Tag: robotics

HAI Robotics, a global leader in Autonomous Case-handling Robotic (ACR) system for warehouse logistics, said it is pushing forward the frontier of automated warehousing technology as it unveiled three new products during the CeMAT Asia Expo in Shanghai on 26th October. The new products will help unblock the bottleneck in the intralogistics sector in the yearning for higher storage density and flexibility.

The company showcased at CeMAT Asia, the region’s biggest intralogistics fair, a whole product family of the HAIPICK ACR robots, including two new members: the HAIPICK A3 fork-lifting ACR, A42-FW flexible-width ACR; and the new-look A42T telescopic ACR, which refreshes storage height record in the industry at 10m.

The HAIPICK A3 robot, adopting a fork-lifting picking design, is created for wider storage scenarios in which goods are not necessarily placed inside a box. The design, a major difference from previous generations of HAIPICK robots that use clamping picking, granted larger storage possibilities and better rack space utilisation. Goods that don’t require a container, such as tyres, trays and boards that can be lifted by a fork from the bottom, would be easily handled at higher picking efficiency.

The A3 robot adopts SLAM navigation technology, enabling more man-machine mixed field operations. It is also a good match with environment that has strict control for dust, static and pollution.

The second new product of HAIPICK A42-FW robot targets higher storage density. With a fork that can flexibly adjust according to the size of goods, this robot allows picking and handling of different sizes of totes or cartons.

Warehouse space utilisation can never be too much emphasised, and HAI claims the A42-FW robot is an absolute champion in this regard. On the one hand, with its chassis measuring 900mm in width, narrower than standard aisles of 1000mm, the storage density can be boosted by 5%. On the other hand, its pick height of 190mm to the lowest means that the storage density can be elevated by another 6%. What’s more, the robot can dynamically adjust storage locations according to the size it perceives with the fork and in this way, the storage locations can be increased by 20%.

Along with the new HAIPICK robots, HAI Robotics also launched a new version of HAIQ – the intelligent brain that commands HAIPICK ACR’s operation. HAIQ nova allows seamless interaction with all kinds of equipment such as Kiva robot, slam robot, conveyor belts, etc. The latest HAIQ nova, armed with copious user data from successful projects in different industries, can ensure smooth and optimised warehouse operation.

“Since we initiated the world’s first ACR system in 2015, we have been constantly updating our product as well as solutions, centring on elevated picking height, flexible picking arms, slender robot body and better software system (HAIQ) – addressing the demands for higher storage density, mixed picking of totes and cartons, and more storage locations against the backdrop of surging e-commerce order-fulfilment strain,” Says Richie Chen, the founder and CEO of HAI Robotics.

With over 300 projects running across the globe, HAI Robotics has been constantly learning from successful deployment and is keen to update its ACR technology for better user experience. The birth of the three new products arises from its sharp market perception and from thinking out of the box.

 

Locus Robotics, a leader in autonomous mobile robots (AMR) for fulfilment warehouses, is primed for expansion across the UK and Europe after completing an important milestone in its development – the opening of its European headquarters.

The opening of the new facility in Amsterdam is the culmination of a busy autumn for the US company, which has seen it conclude its first major acquisition and complete its second major funding deal in the space of 12 months.

Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics, said: “Our decision to expand our presence in the European market was a logical step in our business growth strategy. Choosing Amsterdam gives us a central location that is ideal for serving our customer base, as well as giving us access to a vibrant and diverse talent pool to recruit from.”

Fresh from a successful Logistics Business Show, the company is now primed for sustained growth as it looks to capitalise on new opportunities emerging in the warehouse fulfilment sector. The strategy has been boosted by the completion of a significant step in the company’s expansion programme, the acquisition of Waypoint Robotics, an industry leader in industrial strength, autonomous, omnidirectional mobile robots.

The acquisition broadens the Locus product line of proven AMR solutions designed to address use cases from e-commerce, case-picking, and pallet-picking to scenarios requiring larger, heavier payloads and fulfilment modalities.

Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics, said: “Locus is the proven leader in the development of highly productive and innovative AMR technology that efficiently solves our customers’ needs for total warehouse optimisation.

“As order fulfilment and labour shortages continue to grow around the world, the acquisition of Waypoint Robotics will accelerate our ability to meet these global needs in just months rather than years, helping us drive the digital transformation of the warehouse.”

