BY VICTORIA KICKHAM, SENIOR EDITOR
PICKING TECHNOLOGIES TECHNOLOGY
ADVANCED PICKING TECHNOLOGIES THATincorporate robotics and vision systems are revolutionizing the way warehouses and distributioncenters pick, pack, and ship orders—allowingcompanies to get those orders out the door fasterthan ever before. Nowhere was this more evident than at the recent Modex 2020 conferenceand expo, a showcase of logistics and materialhandling solutions held in Atlanta in March.
The show featured a plethora of advanced picking technologies from both industry leaders andup-and-comers that offered a clear view of howthe industry continues to automate as a way toboost productivity, address labor challenges, andstreamline operations. Here’s a look at just a fewnew and updated offerings from companies thatare outside the mainstream radar, but are nonetheless working to transform picking via roboticgoods-to-person, piece-picking, and pick-by-vision solutions.
ELEVATING GOODS-TO-PERSON SOLUTIONS
French logistics technology firm Exotec showcased a goods-to-person picking system that usesa fleet of mobile robots able to move in threedimensions, all while eliminating much of theinfrastructure typically involved in similar automated systems. Called Skypod, Exotec’s systemcan be used for picking and replenishment; itsSkypod robots (shown at left) convey and storetotes containing items in racks up to 10 meters(30-plus feet) high. The robots move throughthe DC without any guiding infrastructure, andthere is no mechanization in the racks, creating anopen and free-flowing system designed especiallyfor e-commerce, retail, and similar operations,according to Exotec Sales Director Gilles Baulard.
The growth of e-commerce worldwide makes
this a perfect time for Exotec to move into the
U.S. market, Baulard adds, noting that the com-
Picking goes
