Warehouse automation company Dexory has announced a new global partnership with logistics company A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) to implement the former’s robotics and digital twin technology at a Romanian distribution centre for the first time.
The two companies will be working alongside Romanian firm Ib Cargo to introduce the solutions for a global home furnishing brand, with the Bucharest deployment intended as the first of many outside the UK as Dexory expands.
The Maersk-operated warehouse opened in September 2021 with 76,000m2 and has now expanded to 100,000m2.
The site currently provides logistics services for eight countries in Europe and the Balkans; the robotics solution will be used to maximise and streamline operational processes and optimise use of resources and shelf space.
The robot, named ‘NEO’, now operates daily at the site and reportedly scans more than 100,000 pallet locations.
What’s more, according to Dexory, the robot has enabled operations to move from 150 locations/h, with current processes, to 10,000 locations/h.
NEO is designed to cover ‘wide, narrow and hard-to-navigate aisles, reserve and picking locations’. This process is typically time-consuming and prone to human error.
In addition to this, the integrated system can work alongside warehouse teams 24 hours a day.
The system was developed to combine hardware and software, thus providing customers with ‘instant visibility’ over inventory and warehouse operations.
Multiple 12-metre-tall autonomous robots are used to capture data and images in real time to support the creation of digital twins to enable analysis of stock, occupancy and stock movement.
Any discrepancies with other warehouse systems can then be identified through an easy-access digital format.
Dexory was a winner at the first-ever Robotics & Automation Awards in the Innovation in the Warehouse Category for its work with Maersk. Read the full awards coverage in the November 2023 issue of Robotics & Automation.
Data analytics are useful for addressing operational bottlenecks and increasing site efficiencies for processes like put-away and picking. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) also supports companies with forecasting and planning across the warehouse estate to enable smarter overall management.
Andrei Danescu, CEO and co-founder of Dexory, added: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Maersk and iB Cargo and bring the power of real-time data and insights to this impressive site in Romania, supporting a powerful company in interior decorations.
“Teams across the board have already embraced the Dexory technology and are constantly using our digital twin to make more informed decisions and drive efficiency.”
The latest developments in robotics and automated technologies will be on show at the Robotics and Automation Exhibition, which will be held on 19-20 March 2024 at the NEC Birmingham. Register now to attend the UK’s biggest exhibition dedicated to robotics and automation, which is co-located with Britain’s biggest warehousing show, IntraLogisteX, where Dexory will be exhibiting at Stand 206.
