THG Fulfil, fulfilment and courier management solution, has announced a partnership with intelligent robotics provider, Libiao. The collaboration will see the installation of 430 state-of-the-art T-sorting robots into THG Fulfil’s automated Manchester warehouse facility, a move projected to increase operational capacity by approximately 75%.
The T-sorting robots are set to be operational in September 2025, providing THG Fulfil with the capacity to output c1 million units per day – a move that will strengthen THG Fulfil’s ability to manage peak demand as it onboards new brands and retailers ahead of the holiday season.
THG Fulfil provides solutions by seamlessly integrating automation, AI-driven technology and proprietary software, delivering customer satisfaction. The strategic implementation of Libiao’s innovative robots is testament to THG Fulfil’s commitment to leveraging advanced automation to enhance speed and improve efficiency across its ecommerce operations. The modular and flexible design of the T-sorting system allows for dynamic scalability, enabling THG Fulfil to rapidly adapt to fluctuating consumer demand, regardless of seasonality.
Libiao’s T-sorting robots are renowned for their high stability and fault tolerance capabilities, boasting a remarkable sorting accuracy of up to 99.9%. The system is engineered to sort for multiple destinations simultaneously, with electroplating robots operating on optimal paths to maximise sorting efficiency. The technology also offers significant space-saving advantages due to its low footprint requirements and versatile deployment options across warehouse levels.
Furthermore, THG Fulfil is Libiao’s UK distribution partner, enabling brands and retailers to access Libiao’s cutting-edge robotics solutions and benefiting from THG Fulfil’s proprietary technology, optimisation and know-how. Brands and retailers will also benefit from rapid deployment capabilities, with installation of Libiao’s robotics solutions possible in as little as three weeks. This short project cycle contributes to fast and high return on investment, resulting in a typical return period of less than three years.
Tom Killeen, COO, THG Ingenuity, said: “We have always believed that fulfilment is a core driver of customer excellence and brand reputation. Our collaboration with Libiao further solidifies our commitment to providing brands and retailers with industry-leading, scalable automation solutions that optimise everything from pick and pack to final mile delivery, ultimately enhancing customer experience and driving loyalty. Our unique approach, which often sees 95% of all units sold moving through some form of automation, combined with our late NDD cut-off times of up to 1am, is truly what sets us apart. We are committed to investing in the future of logistics, while empowering our clients to meet and exceed evolving consumer expectations with unparalleled efficiency.
Jason Zhang, VP of Sales – Europe, Libiao, said: “We’re excited to partner with THG Fulfil, showcasing the elegance and scalability of Libiao Robotics’ solutions. Our compact, modular robots enable rapid plug-and-play deployment. With THG Fulfil as our UK distribution partner — leveraging their vast retail network and warehouse automation expertise — we look forward to expanding Libiao’s reach across new industries. At Libiao, our mission is to make the world more efficient, and this collaboration is a meaningful step toward that goal.”
Libiao Robotics, a supplier of automated warehouse storage systems and robotics, has opened a new office in Singapore. The Singapore HQ facility will henceforth act as headquarters for its overseas (i.e. non-China) business. The new office is situated in Perennial Business City in Jurong Lake District, the largest commercial district outside of Singapore’s city centre and dubbed ‘Singapore’s next central business district’.
Libiao’s new office was officially unveiled on 22nd May in a ceremony hosted by Libiao Robotics CEO and founder Xia Huiling and its CTO Zhu Jianqiang. The ceremony was attended by representatives from long-time Libiao Robotics investor Hidden Hill Capital as well as dignitaries from global investment manager GLP including Angela Zhao, China Co-President of GLP Asset II, and Jerry Cai, China Co-COO of GLP Asset. Also present were representatives from Singapore’s largest supermarket chain, Fairprice, which has deployed Libiao’s technology to good effect in its logistics operations.
A ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the official opening, and a traditional lion dance was held to bestow good luck and fortune upon the new facility. Addressing the audience, Xia Huiling, said: “Our philosophy is to solve challenges by supplying essential mechanisms, and not to keep providing patches to stick over the problems. The way we do business is by encouraging our partners to work and innovate together. This is how we help our customers to reach their goals.”
