Staples Pilots Robotic Material Handling Solution
July 20 2017 - 6:58AM
Business Wire
Cutting Edge Technology to be Used within
Staples’ Network of Fulfillment Centers
Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ – SPLS) announced today the development of
a cutting edge, robotic material handling solution for their
fulfillment centers powered by Great Star Industrial USA, LLC
(“Great Star”). The technology combines separate solutions for
picking items with high cubic velocity and low cubic velocity into
a first of its kind robust, integrated solution.
Unlike other systems in the market today, the automated robotic
storage and retrieval system incorporates two types of automated
guided vehicles (AGVs) into a unified system that brings both high
and low cubic velocity items to a single pick and pack station,
requiring less capital investment than traditional material
handling systems while increasing productivity and picking
accuracy.
The AGV used for picking items with a low cubic velocity,
commonly known as “Goods to Person” technology, is adaptable to
pick from existing industry wide storage mediums and can retrieve
up to five unique items per trip, lowering capital and drastically
reducing robot tasks and travel. Items with high cubic velocity are
picked with AGVs that replace traditional manual pick carts,
redefining “Person to Goods” technology. The new system enables
“Goods to Person” pick cells to be fed by multiple AGV’s
simultaneously, eliminating idle time for the order picker. AGVs
can place products directly into the pick cell and then leave for
other tasks, increasing AGV utilization.
“With Staples and Great Star each leveraging their strengths in
design, engineering, and supply chain operations, we’ve rapidly
gone from concept to production with a robotic solution that is
truly ground breaking,” said Mike Bhaskaran, Staples’ Chief Supply
Chain Officer. “It incorporates concepts that have never been used
before. In addition to rolling it out across the Staples’ network
of fulfillment centers, we’re excited for its potential
applications beyond these facilities.”
Staples has already started to utilize the new system in one of
its key fulfillment centers and is targeting to have the solution
implemented across their entire network over the next 24
months.
"This solution will be transformational for the industry," said
Lily Chi, Executive Vice President of Great Star. "It offers a high
degree of flexibility and capability that will provide a
cost-effective solution for almost any order fulfillment and
warehousing operation.”
About Staples, Inc.Staples brings technology and people
together in innovative ways to consistently deliver products,
services and expertise that elevate and delight customers. Staples
is in business with businesses and is passionate about empowering
people to become true professionals at work. Headquartered outside
of Boston, Mass., Staples, Inc. operates primarily in North
America. More information about Staples is available
at www.staples.com.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170720005171/en/
Media Contact:Scott Michel,
508-253-4272scott.michel@staples.com
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