GXO Logistics says that it has successfully deployed Global Robotics Services (GRS) robots in a 3D sortation system.
Alessandro Renzo, Managing Director, Italy and Switzerland, GXO said: “GXO invested in a pilot program using robotic sortation technology to increase productivity, accuracy and operational efficiency for one of our major fashion industry customers.
“We are constantly looking for and testing technologies to meet our customers’ rapidly evolving needs, and we expect a successful trial to lead to a larger installation at the site.”
The 30-day pilot program took place at a GXO facility in Stradella, Italy, which houses an ecommerce operation. The installation itself took one week, and more than a dozen 3D sortation robots were programmed to feed 30 trolleys with more than 450 destination bins.
GRS is the robotics division of property developer GLP.
The robots achieved a throughput of 1,200 units per hour — more than 3x the speed of the previous solution. The pilot also optimised workforce hours related to the sorting process, reduced sorting errors and increased the traceability of orders.
To date, GRS has completed more than 30 robotics projects across Asia, with installations completed in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The GRS robotic sortation system for GXO in Stradella is the first of its kind in Europe.
Commenting on the installation Hongming Chen, CEO of Global Robotics Services (GRS) said: “This first installation with GXO is a key milestone for GRS in Europe. Robots are becoming ever more present in the warehouse, and we understand the opportunity of automation and the value that can be created by optimising processes through this technology.
“We have great ambition to scale our business across Europe and we look forward to working with new and existing customers to deploy hundreds more of these 3D sortation systems in the future.”