Dong Zhonglang, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Hill House Capital, added: “When I first saw the robots of Libiao Robotics back in 2016, I told everyone that this must be the future for warehouse automation, not only because they have a perfect design, but also because of their philosophy, which is to ‘make the world more efficient’.”
Technology That Helps Deliver Promises
Following the opening ceremony, a forum called ‘Opportunity in Changes’, hosted jointly by Libiao and GLP, described the landscape influencing modern global supply chains, and how advanced yet affordable technologies such as Libiao’s AirRob automated warehouse storage system can help retail and eCommerce businesses to better deliver the promises they make to their customers. Xiong Kaixin, VP of Commercial, GLP China described how being a signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) demonstrates a firm commitment to a broad range of ESG initiatives, as well as a commitment to investing in technology companies that accelerate global energy transition and carbon emission reduction.
Libiao’s robotic technology enables businesses to store and move goods in the most optimised and energy-efficient manner, helping to achieve considerable reductions in operational costs and carbon consumption. The location of the new office is therefore highly appropriate, as Perennial Business City is the first sustainable Super Low Energy business park in Jurong Lake District. Powered by renewable energy, and equipped with motion-sensors and LED lighting, the building holds a Singapore Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Green Mark Platinum certification.
A compact and agile AirRob automated storage system by Libiao Robotics has been installed in the Shanghai warehouse of a specialist lean supply chain management service company.
Founded in 2001, Shanghai Shine-Link International Logistics (SLC) services the specific storage and distribution needs of precision-driven, high-end industrials, from medical devices to advanced electronics, and chemical reagents to mechanical parts. It offers a wide range of services, including supply chain management, international transportation, and various value-added activities.
With a client list comprising international brands such as Coty, Siemens, Pioneer, and Leica, SLC’s services are highly sought-after by companies whose exacting supply chain and fulfilment standards are considered above the normal needs of the average industrial customer. It has recently added a major medical devices, disinfection and hygiene products manufacturer to its list of prestigious customers.
“Smart Logistics” Model
SLC’s stated focus is on providing lean supply chain management services to international multinational companies based on accurate, timely and personalised IoT and digital services. It has developed a “smart logistics” business model with IT at its core, the goals of which include visual management of logistics processes, intelligent traceability management of products, intelligent warehousing and distribution management, and smart supply chain coordination management.
A significant element of this smart philosophy lies within the four walls of its warehouse facilities, where it embraces cutting-edge systems and practices to attract and retain customers requiring a 3PL that can go above and beyond the average SLAs for the sector. Therefore, to best service the medical device company’s particular storage and global distribution requirements, SLC converted a small area of its Shanghai distribution warehouse to a high-density, highly efficient Libiao AirRob storage system.
The system Libiao designed for SLC comprises an arrangement of standard warehouse racking serviced by just three hard-working AirRob robots which travel vertically and horizontally on the racking to store and retrieve goods quickly and efficiently. These are serviced by a small fleet of nine ‘floorbots’, which transport the goods to one of seven workstations, where the items are then readied for dispatch.
Reduced Energy Consumption
The multi-award-winning AirRob system offers significant advantages over traditional automated warehouse systems. Its modular design enables rapid installation on existing standard racking within one-to-four weeks without the need to alter existing infrastructure or flooring, making it ideal for retrofits or brownfield developments. AirRob operates in aisle widths as narrow as 0.85 meters, enhancing storage density by up to 30%. Each bot consumes just 150 watts per hour – lower than a microwave – reducing energy usage by one-third compared to similar systems. Its scalability allows for quick and easy expansion to meet growing demands. Additionally, AirRob’s efficient operation can triple throughput efficiency, offering a typical return on investment (ROI) within 12–24 months.
Ding Ling, General Manager of IT BU at SLC, commented on the project: “After going out to the market to compare the different systems and solutions that were available, we decided to select AirRob primarily for three main reasons. Firstly, the fact that Libiao Robotics is the inventor of this type of solution; secondly, the solution represents a good ROI for us; and thirdly, we were attracted by the potential energy savings we can make with AirRob.”
“We’re particularly proud to have been chosen as a supplier to such a prestigious and demanding customer,” said Ronan Shen, Libiao Robotics’ VP of Global Sales. “Not only have we provided a system that meets the precise needs of SLC, but we have managed to successfully achieve this in a particularly space-constrained area of a busy warehouse, without disruption to its ongoing operations. Furthermore, the project represents the first AirRob installation in the medical supplies sector, an industry that lends itself well to the characteristics of AirRob, such as high efficiency and accuracy, a high density of storage, low energy usage, and the careful handling of delicate or valuable items.”
