery changes,” explains Ralf Duester, board member of Setlog.

Whether Disney, Warner Bros, Marvel, Peanuts or Paw Patrol – the German licensee is holding licenses for popular comic and movie heroes. Textiles with prints of the characters are produced up to 85% in the Far East – the rest in Portugal and Turkey. In the future, the company will transmit all orders from its ERP system to its two dozen suppliers directly via Setlog’s software.

From order confirmation and delivery planning to transport bookings and shipments, the SCM software always serves as a central communication hub for all partners along the supply chain. With the software, the company can control costs, volumes, lead times, transport times and routing, carton packing lists (including label generation) as well as delivery dates.

The four logistics service providers the licensee works with will transfer transport notifications and tracking data directly into the Setlog platform to thus supporting a single point of access. For a digital data exchange of order and transport information with the TMS solutions of the forwarding companies, Setlog has developed a REST API interface. A KPI dashboard visualises the most important key figures for the employees.

All partners in the supply chain are informed simultaneously and in real-time as soon as delivery data changes or delays occur. Once OSCA goes live, all shipments will run through the system. For 2022, the company expects between 250 and 300 FCL container as well as LCL shipments to be centrally controlled and handled this way.

To easily comply with the regulations of future supply chain due diligence laws in the EU and Germany, the fast-growing company relies on the OSCA CSR solution. Within the system, the structures and tier levels of global supply chains are displayed transparently. New supply chain partners can easily be integrated into the system. Suppliers, agencies, factories and other upstream partners are added according to a standardised onboarding process.

“Due to our growth in sales, server space for certificates, email traffic and the work of the CSR department increased. With the help of OSCA CSR, we want to reduce these burdens and bring transparency to the processes,” explains Schmies.

The benefits of the solution include:

  • Easy tracking of audits as well as certifications including an early warning system that strikes as soon as the validity of the documents expires.
  • Violations of regulations can be classified and tracked in an uncomplicated manner.
  • The regulations (e.g. the Code of Conduct) are clearly presented and can be distributed simultaneously to all partners involved in the respective process.
  • Surveys to partners can be created and distributed quickly. The user can easily filter out unprocessed surveys.

Background

The topics of sustainability and certification are very important to the company. Some of the products are produced according to cradle-to-cradle principles. “Our suppliers completely disclose which materials are used for production and guarantee that no materials harmful to the health are used for this. The water for production comes from the company’s own water cycle and the electricity used comes from water or solar energy,” says Schmies.

In addition, the licensee manufactures textile products that are STANDARD 100 by Oeko certified. The company works in the Better Cotton Initiative, where farmers are trained to produce cotton in an environmental-friendly way, thereby increasing their income. The management is also committed to the Organic 100 Content Standard (OCS) and operates under the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).

The enterprise is also part of the Amfori Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI). This means that the company not only commits itself to high social standards and sustainability, but also ensures compliance with social and labour law conditions by auditing its production partners.

 

 

OSCA brings supply chain visibility to textile licensee

Whether it’s Superman, Batman or the Avengers: The German licensee of these motifs is relying on Setlog’s software OSCA to better manage its supply chain for the production and transportation of clothing with movie and comic motives.

The German marketing specialist for textiles and accessories of popular licensed brands signed a contract with Setlog at the end of 2021. With that, the company set the foundation to be up to date in terms of digitisation of supply chain management. Setlog’s OSCA SCM and OSCA CSR modules will go live at the end of the first quarter of 2022.

“With OSCA SCM, we can track our orders digitally via a transparent supply chain. We chose Setlog’s tool since it is the best solution in an international benchmark,” emphasises Holger Schmies, Managing Director and co-owner of the company. One of the reasons why the enterprise also uses OSCA CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) is to be able to comply effortlessly with the regulations from future supply chain due diligence laws.

OSCA is easy to implement and makes it possible to quickly manage and control all supply chain processes. “The software replaces emails, Excel lists and last-minute calls about delivery changes,” explains Ralf Duester, board member of Setlog.

