Robotic solutions can complete seamless production feats in isolated applications, but they sometimes fall short in their full integration on the shop floor, with operators and other robots or automated vehicles in the production process. More and more open systems are forging the way for more integration, as well as partnerships like the one between Osaro and Geek+, which will integrate Osaro’s pick-and-place robots with Geek+ warehouse automation systems. Geek+ autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) work with its automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) across the warehouse and hand off to Osaro’s picking robots for the final pick-and-place step in the fulfillment process.
Osaro said a triple threat has accelerated the demand for robot-powered fulfillment solution and the automation of human-picking stations: the crushing e-commerce demand, severe labor shortage, and rising customer expectations for low-priced goods and fast delivery.
Together, the companies’ warehouse technologies are scalable to address those growing trends with flexible systems and easy installation. The pairing represents another step in the progression of robots working together across the warehouse: Geek+ AMRs and ASRSs with Osaro’s AI-driven picking robots. Using a FANUC robot arm, Osaro enables automation of the last step in the warehouse fulfillment process.
Subscription products that require kitting is another trend pushing robotics implementation in warehouses, Osaro said. Kitting is both a merchandising strategy and a logistics technique whereby curated boxes of complementary items are packaged and shipped together as a single ‘kit’ with a unique SKU.
In many cases, warehouses are humming with mobile robots and ASRSs, but humans still carefully select, place and package items from multiple sources into a single box. This partnership hopes to help automate that final step, with robotics involved in fulfillment operations from depalletizing to packing and shipping.
“At Osaro, our goal is to provide reliable robotic systems that make automation easy, which is why the seamless integration of our picking robots with Geek+ systems is so valuable,” said Osaro CEO Derik Pridmore. “We’re pleased to have an Osaro-powered robot and Geek+ Sorting Series AMRs available for customers to see in action at our San Francisco RobotWorks customer center.”
“Solving the labor shortage is critical for anyone in e-commerce today,” said Rick DeFiesta, executive vice president of sales and solutions at Geek+ America. “Geek+ systems take less floor space and are highly flexible in both their use and installation, allowing for easy redeployments in new configurations when necessary.”