This smaller-than-usual AirRob installation at SLC’s Shanghai facility perfectly illustrates that companies can automate some repetitive tasks or part of their operations at a relatively low cost point, yet still make significant gains in efficiency and accuracy.
Libiao Robotics, a supplier of warehouse robotics automation solutions, has been awarded a 2025 RBR50 Innovation Award, given annually by the Robot Business Review to recognise innovation in the mobile robotics industry. Libiao won the accolade for the implementation of its flagship AirRob automated warehouse storage and retrieval system at the Chinese NDC of its customer Skechers.
AirRob by Libiao Robotics is a groundbreaking warehouse automation system that offers high goods transit speeds and industry-leading storage density. The AirRob system is aimed at businesses with intensive logistics operations such as e-commerce, footwear & apparel, cosmetics & pharmaceuticals, as well as manufacturers requiring intensive storage of production parts.
Skechers, the global footwear brand, deploys AirRob at its Taicang Distribution Centre, which supplies replenishment stock to 400 retail outlets as well as servicing eCommerce consumers across China. The implementation of Libiao’s AirRob system has yielded significant benefits for its customer. By automating the entire area, manual handling and temporary storage space have been drastically reduced, resulting in a 50% saving in storage space and a greatly improved throughput rate. This has led not only to a reduction in labour costs and an improvement in the work environment but has also considerably enhanced overall operational efficiency.
“Original and Best”
“We are deeply honoured to receive this prestigious RBR50 award for AirRob alongside our long-standing customer Skechers,” said Xia Huiling, CEO of Libiao Robotics. “Whilst we have seen various versions of AirRob being hurried to the market by our competitors recently, this award is recognition that AirRob is the original and the best. It has come at exactly the right time for us, as we rollout the technology globally to customers seeking a tried-and-tested automated warehouse storage system to optimise their warehouse operations.”
“Libiao Robotics’ deployment with Skechers is a strong endorsement of its technology, showcasing how its automation solutions meet the demands of a major global brand,” said Steve Crowe, executive editor, robotics, of WTWH Media. “We look forward to celebrating Libiao and all RBR50 winners at the RBR50 Gala during the Robotics Summit & Expo!”
Warehouse automation pioneer Libiao Robotics has unveiled a new-look logo, designed to reinforce its values of guardianship and efficiency.
In 2016, Libiao Robotics was officially launched when the first of its ‘Mini Yellow’ autonomous robots was deployed at a customer site. Since then, Libiao has grown to become a globally trusted supplier of logistics automation, with over 60,000 robots deployed and 600+ projects completed worldwide.
These numbers reflect the company’s experience and expertise in delivering innovative solutions that handle billions of valuable consignments – ranging from everyday items to high-value merchandise – with precision and care.
From pioneering robotic sorting solutions to today’s AI-driven integrated systems for dense storage, rapid sorting, and unmanned handling, Libiao has stayed true to its mission: to make the world more efficient. Deploying cutting-edge technology backed by relentless innovation, Libiao is dedicated to safeguarding its customers’ time.
Now, after millions of successful projects and robots deployed worldwide, it’s time for the brand to evolve to the next level.
Guardianship
At the heart of Libiao’s mission is guardianship. Just like the convoys and escorts of historic times who protected valuable goods, Libiao’s robots are designed to ensure every consignment reaches its destination safely and on time.
Its new logo features a shield shape, symbolising its role as a ‘Guardian of Time.’ The two ‘I’s within the shield stand for ‘I’ and ‘Internet’, representing the seamless connection between people, technology, and the digital world. This design reflects Libiao’s commitment to safety, trust, and innovation in logistics automation, making it a powerful symbol of the brand.
Libiao’s guardianship goes beyond just protecting parcels – it’s about safeguarding time. In a world where every second counts, Libiao’s solutions empower its customers with true efficiency, optimising every step of the process to deliver maximum value.
With this brand renewal, Libiao is stepping into a new era, driven by both technological excellence and a stronger brand identity. Together with its customers, it is pushing the boundaries of global logistics efficiency.