Whether Disney, Warner Bros, Marvel, Peanuts or Paw Patrol – the German licensee is holding licenses for popular comic and movie heroes. Textiles with prints of the characters are produced up to 85% in the Far East – the rest in Portugal and Turkey. In the future, the company will transmit all orders from its ERP system to its two dozen suppliers directly via Setlog’s software.

From order confirmation and delivery planning to transport bookings and shipments, the SCM software always serves as a central communication hub for all partners along the supply chain. With the software, the company can control costs, volumes, lead times, transport times and routing, carton packing lists (including label generation) as well as delivery dates.

The four logistics service providers the licensee works with will transfer transport notifications and tracking data directly into the Setlog platform to thus supporting a single point of access. For a digital data exchange of order and transport information with the TMS solutions of the forwarding companies, Setlog has developed a REST API interface. A KPI dashboard visualises the most important key figures for the employees.

All partners in the supply chain are informed simultaneously and in real-time as soon as delivery data changes or delays occur. Once OSCA goes live, all shipments will run through the system. For 2022, the company expects between 250 and 300 FCL container as well as LCL shipments to be centrally controlled and handled this way.

To easily comply with the regulations of future supply chain due diligence laws in the EU and Germany, the fast-growing company relies on the OSCA CSR solution. Within the system, the structures and tier levels of global supply chains are displayed transparently. New supply chain partners can easily be integrated into the system. Suppliers, agencies, factories and other upstream partners are added according to a standardised onboarding process.

“Due to our growth in sales, server space for certificates, email traffic and the work of the CSR department increased. With the help of OSCA CSR, we want to reduce these burdens and bring transparency to the processes,” explains Schmies.

The benefits of the solution include:

  • Easy tracking of audits as well as certifications including an early warning system that strikes as soon as the validity of the documents expires.
  • Violations of regulations can be classified and tracked in an uncomplicated manner.
  • The regulations (e.g. the Code of Conduct) are clearly presented and can be distributed simultaneously to all partners involved in the respective process.
  • Surveys to partners can be created and distributed quickly. The user can easily filter out unprocessed surveys.

Background

The topics of sustainability and certification are very important to the company. Some of the products are produced according to cradle-to-cradle principles. “Our suppliers completely disclose which materials are used for production and guarantee that no materials harmful to the health are used for this. The water for production comes from the company’s own water cycle and the electricity used comes from water or solar energy,” says Schmies.

In addition, the licensee manufactures textile products that are STANDARD 100 by Oeko certified. The company works in the Better Cotton Initiative, where farmers are trained to produce cotton in an environmental-friendly way, thereby increasing their income. The management is also committed to the Organic 100 Content Standard (OCS) and operates under the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).

The enterprise is also part of the Amfori Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI). This means that the company not only commits itself to high social standards and sustainability, but also ensures compliance with social and labour law conditions by auditing its production partners.

 

 

Cranfield expert-led seminar sessions at IMHX 2022 

World-renowned specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield, has been named as the Academic Partner of the International Materials Handling Exhibition 2022 (IMHX). As IMHX 2022’s Academic Partner, Cranfield University will play a role in this year’s speaker programme which will run alongside the three-day exhibition of materials handling and intralogistics solutions, this Autumn (September 6-8, 2022) at the NEC, Birmingham, UK.

With two conferences at this year’s IMHX – The Logistics Conference 2022 and The Logistics Solutions Conference – sessions will be expert-led. They will feature a range of high-profile speakers chosen for their ability to provide valuable insights into achieving optimal performance within warehouse, fulfilment and distribution centre environments as well as across the wider supply chain.

The Logistics Conference 2022 will take the theme ‘Sustainability – People, Innovation & Infrastructure and Technology’, while in The Logistics Solutions Conference many of the advances in technology and product design that are driving efficiency gains throughout the logistics sector will be up for discussion.

