Material handling and logistics automation company Vanderlande has added a new automated piece-picking robot to its Smart Item Robotics (SIR) portfolio of technologies.
The new picking robot features intelligent gripper technology, a sophisticated vision system and control software, which are specifically designed to suit warehouse and distribution centres handling general merchandise products.
The automated picking robot was designed and built by US-based RightHand Robotics.
Vanderlande said that the picking solution fits with its strategy of accelerating the use of robotics for warehousing. As it becomes more difficult to attract and retain a stable workforce, the company said that robot-picking solutions become a particularly attractive option.
“The market wants integrated robotics that work, so we’ve tested the world’s leading robot solutions,” said Terry Verkuijlen, Vice President Warehouse Solutions at Vanderlande.
“Our findings showed that RightHand Robotics’ use of gripper technology, vision systems and software algorithms is the best fit for automated general merchandise warehouses, whereas different combinations of robot pickers are the best fit for other specialist applications,” Verkuijlen said.
Vanderlande said that efficient robotics can also deliver other benefits, including stable 24/7 operations and a lower cost of ownership.
On the new partnership, RightHand Robotics CSO and Co-Founder Leif Jentoft said they are pleased to be included with the Smart Item Robotics (SIR) portfolio of technologies.
“Warehouses are under increasing pressure to accelerate order fulfilment as ecommerce orders continue to rise,” Jentoft said.
“We look forward to helping Vanderlande meet the needs of customers worldwide and are honored to meet their standards for advanced automated picking,” he said.
Robotic solutions selected by Vanderlande are integrated into the company’s wide range of warehousing solutions, such as the goods-to-picker order fulfilment system FASTPICK.
The company maintained that increasing the use of robots for order assignments will provide customers with greater flexibility in the workplace. For example, orders can be picked with a mix of manual and automated procedures for maximum efficiency.
In July 2021, Vanderlande entered a partnership with Woolworths to deliver its fully automated solution, STOREPICK, in Woolworths’ new Sydney distribution centre.
The STOREPICK system is a robotised, end-to-end automated case picking (ACP) warehouse solution that allows customers to optimise the processes of their entire value chain, as it handles both incoming and outgoing goods.
Set to open in 2025, Woolworths’ new DC will supply over 200 stores in New South Wales.