As part of a company-wide digital transformation to overcome labour shortages, a leading Japanese 3PL company has commissioned an AirRob automated warehouse storage system from Libiao Robotics to serve its eCommerce business. The AirRob system is located in the company’s newly-built warehouse in the Tokyo metropolitan area, providing it with automated storage and retrieval functions for shoes, clothing, cosmetics and other products. This introduction is not only the company’s first installation of an automated tote handling system, but also the first AirRob system to operate anywhere in Japan.
Commenting on the decision to specify AirRob for the company’s new warehouse, its Business Manager said: “As Japan’s population declines, we need to expand our business scope. In order to strengthen the competitiveness of our logistics business, we focus on certain industries, especially improving our ability to handle a variety of small quantities of goods. In this trend, we expect to achieve the dual goals of high storage density and high operating efficiency, so when we first saw AirRob, we felt that this was exactly the solution we needed.”
Regarding the actual operation of the system, his colleague, the Director of the 3PL’s Innovation Promotion Office, expressed great satisfaction: “If we hadn’t used the AirRob system, we would have required at least 300 tsubos (about 1,000 square metres) of space, and the workers’ movement routes would have been very long, which takes a lot of time. Now we only need about 100 tsubos (about 330 square metres) to solve the storage problem. At the same time, employees don’t require too much training. They can operate by just staying at the workstation and scanning the code, so even those who join the company on the same day can start working straight away.”
As the warehouse is located on the third floor of a building, it was considered difficult to use automated equipment. However, in this regard the Business Manager said: “Even though we only have 4.5 to 5 metres of floor height here, we can store 6,000 SKUs in a 1,000-square-metre space. During the installation and deployment process, there was almost no change to the entire infrastructural environment, which has been a huge advantage.” Furthermore, AirRob’s lightweight design meant it could be installed on an upper storey of the Tokyo warehouse without compromising the load capacity of the floor.
Return on Investment
As Japan is one of the markets that is particularly affected by a labour shortage, the introduction of automated equipment must be precisely calculated. “Under the traditional model, the company often needed three forklift operators to handle 6,000 SKUs of goods , which was labour-intensive and time-consuming,” added the Business Manager. “After the introduction of the AirRob system, only one worker now operates calmly in the same working space. Not only has the labour cost been sharply reduced, but the operating efficiency has also increased exponentially, allowing the company to witness significant economic benefits in a short period of time. In addition, there is no need for additional electricity to drive air conditioners and other equipment in the storage area to maintain the environment, which effectively reduces energy consumption. After deploying this system, if expansion is required in the future, there is no need to re-lay power lines, etc.”
As part of its carefully planned mid-term business strategy, the leading 3PL company outlined two core development directions for its business. On the one hand, its focus is on analysing and strengthening the unique advantages of its logistics business by optimising processes and improving service quality; on the other hand, it is focusing on horizontal expansion, taking logistics as its foundation and actively exploring diversified business expansion paths to grow the company’s business territory.
In actual business operations, the company is keenly aware that it has accumulated rich experience in the field of multi-variety, small-batch cargo handling and this is where it has a unique advantage. It has found that the outstanding characteristics of the AirRob system are perfectly matched with this advantage. Its flexible storage architecture and efficient and smooth operation process not only meet the current small-batch and high-frequency logistics needs, but also offers strong scalability, providing a solid guarantee for the continued growth of future business and the richness and diversity of categories.
Logistics Technology Innovation
Over the years, this 3PL company has been at the forefront of logistics technology innovation and has worked hand-in-hand with its partners. From the initial introduction of the Libiao T-Sort 3D system at start of its exploration of automated logistics, through to the upgrade of the system in 2021 to optimise operations, mutual running-in and trust have gradually increased during this process. After initially deploying the T-Sort 3D system, the company experienced a significant improvement in sorting efficiency, saving 57% of space and helping it to become more and more receptive to Libiao’s solutions.
The addition of the AirRob system has now pushed this cooperation to a new level, leading the 3PL’s Director of the Innovation Promotion Office to say: “We still hope that Libiao can continue to launch innovative new products so that we can introduce them and turn them into our competitive advantage.”
