On-demand automation provider Fetch Robotics has been acquired by Zebra Technologies, as part of the company’s focus on robotics in customer-centric solutions.
According to Zebra Technologies, the acquisition will accelerate its growth in intelligent industrial automation. The company will gain Fetch’s autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), which are used for optimised picking in fulfilment centres and distribution centres. The AMRs can also be deployed for just-in-time material delivery in manufacturing facilities and automating manual material movement.
“The acquisition of Fetch Robotics will accelerate our Enterprise Asset Intelligence vision and growth in intelligent industrial automation by embracing new modes of empowering workflows and helping our customers operate more efficiently in increasingly automated, data-powered environments,” said Anders Gustafsson, chief executive officer of Zebra Technologies.
“This move will also extend our ongoing commitment to optimise the supply chain from the point of production to the point of consumption. We are excited to welcome the Fetch team to the Zebra family.”
In addition to Fetch Robotics’ portfolio of AMRs, it offers cloud-based enterprise software, FetchCore as the foundational platform for deploying and fully integrating a broad range of automated workflows into manufacturing and warehouse operations.
FetchCore is designed to provide unique insights into facilities through machine learning on AMR sensor data. The planned acquisition furthers Zebra’s vision to bring advanced robotics solutions to customers who have labour-intensive operations.
Zebra said its focus on robotics automation combines workflow solutions for human workers, including current Zebra offerings such as FulfilmentEdge and SmartSight with Fetch Robotics’ solutions. The results will provide an offering that drives greater efficiencies and higher ROI through better orchestration of technology and people.
“The Fetch team is excited to join Zebra and accelerate the adoption of flexible automation through AMRs and our cloud-based robotics platform. Together we have the right team with the right technology to provide end-to-end solutions that solve real customer problems,” said Melonee Wise, chief executive officer of Fetch Robotics.
“By helping customers dynamically optimise and holistically orchestrate their fulfilment, distribution, and manufacturing operations, together we help enable their ability to stay ahead of growing demand, minimise delivery times and address shrinking labour pools.”
