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Logistics

Dematic’s parent company Kion acquires another logistics automation company

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Intralogistics technology provider Dematic says that its parent company, Kion Group, has completed the acquisition of Digital Applications International, a UK-based software company specializing in logistics automation solutions, on its behalf.

Valued at around €120 million, the transaction is Kion’s largest investment since acquiring Dematic in 2016.

The addition of DAI significantly expands Dematic’s intralogistics software offerings to support the movement, storage and distribution of goods through the entire supply chain. [Read more…] about Dematic’s parent company Kion acquires another logistics automation company

Autonomous Solutions Inc launches robotic unmanned yard truck solution

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Autonomous Solutions Inc has launched an unmanned yard truck solution. The system is basically an industrial robotic arm on the back of a driverless truck. (See video below.)

The technology combines the expertise of four companies:

  • Autonomous Solutions Inc, which specialises in vehicle automation;
  • Phantom Auto, a provider of remote communication software for unmanned vehicles;
  • Fanuc America, a manufacturer of industrial robots, CNC systems, and factory automation products and services; and
  • Terberg, a truck manufacturer.

ASI’s Mobis software gives operators real-time awareness and control of a fleet of unmanned trucks, each of which is driven by ASI’s proven autonomous vehicle technology. [Read more…] about Autonomous Solutions Inc launches robotic unmanned yard truck solution

IAM Robotics wins contract with global health and beauty retailer

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IAM Robotics, makers of autonomous mobile manipulation robots, has won a contract with new client A.S. Watson Group, one of the world’s largest international health and beauty retailers with over 15,700 stores in 25 markets.

A.S. Watson will implement a fleet of Swift robots from IAM Robotics at its Benelux e-commerce fulfillment center in the Netherlands to help solve labour and capacity constraints due to a fast-growing, high-volume health and beauty retail business.

Ed van de Weerd, CEO of A.S. Watson health and beauty Benelux, says: “Our business in e-commerce is growing rapidly, and we need a way to keep up with the growth while offering next-day delivery within our existing fulfillment center, which is important for us to deliver the group’s online and offline strategy. [Read more…] about IAM Robotics wins contract with global health and beauty retailer

Waypoint launches Kingpin lift and hitch top module for its warehouse robots

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Waypoint Robotics has launched a top module that enables the company’s omnidirectional warehouse robots to automatically load and unload payloads and connect to a variety of carts for material movement.

The module is called “Kingpin” and Waypoint says it enables its Vector robot – a 600 lb payload capacity AMR – to do two critical jobs with one simple top module, as opposed to having a dedicated fleet of lift deck robots for automatic load/unload, and another dedicated fleet of cart connecting robots for cart transport.

With Kingpin, Vector can automatically pick up a tote on one side of the factory, deliver it to the other side of the factory, and then connect to a cart on the way back to the starting point. [Read more…] about Waypoint launches Kingpin lift and hitch top module for its warehouse robots

Automation is the ‘obvious answer’ to coronavirus disruption to e-grocery supply chain, says Swisslog

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Higher levels of automation is the “obvious answer” to the challenges brought about by the disruption to the e-grocery supply chain, according to warehouse robots maker Swisslog.

The company says Covid-19 is “accelerating changes to e-grocery fulfillment”.

After years of relatively stagnant demand, e-grocery services started to ramp up in 2019 and analysts were predicting significant growth in 2020. [Read more…] about Automation is the ‘obvious answer’ to coronavirus disruption to e-grocery supply chain, says Swisslog

Einride launches ‘intelligent freight mobility platform’ in anticipation of autonomous logistics

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Einride is launching its freight mobility platform and says it’s designed for businesses that want to make their shipments sustainable.

The Swedish technology autonomous and electric truck developer has been beta testing with selected customers since the start of the year.

The platform provides live insights on emissions, energy usage, location data, and more, and generates recommendations on how exactly to electrify freight with the most impact for your business. [Read more…] about Einride launches ‘intelligent freight mobility platform’ in anticipation of autonomous logistics

Nuro partners with CVS Pharmacy to deliver medicines using its autonomous vehicle

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Nuro is partnering with CVS Pharmacy to deliver medicines using its autonomous vehicle.

Starting this month, the “first-of-its-kind partnership” brings Nuro into the health space as the startup utilizes its fleet of autonomous vehicles to deliver prescriptions and essentials across three zip codes in Houston, Texas.

Pharma is the third industry sector in which Nuro will introduce its autonomous vehicles. [Read more…] about Nuro partners with CVS Pharmacy to deliver medicines using its autonomous vehicle

Enquiries for Savioke’s delivery robot double amid pandemic

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The number of enquiries for Savioke’s delivery robot (see video below) has doubled amid the global coronavirus pandemic, according to an executive at the startup company.

Governments in virtually every country in the world have ordered lockdowns of citizens, or “shelter-in-place” orders, as they are referred to in the US.

The orders have led to many people in the robotics industry to predict that the demand for delivery robots, such as the ones produced by Savioke, will increase. [Read more…] about Enquiries for Savioke’s delivery robot double amid pandemic

Locus Robotics raises $40 million in new Investment to bring total to $105 million

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Locus Robotics, a manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots for fulfillment warehouses, has raised more than $40 million in new investment.

The Series D funding was led by Zebra Ventures, the strategic investment arm of Zebra Technologies. Existing investors, including Scale Venture Partners, also participated in the round.

The new funding brings Locus Robotics’ total funding to more than $105 million. [Read more…] about Locus Robotics raises $40 million in new Investment to bring total to $105 million

9,000 elephants: Heaviest things ever moved on land

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People travel all over the globe to see the many great wonders of our world, but does it ever cross your mind of how they got there in the first place?

Transporting impossibly large items has been a mechanical and logistical challenge for thousands of years, becoming even more tricky when shifting things overseas with ships.

Famous sites such as the Statue of Liberty were disassembled in Paris and then packed into 214 wooden crates and shipped across the Atlantic in 1885. [Read more…] about 9,000 elephants: Heaviest things ever moved on land