Autonomous pallet stacker: AutoGuide Mobile Robots has expanded its Max N10 modular mobile robot line with the launch of the Max N10 pallet stacker. (See photo above.) The stacker, which features autonomous pallet finding and infrastructure-free navigation, is an extension of the company's base mobile robot platform configured with a newly designed attachment to enable pallet and rack handling.
The Max N10 pallet stacker serves as an automated counterbalanced lift truck that can pick and place pallets or racks from floor level, trailer decks, conveyors, and racks up to five feet high. Standard payload capacity is 1,770 pounds; a high-capacity version is available. (AutoGuide Mobile Robots)
Item-picking cobot:
Vanderlande, a supplier of process automation solutions for warehouses, has developed Smart Item Robotics (SIR) technology to enhance single-item picking in e-commerce fulfillment operations. The SIR system utilizes a collaborative robot—or "cobot"— that is able to work harmoniously in the same area as a human operator and has the ability to pick and place individual items, the company says.
SIR's applications include bin-to-bin picking, where the robot picks single products from a source bin and gently stacks them into the required order carton or bin, and bin-to-belt picking, in which the robot picks single items from a source bin before placing them on a belt. This can then feed a pocket sorter, packing machine, or other type of sorter.
The SIR solution can handle various products without SKU (stock-keeping unit) teaching. In addition, its "intelligent stacking" capability enables the efficient positioning of goods, while ensuring products are handled smoothly and securely. (Vanderlande)
Cube-mounted AS/RS:
Robot technology company AutoStore has introduced its new Black Line cube-based automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). The Black Line is an updated version of AutoStore's 23-year-old Red Line cube-based AS/RS, but for high-throughput operations. A cube-based AS/RS consists of a high-density storage system that is basically a cube-shaped metal grid and holds bins. Robot modules travel on top of that grid and pick bins from it.
The Black Line can pick up to 650 bins per hour in comparison with the Red Line, which has a maximum throughput of 350 bins per hour. The Black Line robots are slimmer and pick up the bins within the central cavity of the robot, instead of carrying them on top. This allows more room for the robots to pass one another. The robots are also lighter and faster than those used on the Red Line and are powered by BattPack lithium-ion batteries, which reduce the time needed for recharging.
AutoStore is also offering the new RelayPort workstation, where the operator picks from the bins delivered by the robots. The new system uses tabs for buffering, enabling the robots to queue up a line of bins, which allows for higher picking speeds. Companies will typically have five to 15 of these ports for picking. (AutoStore)
Robotic sorting solution:
Warehousing and logistics solutions provider Geek+ Robotics has introduced the MiniSort, a smart and flexible robotic sorting solution. The MiniSort solution, which uses the Geek+ S20 line of robots as sorting and transportation devices, can cut labor costs and boost efficiency in package-sorting applications, the company says.
The S20 series of robots used by MiniSort are adaptable when it comes to sorting products of different sizes and weights, and are capable of carrying packages. After palletization, Geek+ transport robots or unmanned forklifts can be used to deliver pallets to their corresponding buffer storage or truck areas, further reducing labor costs.
The robots use visual-inertial navigation and high-precision laser radar for obstacle avoidance to ensure workplace security; are capable of handling various product ranges and able to deliver packages weighing up to 44 pounds (20 kilograms); and support various features, including automatic matching with conveyor belts, product fall detection, and dynamic delivery. The system is capable of supporting intelligent gathering and deployment of several hundred robots, while at the same time ensuring uninterrupted 24-hour operation of the robotic system, the company says. (Geek+ Robotics)
Singulation solution:
Automated material handling solutions provider MHS has introduced a robotic singulation solution that's designed to address growing e-commerce order volumes and labor challenges facing distribution centers. The solution combines advanced robotic technologies to pick individual items from bulk flow to feed downstream processes.
Suitable for parcel-processing operations handling large quantities of smaller-sized packages, the robot uses vision software and algorithms to pick individual items from bulk flow and then properly orient and place them in a single-file stream for downstream sortation processes. The solution uses a vacuum-based end effector to reliably handle packaging types commonly found in e-commerce and parcel-processing environments, from corrugate cases to polybags. (MHS)
Robotics solutions: enVista, a global software solutions and consulting services firm, has launched a Robotics Practice to help companies overcome critical labor shortages in distribution and manufacturing as well as boost efficiency in their warehouse operations. The company says its engineers will develop custom solutions for clients in its robotics lab and testing facility in Chicago.