Waypoint Robotics, based in Nashua, New Hampshire, develop and manufacture omnidirectional autonomous mobile robots for automated material transport. Like the LocusBot, its robots can be put to work immediately, supporting an existing workforce, increasing their efficiency, and improving productivity.

“Waypoint shares Locus’s commitment to technology excellence in pursuit of customer success,” said Jason Walker, CEO of Waypoint Robotics. “We’re excited to contribute to the expansion of the Locus product family in order to deliver a broader range of solutions, as well as access to new market segments.”

Waypoint’s innovative Vector and MAV3K are industrial-strength, flexible mobile robot platforms that feature omnidirectional mobility, and can be fitted with a wide variety of modules and attachments, making them versatile and scalable for a host of applications. The Vector has two payload options – 136kg (300lb) or 272kg (600lb), while the MAV3K is for more heavy-duty lifts with a payload capacity of 1,360kg (3,000lb).

Creating synergy with the LocusBot, they are interoperable with other robots and can easily communicate with machines and IoT devices throughout a facility.

With the ability to offer customers a choice, or a combination of robots, the acquisition gives Locus the opportunity to target new sectors, such as the manufacturing sector.

Jordan K. Speer, Research Manager, Global Supply Chains, IDC Retail Insights, said: “Warehouses and fulfilment centres benefit by harnessing the strengths of humans and robots working in collaboration. These cobotic environments are further optimised when a range of differently ‘skilled’ AMRs are employed. With the acquisition of Waypoint Robotics, Locus Robotics is able to bring more capability to the fulfilment floor.”

Investors have also been keen to support Locus’s expansion. Tiger Global Management is an investment firm that focuses on private and public companies in the internet, software, consumer, and payments industries. Earlier this year it was one of group of investors that pumped US$150m into Locus. Tiger Global Management has now injected an additional US$50m into the business to facilitate continued growth and expansion into new markets.

“At a time of increasing volumes and ongoing labour shortages, this new round of funding underscores how critical flexible, scalable, intelligent robotics automation has become to the warehouse and the supply chain,” added Locus CEO Rick Faulk.

With existing fulfilment operations expanding and new operations coming on stream to serve the growing e-commerce sector, the fulfilment industry, whether in the UK or Europe is creating major growth opportunities for those supplying proven fulfilment solutions.

The Locus AMR solution is very much one of those to be proven, helping businesses cost-effectively double, even triple their productivity when compared to traditional fulfilment options.

The innovative and award-winning technology behind the company’s multi-bot solution has now helped to pick more than half-a-billion units in warehouses around the world.

Such has been the rapid adoption of the fulfilment solution by logistics operators globally, together with the explosion in online order volumes over the past 18 months, that the latest landmark was attained just 94 days after Locus reached its 400-millionth pick.

The 500-millionth pick was made at a VF Corporation Fulfilment Centre in Prague, Czech Republic and the item picked was a pair of Vans Old Skool shoes.

It is little surprise that logistics operators globally are increasingly making Locus their number one fulfilment solution.

DHL, the world’s largest logistics company with over 1,400 warehouses and offices in more than 55 countries and territories, has recently signed a 2,000-bot deal with Locus as part of its efforts to digitalise its supply chain processes.

“DHL Supply Chain and Locus Robotics have established a productive partnership based on a highly successful integration of the Locus autonomous mobile robot solution into our customers’ operations, and we value the emphasis they have placed on listening to our needs,” said Sally Miller, CIO, DHL Supply Chain North America.

 

Geek+, a global AMR leader, has won the European Product Design Award in the industrial robot category with RoboShuttle, the double deep tote-picking robot for high-density storage.

The award recognises the combination of flexibility and functionality that permeates the entire design, from robot to solution, and the ability to create, innovate and produce solutions that solve logistics bottlenecks to help businesses flexible grow and compete.

Jackson Zhang, President of Geek+ Europe, says: “We are very proud to receive this award and see it as a recognition of the ability of our engineers and designers to develop products that solve actual logistics bottlenecks by targeting the physical issue of space as well as a more e-commerce-driven business environment. Today, RoboShuttle has been deployed in over 10 countries. There is exponential interest in the solution, which optimises space, ensures the safety of employees, and brings accuracy and flexibility to warehouse operations.”

