Warehouse automation provider Locus Robotics will integrate its mobile fulfillment platform with piece-picking technology from RightHand Robotics (RHR), allowing the partners to address growing demand for e-commerce order fulfillment.
Together, the firms said they will deliver a cross-platform, robotic solution for warehouse fulfillment operators, designed for customers in the retail and third-party logistics (3PL) space, with a focus on the pharmaceutical, apparel, and grocery industries.
Wilmington, Mass.-based Locus provides autonomous mobile robots (AMR) that have been deployed at customers such as the 3PLs Port Logistics Group (PLG), Geodis, and Radial. The company landed $26 million in funding from Zebra Technologies Corp.'s venture capital arm in April, saying it planned to scale up production of its AMR products and expand its sales and marketing efforts, both in North America and internationally.
Somerville, Mass.-basedRHR is also a well-funded startup, announcing a funding round of $23 million in 2018 and plans to invest the new money in platforms to help its customers handle booming e-commerce growth in tight labor market.
With contributions from both partners, the new multi-stage fulfillment solution will combine Locus's autonomous multi-robot model for piece handling with RHR's autonomous work cell to provide greater automation, the companies said. The combination will address multiple fulfillment processes, from picking to packing, especially in high-volume environments. "By working together, we can bring greater flexibility and productivity to the fulfillment warehouse," Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics, said in a release. "This is particularly impactful in high-volume scenarios, where automation can drive greater operational efficiencies."