The firm's robotics solutions include proof-of-concept testing, operational and automation assessments, modeling and analytics, tailored engineering solutions, and a full robotics innovation and testing facility with industry-leading Fanuc robots.
EnVista's automation and robotics services team is composed of system-agnostic consultants as well as mechanical, electrical, and software engineers that focus on finding the optimal solution for a warehouse or distribution center's labor productivity and automation needs. (enVista)
Container traffic is finally back to typical levels at the port of Montreal, two months after dockworkers returned to work following a strike, port officials said Thursday.
Today that arbitration continues as the two sides work to forge a new contract. And port leaders with the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) are reminding workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) that the CIRB decision “rules out any pressure tactics affecting operations until the next collective agreement expires.”
The Port of Montreal alone said it had to manage a backlog of about 13,350 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) on the ground, as well as 28,000 feet of freight cars headed for export.
Port leaders this week said they had now completed that task. “Two months after operations fully resumed at the Port of Montreal, as directed by the Canada Industrial Relations Board, the Montreal Port Authority (MPA) is pleased to announce that all port activities are now completely back to normal. Both the impact of the labour dispute and the subsequent resumption of activities required concerted efforts on the part of all port partners to get things back to normal as quickly as possible, even over the holiday season,” the port said in a release.
The “2024 Year in Review” report lists the various transportation delays, freight volume restrictions, and infrastructure repair costs of a long string of events. Those disruptions include labor strikes at Canadian ports and postal sites, the U.S. East and Gulf coast port strike; hurricanes Helene, Francine, and Milton; the Francis Scott key Bridge collapse in Baltimore Harbor; the CrowdStrike cyber attack; and Red Sea missile attacks on passing cargo ships.
“While 2024 was characterized by frequent and overlapping disruptions that exposed many supply chain vulnerabilities, it was also a year of resilience,” the Project44 report said. “From labor strikes and natural disasters to geopolitical tensions, each event served as a critical learning opportunity, underscoring the necessity for robust contingency planning, effective labor relations, and durable infrastructure. As supply chains continue to evolve, the lessons learned this past year highlight the increased importance of proactive measures and collaborative efforts. These strategies are essential to fostering stability and adaptability in a world where unpredictability is becoming the norm.”
In addition to tallying the supply chain impact of those events, the report also made four broad predictions for trends in 2025 that may affect logistics operations. In Project44’s analysis, they include:
More technology and automation will be introduced into supply chains, particularly ports. This will help make operations more efficient but also increase the risk of cybersecurity attacks and service interruptions due to glitches and bugs. This could also add tensions among the labor pool and unions, who do not want jobs to be replaced with automation.
The new administration in the United States introduces a lot of uncertainty, with talks of major tariffs for numerous countries as well as talks of US freight getting preferential treatment through the Panama Canal. If these things do come to fruition, expect to see shifts in global trade patterns and sourcing.
Natural disasters will continue to become more frequent and more severe, as exhibited by the wildfires in Los Angeles and the winter storms throughout the southern states in the U.S. As a result, expect companies to invest more heavily in sustainability to mitigate climate change.
The peace treaty announced on Wednesday between Isael and Hamas in the Middle East could support increased freight volumes returning to the Suez Canal as political crisis in the area are resolved.
The French transportation visibility provider Shippeo today said it has raised $30 million in financial backing, saying the money will support its accelerated expansion across North America and APAC, while driving enhancements to its “Real-Time Transportation Visibility Platform” product.
The funding round was led by Woven Capital, Toyota’s growth fund, with participation from existing investors: Battery Ventures, Partech, NGP Capital, Bpifrance Digital Venture, LFX Venture Partners, Shift4Good and Yamaha Motor Ventures. With this round, Shippeo’s total funding exceeds $140 million.
Shippeo says it offers real-time shipment tracking across all transport modes, helping companies create sustainable, resilient supply chains. Its platform enables users to reduce logistics-related carbon emissions by making informed trade-offs between modes and carriers based on carbon footprint data.
"Global supply chains are facing unprecedented complexity, and real-time transport visibility is essential for building resilience” Prashant Bothra, Principal at Woven Capital, who is joining the Shippeo board, said in a release. “Shippeo’s platform empowers businesses to proactively address disruptions by transforming fragmented operations into streamlined, data-driven processes across all transport modes, offering precise tracking and predictive ETAs at scale—capabilities that would be resource-intensive to develop in-house. We are excited to support Shippeo’s journey to accelerate digitization while enhancing cost efficiency, planning accuracy, and customer experience across the supply chain.”