At a ceremonial opening ceremony, Ms. Xia Huiling, CEO of Libiao Robotics, said via video link: “Today is not only the launch of a project, but also represents your attempts and recognition of new technologies. This cooperation is just a starting point. In the future, we will continue to work with you to create better solutions.”
The AirRob installation at this 3PL giant is the first of several new AirRob projects being installed in Japan in 2025, as warehouse robotics pioneer Libiao continues to achieve wider global acclaim for the many advantages AirRob holds compared to other AirRob-like systems.
The expression ‘Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’, often attributed to Irish playwright Oscar Wilde, is applicable to the industrial landscape today as designers from Libiao Robotics, a pioneer in the invention of its award-winning AirRob automated warehouse storage system, walked through the exhibition halls at the recent CeMAT Asia event in Shanghai. For there on display were numerous imitations of AirRob, some being promoted by blue chip intralogistics manufacturers, and others by less well-known producers.
Speaking after collecting the 2024 Wu Qing Yi Logistics Innovation Award for Libiao’s AirRob system at the 12th Global Intelligent Logistics Industry Development Conference, Ms. Xia Huiling, CEO of Zhejiang Libiao Robotics Co., Ltd., addressed this proliferation of AirRob-like systems recently introduced by industry competitors, saying: “We have seen many excellent companies launch similar products based on the design concept of the AirRob system. It is my view that imitation promotes technological innovation, but plagiarism hinders innovation. I would like to talk about my views from three aspects:
“First of all, from a product perspective, I think this phenomenon shows that the concept and value of the AirRob solution have been recognised by the industry, which shows that we are heading in the right direction to change the world. Thank you for your affirmation of Libiao! Secondly, from an individual perspective, AirRob is a product that the Libiao innovation team has spent a lot of time and effort to bring to the market. Imitation behaviour does bring some emotional experiences to the Libiao innovation team at certain moments, but our focus and goal is always on how to provide customers with better solutions, how to protect customers’ time and safety through technological innovation. It is our quest to enable the logistics industry become more efficient and smarter. Finally, Libiao hopes that everyone will pay attention to our passion for innovation and belief in innovation through our systems. If AirRob can inspire the innovative spirit of more imitators and ignite the fire of innovation, Libiao is willing to be one of the few sparks.”
Innovation Advantage Through Strong Competition
When asked how Libiao manages to maintain its innovation advantage in face of fierce competition from within the industry, Ms. Xia cited four distinct points: “First, we understand that imitation is an inevitable phenomenon in the development of the industry. Just like when our ‘mini yellows’ (Libiao’s highly acclaimed AMRs) first appeared, they also encountered many imitators and the pressure was really great at that time. But at the same time, we are also very grateful to those strong competitors. As the saying goes: ‘To succeed, you need friends, and to achieve great success, you need strong competitors.’ It is these competitors that have driven our growth.
“Second, each of Libiao’s product designs is based on a deep understanding of the industry, aiming to solve pain points, provide value to customers, and solve problems fundamentally. Therefore, Libiao attaches great importance to intellectual property protection and has deployed a comprehensive patent strategy around the world, especially in developed countries, where strict legal systems can be used to safeguard its rights and interests. It is precisely because of its insistence on originality that Libiao is respected in the industry, and many industry leaders are willing to discuss the future with us, to share technology and dynamics, which allows us to ‘stand on the shoulders of giants’.
Xia Huiling
“Third, I think innovation can be divided into original creation and re-creation. Original creation requires special genes and the spirit of ‘making the world better’. Libiao has always insisted on original creation since its establishment; my definition of re-creation is to repeat innovation on the basis of original creation. Imitators belong to re-creation, and the goals of re-creators are relatively consistent, namely economic benefits. However, the values of original creation and re-creation are different, and their contributions to the world are also different. Libiao’s ultimate goal is to ‘make the world more efficient’.
“Finally, despite the tremendous changes in the logistics industry, there are still many pain points and on-site problems that need to be solved. Libiao hopes to lead the industry into a new era of healthy competition and collaboration through its own persistence and practice. Therefore, we call on more companies to join the ranks of innovators with the goal of ‘making the world more efficient’, focus on solving the core pain points of the logistics industry, and promote the industry to develop in a more efficient, smarter and more sustainable direction.”
