Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

newsworthy

Mobile Industrial Robots launches leasing program for warehouse bots

"Robots as a service" plan lowers cost of entry for warehouse automation, firm says.

Mobile Industrial Robots launches leasing program for warehouse bots

Danish industrial automation firm Mobile Industrial Robots ApS (MiR) today launched a leasing program for its line of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), saying the option lowers financial barriers for warehouses to invests in robots and gain "immediate" return on investment (ROI).

Odense, Denmark-based MiR has a catalog of AMRs designed for the internal transport of goods, including the the MiR100 and MiR200, which can autonomously transport up to 100 kg (220 lbs) and 200 kg (440 lbs) respectively, and the MiR500 with a payload of 500kg (1,102 lbs).


The "robots as a service" (RaaS) program will be offered through a new MiR Finance division, and is designed to let companies of any size—from small start-ups to multinational enterprises—deploy mobile robot solutions with minimal upfront costs and low monthly payments, the firm said.

MiR's RaaS program follows in the footsteps of an increasingly popular approach, also offered by warehouse automation vendors such as Locus Robotics Inc., inVia Robotics Inc., and RightHand Robotics Inc. Proponents of RaaS say the approach allows small retailers and logistics service providers to compete with e-commerce giants like Amazon.com Inc. by reducing the upfront costs of adding robots to fulfillment centers and by allowing them to add or subtract robots to their automated workforce as required.

That growing market will push the installed base for RaaS from 4,442 units in 2016 to 1.3 million in 2026, driving an increase in RaaS yearly revenue from $217 million in 2016 to nearly $34 billion in 2026, MiR said, citing a study from market advisory firm ABI Research.

According to MiR, its distributor network will be working with a third-party company to provide lease programs for customers, offering flexible leasing terms such as 48 months. MiR's distributors will continue to be responsible of first-level support, service, and maintenance.

"While sales of our mobile robots continue to thrive, many companies still prefer to lease their logistics equipment rather than make a capital investment upfront," MiR CEO Thomas Visti said in a release. "Leasing the robots becomes an operational expenditure instead, enabling our customers to quickly get started reaping the benefits AMRs offer as they automate monotonous, repetitive, and often injury-prone manual material transportation."

The Latest

More Stories

Freight Science dashboard screen
Freight Science

High-tech solution helps truckload carrier drive change

The trucking industry faces a range of challenges these days, particularly when it comes to load planning—a resource-intensive task that often results in suboptimal decisions, unnecessary empty miles, late deliveries, and inefficient asset utilization. What’s more, delays in decision-making due to a lack of real-time insights can hinder operational efficiency, making cost management a constant struggle.

Truckload carrier Paper Transport Inc. (PTI) experienced this firsthand when the company sought to expand its over the-road (OTR), intermodal, and brokerage offerings to include dedicated fleet services for high-volume shippers—adding a layer of complexity to the business. The additional personnel required for such a move would be extremely costly, leading PTI to investigate technology solutions that could help close the gap.

Keep ReadingShow less

Featured

indigo software screenshot WMS

Aptean adds British WMS vendor in latest acquisition

The Georgia-based enterprise software vendor Aptean today said it had acquired Indigo Software Ltd., a British provider of purpose-built warehouse management and logistics software solutions.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Aptean said the move will add new capabilities to its warehouse management and supply chain management offerings for manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, and 3PLs. Aptean currently provides enterprise resource planning (ERP), transportation management systems (TMS), and product lifecycle management (PLM) platforms.

Keep ReadingShow less
schneider app screenshot for owner operators

Schneider seeks more business with owner-operators

Transportation and logistics service provider Schneider National Inc. is reaching out to owner-operators, encouraging them to do more business with the Wisconsin company using an updated digital platform.

Schneider says its FreightPower platform now offers owner-operators significantly more access to Schneider’s range of freight options. That can help drivers to generate revenue and strengthen their business through: increased access to freight, high drop and hook rates of over 95% of loads, and a trip planning feature that calculates road miles.

Keep ReadingShow less
trucks used by jillamy 3PL

Texas 3PL Mode Global acquires Jillamy’s freight brokerage arm

The Texas third-party logistics firm (3PL) Mode Global has acquired the freight brokerage business of supply chain service provider Jillamy, saying on Monday that the deal advances its strategy of expanding its national footprint.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, but Mode Global said it will now assume Jillamy's comprehensive logistics and freight management solutions, while Jillamy's warehousing, packaging and fulfillment services remain unchanged. Under the agreement, Mode Global will gain more than 200 employees and add facilities in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Florida, Texas, Illinois, South Carolina, Maryland, and Ontario to its existing national footprint.

Keep ReadingShow less
Clorox partnership helps suppliers meet carbon reduction targets

Clorox partnership helps suppliers meet carbon reduction targets

Consumer packaged goods (CPG) provider The Clorox Co. has partnered with Manufacture 2030 (M2030) to help Clorox's suppliers meet their carbon reduction targets and advance the company's long-term goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

In addition to its flagship Clorox bleach product, Oakland, California-based Clorox manages a diverse catalog of brands including Hidden Valley Ranch, Glad, Pine-Sol, Burt’s Bees, Kingsford, Scoop Away, Fresh Step, 409, Brita, Liquid Plumr, and Tilex.

Keep ReadingShow less