Leading global provider of transportation and supply chain solutions XPO Logistics has announced plans to deploy 5,000 intelligent robots throughout its operation in North America and Europe.
According to a statement, the move will strengthen its current workforce and support future growth. It will be part of a strategic collaboration with Singapore-based GreyOrange, a specialist and world leader in robotic warehouse automation.
The autonomous robots will be part of a modular goods-to-person system that also includes mobile storage racks and fulfilment stations.
Each one will be able to move a rack weighing approximately 1,000 to 3,500 lbs, bringing it to a station where a worker fulfils up to 48 orders simultaneously. The entire process will be controlled by XPO’s propriety warehouse management system.
Find out how IIOT and other smart technologies will affect the supply chain by reading a Port Technology technical paper
It is also part of the US $450 million XPO Logistics plans to invest in technology in 2018. Its previous innovations include the XPO Direct shared-space distribution network, voice integration with Amazon Echo and Google Home to track the last mile delivery of heavy goods.
It has also released the XPO Connect, a multimodal digital freight infrastructure innovation deigned to track the last mile of heavy goods.
Bradley Jacobs, CEO of XPO Logistics, said: “We’ve developed our logistics technology to integrate the latest intelligent automation and adapt it at lightning speed.
“This allows us to dramatically improve fulfillment time and cut costs.
“The addition of 5,000 collaborative robots will make our logistics operations safer and more productive in picking, packing and sortation.
“These are important benefits for our customers – particularly in the e-commerce and omni-channel retail sectors, where order speed and accuracy are essential ways to compete.”
