Swisslog Logistics Automation demonstrated a variety of future-ready material handling solutions during Modex, including robotics, AGVs, and the use of artificial intelligence for a look at the "warehouse of the future."
Swisslog showcased ItemPiQ, a robotic solution designed for repeated, reliable single-item picking for companies in the e-commerce, retail, and pharmaceutical industries. The system uses parent company Kuka's LBR iiwa robot and its sensitive handling properties, allowing for the pick and place of fragile items. The system can be combined with Swisslog's other intralogistics solutions, such as AutoStore and CycloneCarrier.
The new CarryPick solution is an automated storage and order fulfillment system that uses automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to continuously supply workstations with mobile racks. The system highlights Swisslog's focus on flexibility and mobility: It supports products of different sizes and weights, allows for the quick and easy addition of racks and AGVs, and also allows users to move equipment from one warehouse to another.
Swisslog also offered a glimpse of the warehouse of the future, demonstrating a variety of virtual and augmented reality applications through its SynQ software services platform. The company is exploring ways to use both virtual and augmented reality for remote maintenance, warehouse planning, and employee training. Speech recognition technology is also in play. The company showed how the Alexa voice assistant interacts with the SynQ software platform system maintenance, a service that will be rolled out later this year.