IMHX 2022 Group Director Rob Fisher commented: “We are delighted to be partnering with such a respected organisation as Cranfield University. The presentations will deliver fresh insights into the ways supply chain strategies are shifting to meet the myriad challenges presented by changing consumer buying patterns, environmental issues and the ongoing workforce crisis.

“Along with Crown Lift Trucks and Intelligent Energy, Cranfield is also a sponsorship partner of the IMHX 2022 Sustainability Zone. This dynamic new feature will provide visitors to IMHX with insights into what is now a core competency for most businesses.”

Cranfield’s Professor Michael Bourlakis (pictured), Director of Research for Cranfield School of Management and the Director of the Centre of Logistics, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, commented: “Logistics and supply chain operations have been hit by a series of major impacts over recent years. There is also a pressing need to ensure sustainability in every sense. These factors mean that it has never been more important to embrace strategic change and improvements across the industry.”

The UK’s premier logistics solutions and intralogistics technology event, IMHX showcases developments in technology and the latest storage and materials handling solutions from some of the world’s most innovative and influential manufacturers and suppliers.

IMHX 2022 is co-owned by Informa and the UK Materials Handling Association (formerly BITA – the British Industrial Truck Association) and the event enjoys cross-industry support from the UK’s leading logistics industry associations and trade bodies, including Automated Material Handling Systems Association (AMHSA), the UK Materials Handling Association (UKMHA), and the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA).

Cranfield expert-led seminar sessions at IMHX 2022 

World-renowned specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield, has been named as the Academic Partner of the International Materials Handling Exhibition 2022 (IMHX). As IMHX 2022’s Academic Partner, Cranfield University will play a role in this year’s speaker programme which will run alongside the three-day exhibition of materials handling and intralogistics solutions, this Autumn (September 6-8, 2022) at the NEC, Birmingham, UK.

With two conferences at this year’s IMHX – The Logistics Conference 2022 and The Logistics Solutions Conference – sessions will be expert-led. They will feature a range of high-profile speakers chosen for their ability to provide valuable insights into achieving optimal performance within warehouse, fulfilment and distribution centre environments as well as across the wider supply chain.

The Logistics Conference 2022 will take the theme ‘Sustainability – People, Innovation & Infrastructure and Technology’, while in The Logistics Solutions Conference many of the advances in technology and product design that are driving efficiency gains throughout the logistics sector will be up for discussion.

IMHX 2022 Group Director Rob Fisher commented: “We are delighted to be partnering with such a respected organisation as Cranfield University. The presentations will deliver fresh insights into the ways supply chain strategies are shifting to meet the myriad challenges presented by changing consumer buying patterns, environmental issues and the ongoing workforce crisis.

“Along with Crown Lift Trucks and Intelligent Energy, Cranfield is also a sponsorship partner of the IMHX 2022 Sustainability Zone. This dynamic new feature will provide visitors to IMHX with insights into what is now a core competency for most businesses.”

Cranfield’s Professor Michael Bourlakis (pictured), Director of Research for Cranfield School of Management and the Director of the Centre of Logistics, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, commented: “Logistics and supply chain operations have been hit by a series of major impacts over recent years. There is also a pressing need to ensure sustainability in every sense. These factors mean that it has never been more important to embrace strategic change and improvements across the industry.”

The UK’s premier logistics solutions and intralogistics technology event, IMHX showcases developments in technology and the latest storage and materials handling solutions from some of the world’s most innovative and influential manufacturers and suppliers.

IMHX 2022 is co-owned by Informa and the UK Materials Handling Association (formerly BITA – the British Industrial Truck Association) and the event enjoys cross-industry support from the UK’s leading logistics industry associations and trade bodies, including Automated Material Handling Systems Association (AMHSA), the UK Materials Handling Association (UKMHA), and the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA).

