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Vol. 43, No. 4 April 2023 THE MAGAZINE FOR DEMAND-DRIVEN ENTERPRISES www.inboundlogistics.com
Robots, Robots, Robots
STAFF PUBLISHER Keith G. Biondo
publisher@inboundlogistics.com
R obots generated much of the excitement and glory at MHI’s recent ProMat exhibition in Chicago, especially the ones that walked on two feet. Bipedal humanoid robots are sexy and you can’t blame logistics pros for being intrigued by the possibilities. But robots with no legs are still doing most, if not all, of the real automated warehouse work. It takes more than buzz to move boxes. Warehouse labor costs have been trending down
EDITOR Felecia J. Stratton
editor@inboundlogistics.com
SENIOR EDITOR Katrina C. Arabe
karabe@inboundlogistics.com
MANAGING EDITOR Robert Fee
rfee@inboundlogistics.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Merrill Douglas • Tom Gresham Karen M. Kroll
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jeof Vita
jvita@inboundlogistics.com
Keith Biondo, Publisher
DESIGNER Nicole Estep
nicole@inboundlogistics.com Amy Palmisano apalmisano@inboundlogistics.com
recently thanks to automation, even as hourly wages rise. That has been somewhat reversed with the additional touches required to handle the explosion in ecommerce deliveries and smaller shipments. So: hourly wages go up + touches increase + labor scarcity = more robots, robots, robots. And, as exhibits—or rather exhibots—like ProMat indicate, more companies will invest in and adopt robot automation. Prices will eventually go down, while options and evolving applications will go up. Here are just a few of the workhorse robots featured at ProMat 2023. Vecna Robotics. The low-cost Vecna co-bot pallet jack brings human- assisted robotics to warehouses with labor-intensive work ows and tight space constraints. Pickle Robots. Ever empty a mixed-load LTL trailer? I did; it was one of my rst jobs. This Boston Dynamics robot does it better and faster than my 19-year-old self ever could. Vaux. Got pallets in trailers instead? From ArcBest, this pallet unloading system has connecting con gurable conveyors. Otto Forklifts. A self-driving forklift and master of the loading dock. Universal Robots. The UR20 case packing and palletizing cobot system has it all wrapped up. Brightpick Robotics. Got groceries? Ecommerce? This robot picks and consolidates for shipment as it glides through warehouse aisles. InVia. Bins empty? Need to replenish inventory picking stations with reserve stock? InVia’s solution does that. RIOS. Need robot solutions without annoying capital investment? RIOS pioneered Robots as a Service (RaaS) for packaging and factory automation. Thira Robotics. Mobile warehouse robots from Korea that can navigate 10% inclines and rough warehouse terrain. Wow. Tompkins Robotics PickPal. Need picking, counting, replenishment, or sorting tasks to empower your team? PickPal is their friend. Many more robots are doing the work of today as we wait for the two-legged ones to gain mainstream acceptance. Based on the investment, excitement, brainpower, and popularity, it won’t be long before those two-legged robots, robots, robots will walk with you.
DIGITAL DESIGN MANAGER
PUBLICATION MANAGER Sonia Casiano
sonia@inboundlogistics.com
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Carolyn Smolin
SALES OFFICES PUBLISHER: Keith Biondo
212-629-1560 FAX: 212-629-1565 publisher@inboundlogistics.com WEST/MIDWEST/SOUTHWEST: Harold L. Leddy
847-446-8764 FAX: 847-305-5890 haroldleddy@inboundlogistics.com Marshall Leddy
612-234-7436 FAX: 847-305-5890 marshall@inboundlogistics.com DIRECTOR, NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING, SOUTHEAST/MIDWEST/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
Joseph Biondo 516-578-8924 jbiondo@inboundlogistics.com NORTHEAST: Rachael Sprinz 212-629-1562 FAX: 212-629-1565 rachael@inboundlogistics.com MEXICO & LATAM: Guillermo Almazo 212-629-1560 mexico@inboundlogistics.com FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS www.inboundlogistics.com/free
Inbound Logistics supports sustainable best practices. Our mission is rooted in helping companies match demand to supply, eliminating waste from the supply chain. This magazine is printed on paper sourced from fast growth renewable timber.
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6 Inbound Logistics • April 2023
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