Future Developments
As competitors circle the market aggressively with their AirRob-like products hoping to capture business from high-volume retailers and eCommerce operations, Ms. Xia is focused on Libiao’s future development strategy. “I feel that competition in the logistics industry is not fierce,” she acknowledges. “The reason why everyone feels that competition is fierce is more because of homogeneous competition, that is, price wars, which is also what everyone calls ‘volume’.
“Libiao has always insisted on differentiated competition. By solving new problems and creating new scenarios, we let users realise that modern technology can support their imagination and break the shackles of traditional thinking. Users can reorganise and optimise processes like building blocks. We are also very happy to cooperate with all parties to give full play to their respective advantages and provide more innovative possibilities and imagination space for the logistics industry. Just as the Internet once reshaped the physical industry, the logistics industry is now standing at the forefront of such a transformation.”
In a highly competitive industry sector, where technology is developing at a considerable rate, Libiao has recorded tremendous growth by bringing innovative – some have described them as pioneering – products into the marketplace that are designed to solve real challenges customers have in real situations. AirRob, which was nominated for a prestigious IFOY Award in 2023, is a prime example of that, and it is therefore no surprise that it has spurned AirRob-like imitations from companies who looked on jealously at the technology and realised they needed to catch up. Ms. Xia believes that by continuing to innovate, further growth will come.
“We hope that all our peers can realise that competition is the driving force of industry progress, but true success comes from contribution to society,” she said. “The future of the logistics industry is full of opportunities and challenges. As I said before, we are being imitated by others actually because we are doing the right thing. We are on the right path, and there is no hesitation. Engineering culture is the DNA of Libiao. We will continue to focus on flexible automation technology innovation and create value for customers. Libiao believes that true success comes from a deep insight into customer needs and unremitting efforts. We are willing to work with users and partners to protect customers’ time and value and make the world more efficient,” concluded Ms. Xia.
South Korea-based heath and beauty retail chain Olive Young has recently deployed Libiao Robotics’ T-Sort handling technology in its new 33,000 sq m national distribution centre in Gyeonggi Province, bringing the retailer unprecedented levels of efficiency, speed and order accuracy.
Established in 1999 and now considered a market leader in the booming K-beauty* sector, Olive Young operates more than 1,300 stores and is growing its online marketplace for its products at a considerable rate. It has seen a rapid growth in business post-Covid thanks to its wide product range allied with an ethical approach to business. In order to fulfil greater volumes of online orders at a faster throughput, it chose to equip its new-build DC with a cutting-edge robotic system devised and installed by automated warehouse storage pioneer Libiao Robotics.
Efficient Inventory Management
The integrated logistics centre, which became operational in September 2024, has been built to service Olive Young’s numerous stores in the Seoul metropolitan area as well as handle its national and export online sales. Its single-layer structure enables efficient inventory operation and management, and integrates logistics functions across multiple Olive Young brands – including its private labels such as Bio Heal boH and WAKEMAKE – that were previously fulfilled at three separate sites. The location of the warehouse and the sophistication of the technology within it mean that Olive Young can offer customers in the Seoul metropolitan area a same-day delivery option.
At the heart of the facility lies Libiao’s flexible T-Sort sorting solution, a fast and efficient order-to-person solution in which 320 of Libiao’s “mini yellow” autonomous robots collect ordered items from one of four induction stations and feeds them to one of 32 work stations where they are collated prior to dispatch. In this case, Libiao custom produced the autonomous robots in bright green, at Olive Young’s behest, in order to match its brand colour requirements.
Olive Young specified that its new system should be able to fulfil 2,190 customer orders per hour, and handle the most fragile of beauty products, which the T-Sort system comfortably achieves.
As well as offering high levels of accuracy and a rate of throughput never before experienced by the retailer, the entire automated system occupies a footprint of just 460 sq m, allowing spare warehouse space to be converted to other added-value operations. Furthermore, the system operates smoothly and quietly (≥72dB), providing a comfortable working environment for Olive Young’s warehouse team, an important consideration for a company that places ethics high on its list of priorities, and which runs a number of high-profile CSR campaigns.
The T-Sort automated warehouse storage system, which was implemented in conjunction with Libiao’s local partner CJ Logistics, can deliver a reliable service even during large-scale sales such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, when overseas orders soar up to five times compared to normal times, thanks to its scaleable design that allows Libiao’s “mini yellows” – or “mini greens”! – to be added or taken away amid fluctuating volumes without the need for any infrastructural adjustments.