Oceaneering chooses BlueBotics navigation technology

Oceaneering International has chosen BlueBotics, S.A, to provide navigation technology for its line of industrial autonomous mobile robots.

“Our goal is to unlock the full potential of mobile robotics and enable widespread adoption in all industries,” said Henny Bouwmeester, Vice President and General Manager of Oceaneering Mobile Robotics. “To achieve this, our technology offering needs to be accessible, easy-to-use, and flexible to accommodate our client’s needs.

“BlueBotics, with its proven technology that requires little to no additional infrastructure, will be an integral part of our solution stack and is highly complementary to our product and service offerings.”

“We are delighted to partner with Oceaneering, one of the leading AGV producers in North America and Europe,” said Dr. Nicola Tomatis, CEO of BlueBotics. “With our customer-focused approach, proven ANT navigation technology, and close technical support, we see strong synergies between our companies, and we look forward to helping Oceaneering’s team bring numerous successful ANT driven vehicles to market.”

Oceaneering chooses BlueBotics navigation technology

Oceaneering International has chosen BlueBotics, S.A, to provide navigation technology for its line of industrial autonomous mobile robots.

“Our goal is to unlock the full potential of mobile robotics and enable widespread adoption in all industries,” said Henny Bouwmeester, Vice President and General Manager of Oceaneering Mobile Robotics. “To achieve this, our technology offering needs to be accessible, easy-to-use, and flexible to accommodate our client’s needs.

“BlueBotics, with its proven technology that requires little to no additional infrastructure, will be an integral part of our solution stack and is highly complementary to our product and service offerings.”

“We are delighted to partner with Oceaneering, one of the leading AGV producers in North America and Europe,” said Dr. Nicola Tomatis, CEO of BlueBotics. “With our customer-focused approach, proven ANT navigation technology, and close technical support, we see strong synergies between our companies, and we look forward to helping Oceaneering’s team bring numerous successful ANT driven vehicles to market.”

RightHand adds Vanderlande as a charter member

RightHand Robotics, a leader in data-driven, autonomous robotic picking solutions for order fulfilment, has partnered with Vanderlande, a global market leader for future-proof logistic process automation in the warehousing, airports, and parcel sectors, to deploy piece-picking robots to meet the demands of general merchandise warehouses and distribution centres on a global scale.

In doing so, Vanderlande has added the RightHand Robotics award-winning RightPick item handling system to its Smart Item Robotics (SIR) portfolio of technologies, following the company’s strategy to accelerate the use of robotics in warehousing.

“The market wants integrated robotics that work, so we’ve tested the world’s leading robot solutions,” says Terry Verkuijlen, Vanderlande’s Vice President Warehouse Solutions. “Our findings showed that RightHand Robotics’ use of gripper technology, vision systems and software algorithms is the best fit for automated general merchandise warehouses.”

After testing several of the world’s leading robot-picking solutions, Vanderlande ultimately selected the RightHand Robotics solutions for its best-in-class features and capabilities, and because they are successfully functioning in warehouses today. As labour shortages continue to increase, the partnership will benefit Vanderlande’s customers as advanced automated picking becomes ubiquitous in an ever-demanding order fulfilment climate.

“We are pleased to be included with the Smart Item Robotics (SIR) portfolio of technologies,” said Leif Jentoft, CSO and Co-Founder at RightHand Robotics. “Warehouses are under increasing pressure to accelerate order fulfilment as ecommerce orders continue to rise. We look forward to helping Vanderlande meet the needs of customers worldwide and are honoured to meet their standards for advanced automated picking.”

The collaboration is managed as part of the RightHand Robotics Partner Integrator program, the company’s flagship strategic partnership initiative that makes it easier for end customers to adopt the RightPick platform while still working with their preferred automation suppliers. The program was launched to align business goals of system integrators, OEM technology providers, certified robot integrator partners, and other related sales alliance members. The program offers strategic, commercial, and technical engagement such that companies can develop and build comprehensive solutions that are Powered by RightHand Robotics RightPick piece-picking technology.