The Double Deep RoboShuttle can operate 1m narrow aisles, reach 5m high shelves, and use its extended telescopic arms of 1.5m reach to access totes of varying depth in one location. Equipped with high-precision sensors, the robot will adjust the depth of the telescopic arms to pick totes at varying depths accurately and safely. Due to the flexible and slim chassis design, the RoboShuttle can operate in varying ground conditions and access totes stored as low as 215mm. It can also carry up to five totes in one go to and from a picking station for more efficient and fast order fulfillment. RoboShuttle can be adjusted to match different shelf heights. The robot can also work in dark warehouse environments, using safety lights and self-charging capabilities, enabling 24/7 safe, efficient, and energy-saving logistics operations.

Zihan Yu, Industrial Designer at Geek+, says: “As logistics processes grow increasingly complex, we have to leave the one-size-fits-all mentality behind and see optimisation in terms of customisation. At Geek+, we provide tailored solutions using both hardware and software. While it is our intelligent software platform that analyses the customer’s order history and adjusts operations accordingly, it is the ability to produce versatile robots that allows us to optimise the physical reality of each customer’s warehouse.”

RoboShuttle is a high-density solution that creates a safer work environment for warehouse employees, improves storage capacity by 2-3x, and streamlines logistics processes with intelligent applications incorporating real-time demand such as logical task management and route and maintenance management.

 

 

Locus Robotics, a leader in autonomous mobile robots (AMR) for fulfilment warehouses, has announced it has acquired Waypoint Robotics, an industry leader in industrial strength, autonomous, omnidirectional mobile robots.

“Locus is the proven leader in the development of highly productive and innovative AMR technology that efficiently solves our customers’ needs for total warehouse optimisation,” said Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics. “As order fulfilment and labour shortages continue to grow around the world, the acquisition of Waypoint Robotics will accelerate our ability to meet these global needs in just months rather than years, helping us drive the digital transformation of the warehouse.”

The acquisition broadens the Locus product line of proven and powerful AMR solutions that address use cases from ecommerce, case-picking, and pallet-picking to scenarios requiring larger, heavier payloads and fulfilment modalities.

“Waypoint shares Locus’s commitment to technology excellence in pursuit of customer success,” said Jason Walker, CEO of Waypoint Robotics. “We’re excited to contribute to the expansion of the Locus product family in order to deliver a broader range of solutions, as well as access to new market segments.”

Waypoint’s innovative Vector and MAV3K are industrial-strength, flexible mobile robot platforms that feature omnidirectional mobility, and can be fitted with a wide variety of modules and attachments, making them versatile and scalable for a host of applications. They are interoperable with other robots and can easily communicate with machines and IoT devices throughout a facility.

DHL, the world’s largest logistics company with over 1,400 warehouses and offices in more than 55 countries and territories, had recently signed a 2,000-bot deal with Locus as part of its efforts to digitalise its supply chain processes.

“DHL Supply Chain and Locus Robotics have established a productive partnership based on a highly successful integration of the Locus autonomous mobile robot solution into our customers’ operations, and we value the emphasis they have placed on listening to our needs,” said Sally Miller, CIO, DHL Supply Chain North America.

“This acquisition, which adds a larger, heavier-weight autonomous robot capability to their portfolio, is a good reflection of how they continue to address the customer requirements at the heart of their strategy. I believe it will open up promising new opportunities in our partnership, support DHL’s ongoing efforts to deploy technologies that improve our customers’ supply chains and contribute to the continued advancement of a competitive robotics market.”

“Warehouses and fulfilment centres benefit by harnessing the strengths of humans and robots working in collaboration. These cobotic environments are further optimised when a range of differently ‘skilled’ AMRs are employed. With the acquisition of Waypoint Robotics, Locus Robotics is able to bring more capability to the fulfilment floor,” said Jordan K. Speer, Research Manager, Global Supply Chains, IDC Retail Insights.

“Furthermore, introducing combinations of differently ‘skilled’ AMRs that are interoperable with each other enables new functional capabilities where robots hand off product to each other. Without intelligent automation that can handle a wide variety of tasks on the fulfilment floor — including returns, putaway, and sortation – organisations will not be able to thrive in today’s market.”

Cowen and Company LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to Waypoint Robotics.