Significant Landmark
“This Libiao T-Sort installation at Olive Young represents a significant landmark in Libiao’s history, as it is the largest installation so far in South Korea,” said Ronan Shen, Libiao Robotics’ Global Head of Business. “When Olive Young saw a chance to grow its business along with the increased global interest in K-beauty products, it was careful to choose a robotics partner that matches its vision, has rock-solid tried-and-tested systems, and enables future expansion without the associated infrastructural costs that come with rival systems. Our collaboration with Olive Young is one we are particularly proud of, and we are ready to stand next to them all the way and support the brand as Olive Young grows its export business.”
The new facility – the second-largest DC in the Seoul metropolitan area – is central to Olive Young’s ambitions to grow its export markets. The market for Korean H&B products is growing at an exponential rate, and Olive Young is now ideally placed to capitalise on this K-beauty boom. The building has been designed to house customised facilities for individual shipping companies such as DHL and EMS, providing optimised delivery services for each country.
A spokesperson for Olive Young added: “The Anseong Logistics Centre will serve as the first gateway for small and medium-sized K-beauty brands in Olive Young to advance overseas. We plan to expand our global logistics network by continuously strengthening competitiveness.”
* K-beauty is an umbrella term for skincare products derived from South Korea that focus on health, hydration, and an emphasis on brightening effects.
Logistics Business has published a new eBook on warehouse automation and robotics, in association with Libiao Robotics. Editor Peter MacLeod profiles a variety of case study projects from around the world, looking at successful implementation of new automated robotics and sortation systems for customers.
Libiao Robotics is a global pioneer of flexible intelligent sorting robots and solutions. As the creator of the world’s first portable, modular and automated unit sorting system, Libiao integrates logistics automation, R&D, production and sales of intelligent equipment.
The case studies in this exclusive eBook are from South Africa, Greec, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, France, Turkey, China the USA and the UAE. Truly global warehouse automation know-how.
Libiao’s systems are in operation across a wide variety of industries and scenarios, including express delivery, e-commerce, supermarkets, retail, shoes & garments, pharmaceuticals, food & beverages, cold storage and manufacturing. Over 60,000 Libiao sorting robots are deployed in countries and regions around the world by customers including Walmart, Orbis, JD.com, Procter & Gamble, Skechers, Mitsui & Co., MonarchFx, Nordstrom, Target, Kmart, USPS, China Post, Deppon Express, and SLC.
Libiao Robotics eBook
In 2023, Libiao established a permanent European headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, to better serve its growing customer base in the region. Libiao’s European credentials are solid, with
several existing customers including national postal operators, 3PLs and e-commerce businesses already relying on its tried-and-tested ‘mini yellow’ robotic devices. With the establishment
of its European base, Libiao has permanent personnel on the ground in Europe to offer total local sales, service and support.
Libiao’s 3D vertical sorter is a highly flexible solution – its capacity can be easily and quickly increased or decreased simply by adding or taking away robots. Also, at particularly busy times such as the period around Singles’ Day, additional sorting chutes can be added to cope with very high traffic sorting demands. The system has the additional benefit of being able to help couriers by sorting items according to their destination.
If set up as a single-layer system, it can handle up to 3,000 items per hour. A two-tier version doubles that hourly capacity, making it one of the best sorting solutions on the market for businesses who have previously struggled to process increased seasonal volumes. Requiring no infrastructural modifications or special floor surface conditions, the fully customisable T-Sort system is designed so that a single robot failure will not affect the rest of the operation, a must-have when a facility is already running at full capacity.
With labour shortages affecting global markets, logistics businesses in particular are seeking ways to automate repetitive tasks and help manage operational costs. Increasingly they are turning to robotic solutions such as the innovative AirRob system from Libiao Robotics. In Taiwan, where the labour shortage is particularly acutely felt, Toyota Material Handling Taiwan, the importer of intralogistics systems and forklifts manufactured by the Japanese automotive giant, chose the recent Taipei International Logistics Show to introduce AirRob’s capabilities to the Taiwanese audience.