Donald Trump has been clear that he plans to hit the ground running after his inauguration on January 20, launching ambitious plans that could have significant repercussions for global supply chains.
As Mark Baxa, CSCMP president and CEO, says in the executive forward to the white paper, the incoming Trump Administration and a majority Republican congress are “poised to reshape trade policies, regulatory frameworks, and the very fabric of how we approach global commerce.”
The paper is written by import/export expert Thomas Cook, managing director for Blue Tiger International, a U.S.-based supply chain management consulting company that focuses on international trade. Cook is the former CEO of American River International in New York and Apex Global Logistics Supply Chain Operation in Los Angeles and has written 19 books on global trade.
In the paper, Cook, of course, takes a close look at tariff implications and new trade deals, emphasizing that Trump will seek revisions that will favor U.S. businesses and encourage manufacturing to return to the U.S. The paper, however, also looks beyond global trade to addresses topics such as Trump’s tougher stance on immigration and the possibility of mass deportations, greater support of Israel in the Middle East, proposals for increased energy production and mining, and intent to end the war in the Ukraine.
In general, Cook believes that many of the administration’s new policies will be beneficial to the overall economy. He does warn, however, that some policies will be disruptive and add risk and cost to global supply chains.
In light of those risks and possible disruptions, Cook’s paper offers 14 recommendations. Some of which include:
Create a team responsible for studying the changes Trump will introduce when he takes office;
Attend trade shows and make connections with vendors, suppliers, and service providers who can help you navigate those changes;
Consider becoming C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) certified to help mitigate potential import/export issues;
Adopt a risk management mindset and shift from focusing on lowest cost to best value for your spend;
Increase collaboration with internal and external partners;
Expect warehousing costs to rise in the short term as companies look to bring in foreign-made goods ahead of tariffs;
Expect greater scrutiny from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol of origin statements for imports in recognition of attempts by some Chinese manufacturers to evade U.S. import policies;
Reduce dependency on China for sourcing; and
Consider manufacturing and/or sourcing in the United States.
Cook advises readers to expect a loosening up of regulations and a reduction in government under Trump. He warns that while some world leaders will look to work with Trump, others will take more of a defiant stance. As a result, companies should expect to see retaliatory tariffs and duties on exports.
Cook concludes by offering advice to the incoming administration, including being sensitive to the effect retaliatory tariffs can have on American exports, working on federal debt reduction, and considering promoting free trade zones. He also proposes an ambitious water works program through the Army Corps of Engineers.
ReposiTrak, a global food traceability network operator, will partner with Upshop, a provider of store operations technology for food retailers, to create an end-to-end grocery traceability solution that reaches from the supply chain to the retail store, the firms said today.
The partnership creates a data connection between suppliers and the retail store. It works by integrating Salt Lake City-based ReposiTrak’s network of thousands of suppliers and their traceability shipment data with Austin, Texas-based Upshop’s network of more than 450 retailers and their retail stores.
That accomplishment is important because it will allow food sector trading partners to meet the U.S. FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act Section 204d (FSMA 204) requirements that they must create and store complete traceability records for certain foods.
And according to ReposiTrak and Upshop, the traceability solution may also unlock potential business benefits. It could do that by creating margin and growth opportunities in stores by connecting supply chain data with store data, thus allowing users to optimize inventory, labor, and customer experience management automation.
"Traceability requires data from the supply chain and – importantly – confirmation at the retail store that the proper and accurate lot code data from each shipment has been captured when the product is received. The missing piece for us has been the supply chain data. ReposiTrak is the leader in capturing and managing supply chain data, starting at the suppliers. Together, we can deliver a single, comprehensive traceability solution," Mark Hawthorne, chief innovation and strategy officer at Upshop, said in a release.
"Once the data is flowing the benefits are compounding. Traceability data can be used to improve food safety, reduce invoice discrepancies, and identify ways to reduce waste and improve efficiencies throughout the store,” Hawthorne said.
Under FSMA 204, retailers are required by law to track Key Data Elements (KDEs) to the store-level for every shipment containing high-risk food items from the Food Traceability List (FTL). ReposiTrak and Upshop say that major industry retailers have made public commitments to traceability, announcing programs that require more traceability data for all food product on a faster timeline. The efforts of those retailers have activated the industry, motivating others to institute traceability programs now, ahead of the FDA’s enforcement deadline of January 20, 2026.