 

RightHand adds Vanderlande as a charter member

RightHand Robotics, a leader in data-driven, autonomous robotic picking solutions for order fulfilment, has partnered with Vanderlande, a global market leader for future-proof logistic process automation in the warehousing, airports, and parcel sectors, to deploy piece-picking robots to meet the demands of general merchandise warehouses and distribution centres on a global scale.

In doing so, Vanderlande has added the RightHand Robotics award-winning RightPick item handling system to its Smart Item Robotics (SIR) portfolio of technologies, following the company’s strategy to accelerate the use of robotics in warehousing.

“The market wants integrated robotics that work, so we’ve tested the world’s leading robot solutions,” says Terry Verkuijlen, Vanderlande’s Vice President Warehouse Solutions. “Our findings showed that RightHand Robotics’ use of gripper technology, vision systems and software algorithms is the best fit for automated general merchandise warehouses.”

After testing several of the world’s leading robot-picking solutions, Vanderlande ultimately selected the RightHand Robotics solutions for its best-in-class features and capabilities, and because they are successfully functioning in warehouses today. As labour shortages continue to increase, the partnership will benefit Vanderlande’s customers as advanced automated picking becomes ubiquitous in an ever-demanding order fulfilment climate.

“We are pleased to be included with the Smart Item Robotics (SIR) portfolio of technologies,” said Leif Jentoft, CSO and Co-Founder at RightHand Robotics. “Warehouses are under increasing pressure to accelerate order fulfilment as ecommerce orders continue to rise. We look forward to helping Vanderlande meet the needs of customers worldwide and are honoured to meet their standards for advanced automated picking.”

The collaboration is managed as part of the RightHand Robotics Partner Integrator program, the company’s flagship strategic partnership initiative that makes it easier for end customers to adopt the RightPick platform while still working with their preferred automation suppliers. The program was launched to align business goals of system integrators, OEM technology providers, certified robot integrator partners, and other related sales alliance members. The program offers strategic, commercial, and technical engagement such that companies can develop and build comprehensive solutions that are Powered by RightHand Robotics RightPick piece-picking technology.

 

Yale Pedestrian Pallet Truck introduced for low intensity applications

Yale Europe Materials Handling continues to bring innovative solutions to the materials handling market as it launches the Yale MP16UX Pedestrian Pallet Truck.

For customers with intermittent or low intensity logistics operations who want the benefits of a very efficient truck at an affordable price, the Yale MP16UX offers the ideal solution in a slimline package.

“Ideal for retail stores and last-mile delivery, the Yale MP16UX meets the need and makes the move,” explained Eva Nachtergaele, Solutions Manager EMEA at Yale. “For back-of-store operations requiring intermittent use of materials handling products, our latest pedestrian pallet truck offers a reliable truck combined with low energy consumption, making it an incredibly attractive offering.”

The pedestrian pallet truck is designed to be slimline, lightweight, and easily manoeuvrable, all while offering stability when handling goods.

Low energy consumption

To reduce operator fatigue during a shift, the Yale MP16UX features a longer tiller arm with easily accessible butterfly controls, requiring less effort for the user to move loads.

The battery offers up to 12 hours shift life, accommodating store opening times. The fork options mean it will be able to handle common pallet sizes used in EMEA, lifting them up to 120mm. Spring-loaded castors improve lateral stability as the truck manoeuvres from A to B, and its soft lowering ensures loads are handled with care from start to finish.

“The competitive energy consumption and long shift life of the Yale MP16UX is a key selling point of our latest pedestrian pallet truck,” said Nachtergaele. “Customers can be sure that this product is ready to work efficiently and effectively whenever it is required. It is compact and efficient – but importantly, at an affordable price with low cost of ownership.

“Our research suggests over 50% of the market is looking for a truck with this offering, and the Yale MP16UX is ready and waiting to deliver.”

 

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