With 166 employees working out of eight service locations in Taiwan plus two further locations in Mainland China, Toyota Material Handling Taiwan reshaped its business in 2003 in response to the developing changes in industry trends. The opportunity arose to transform Toyota Material Handling Taiwan from a pure forklift business to one that provides customers with holistic automated solutions for logistics warehousing and storage.
“In the past, the customer’s main premise to introduce automation has been return on investment,” said Huang Mingren, General Manager of Toyota Material Handling Taiwan. “But now the lack of labour has become the primary problem. AI is becoming more and more mature, and in addition to being intelligent and shareable, equipment now being introduced should also be highly flexible. In Japan and Taiwan, in terms of logistics automation, traditional equipment such as automatic warehouses, conveyors, sorters, elevators, electronic labelling and picking systems are still widely used. But we have now entered an era where intelligent warehouse automation equipment is transforming the industry, accelerated by eCommerce-type logistics.”
This year, Toyota Material Handling Taiwan introduced Libiao’s AirRob system into its range of intelligent warehouse solutions. Meeting the demands of high-density and high-traffic warehouse operations such as those experienced in eCommerce operations, “AirRob has the characteristics of high return rate, high flexibility and high efficiency,” continues Huang Mingren. “According to the projects we have executed, the staff can not only increase the speed of operation by more than 50%, but also significantly shorten the training period. In terms of the operation platform and equipment, the number of robots can be flexibly increased or decreased according to the demand, and if the scale is expanded or the site needs to be moved, it can be easily moved or reconfigured.
“It is an intelligent robot with a very high degree of flexibility and freedom; it can be very small or very large, and it can have great expandability to meet the needs of different customers under different operating modes. Our mission is to create solutions together with our customers and partners. It is my dream that our company can be the benchmark in Taiwan in the field of intelligent storage, and at the same time have the opportunity to bring us and our partners to the world market. We are an integrated platform, with reputation, knowledge, technology and capital. With the launch of our intelligent storage solutions, I believe that we will have the strength to lead us to be bigger and stronger.”
Taipai International Logistics Show
Taking place at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre, the Taipei International Logistics Show saw Toyota Material Handling Taiwan formally introduced the comprehensive Libiao AirRob 3D sorting system to demonstrate the warehouse automation services and solutions it can provide to its customers in Taiwan. Libiao’s CEO, Xia Huiling, was invited to share the company’s innovative solutions in the food and footwear industries, and to describe how Libiao can provide cutting-edge technology to help alleviate the current labour shortage problem in Taiwan’s logistics sector. With a large demand for personnel, difficulty in recruiting workers, and a high turnover rate, businesses in Taiwan often need to recruit a large proportion of temporary workers, particularly when facing seasonal business growth. The emergence of AirRob provides an effective solution to help solve these challenges, she said.
During her speech at the Smart Logistics Forum held during the exhibition, Xia Huiling discussed Libiao’s efficient sorting solutions for food, clothing, housing and transportation. After highlighting several of AirRob’s significant benefits and advantages – such as the need for no infrastructural modifications to the existing shelving, no special requirements for ground flatness, its fast deployment, its highly efficient goods-to-person operation, and its ability to easily conform to Taiwan’s stringent environmental regulations – Xia Huiling discussed in detail an application of the AirRob system at the Skechers footwear and apparel distribution centre in Taicang, Mainland China, a project which not only won the 13th LT Award China Logistics Technology Innovation Application Award, but has also been shortlisted as a finalist in Europe in two categories of the prestigious Robotics & Automation Awards 2024.
Xia Huiling furthermore analysed the current status and trends of international cold chain logistics in 2024, pointing out that the industry is developing rapidly, especially in Europe and Asia-Pacific, with great potential. The market segments of fresh food and pharmaceutical logistics are expanding, but they face challenges such as temperature control management, cost control and difficulty in recruiting workers. She also explained how Libiao’s intelligent sorting solutions can cope with these challenges through successful cases of the company’s applications in fresh food projects such as Dingdong Maicai, Hema Fresh, Meituan Youxuan, and South Korea’s HY.
The addition of Taiwan to its already extensive operations in Asia-Pacific means Libiao Robotics is strongly placed to service the growing needs of customers in the region. Furthermore, Libiao is expanding to serve its growing customer base in the European market, having recently established a regional headquarters in Frankfurt.
