PRODUCT REVIEWS
Autonomous mobile robot demonstrations
Locus Robotics showcased its workerfriendly Locus Vector and Origin AMRs ( autonomous mobile robots ) at the IntraLogistex trade show ( 19-20 March 2024 ) at the NEC Birmingham , UK , on stand 600 . The manufacturer is a specialist in AMRs for use in warehouses and distribution centres .
“ The collaborative robots were fully operational and provided live demonstrations of their flexibility , high productivity , ease-of-use and worker safety in a live , simulated warehouse environment ,” said Locus Robotics .
Martin Donohoe , regional marketing manager at Locus Robotics , added : “ IntraLogisteX 2024 was the public ’ s first opportunity to see how two highly flexible form factors work together to optimise order fulfilment speed and efficiency . Visitors were able to experience , first-hand , their powerful capability in terms of optimising order picking rates and put away , while emphasising safety and ease of use for the worker . It ’ s an exciting ,
hands-on experience and one that we enjoyed sharing at IntraLogisteX this year .”
Locus robots are already deployed at commercial sites throughout the UK and in 300 sites across the world . The multi-bot picking solutions eliminate unproductive walking time , lifting and pushing heavy carts to improve the overall quality of the workplace . This , said the manufacturer , has additional impact on helping to improve staff recruitment and retention rates by facilitating a safer , less stressful working environment .
“ Locus Origin is an intelligent autonomous mobile robot ( AMR ) designed specifically for collaborative , high-volume order fulfilment . By eliminating unproductive walking time and ensuring near-100 % order accuracy , Locus Origin doubles fulfilment productivity and efficiency . Locus Vector is a highly flexible , autonomous material handling and logistics robot that delivers a high payload capacity of up to 272kg ( 600lb ) that is ideal for case-picking , shelf-rack moving , discrete order picking and point-to-point material handling ,” explained Locus Robotics .
Developing warehouse automation that works collaboratively with employees is key to Locus Robotics ’ business model , designed to enable employers to meet the challenges of an increasing product inventory , volume and fulfilment speeds . n
www . locusrobotics . com
New waterjet investment
In a strategic move to reinforce its position as a leading materials supplier and supplychain solutions provider , thyssenkrupp Materials UK has announced a substantial investment in waterjet technology at its Darton facility in South Yorkshire ( UK ). The recent addition of the Flow Waterjet Mach- 500 showcases the company ’ s commitment to innovation and solidifies its status as one of the largest waterjet-cutting facilities in Europe .
“ The new waterjet machine has a precision five-axis cutting system over a 2m x 4m area and is capable of handling materials of up to 305mm in thickness . The Hyperjet 87,000psi intensifier pump elevates the operational pressure to 87,000psi , resulting in a remarkable 40 % increase in cutting speed ,” explained Flow .
This strategic enhancement holds particular significance for thyssenkrupp Materials UK - Darton , as the site is a leading supplier of nested parts to various aerospace OEMs and several major international architectural projects . The new Flow Mach 500 waterjet will play a pivotal role in specifically aerospace applications , contributing to the manufacturing of air structures and other critical components .
This investment comes at a crucial time as the Darton facility already houses three Flow waterjet machines , marking a substantial expansion in its operational capacity . The facility ’ s expansion underscores thyssenkrupp Materials UK ’ s dedication to meeting the evolving needs and growing demand in the aerospace industry .
“ We are proud to continue our long-term partnership with thyssenkrupp Materials UK and , in particular , with the Darton facility . Working to meet the business criteria for accuracy and production , we installed the highest specification system available ( the Mach 500-4020 Dynamic Waterjet XD with 6000bar pump ). This technology also complements the existing Flow Dynamic Waterjet systems at Darton ,” concluded Flow . n www . FlowWaterjet . com
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