Automation After Dark

Warehouse automation companies are developing non-manual, off-the-clock solutions

Ever wondered what goes on at the plant when no one's around?

Probably not, because most plants and industrial facilities tend to have at least a couple people present at all times. For 24-hour operations, shifts generally overlap and plant managers see to it that nothing is left unattended to. Warehouse automation companies are pushing to change that, for better or worse...and it really could be either. The better part would involve a workforce willing to blindly trust automated processes and get a good sleep while some of their "side work" is being accomplished, or even expedited, on site. The worse? Well, take your natural anxiety of automation, omit any human element, and let the nagging concerns, Murphy's Law, and worst-case plant malfunction scenarios flow from there.

Locus Robotics, a Wilmington, Massachusetts-based leader in what's being called "Flexibility-First Warehouse Automation," recently announced Hy-Tek Intralogistics, VARGO, and Zion Solutions Group as the foundational partners for its Locus Robotics Array System Integrator (SI) Program, per an April 13 press release. As part of Locus Robotics’ ecosystem strategy, the new SI program is designed to accelerate the real-world deployment of Locus Array, a fully autonomous fulfillment system capable of end-to-end workflow execution without manual intervention.

Examples of warehouse automation from Hy-Tek's "innovation lab."

“These three foundational partners were selected for their deep experience in warehouse automation, focus on customer success, and proven ability to scale innovation in the market,” said Al Dekin, Chief Revenue Officer, Locus Robotics. “These system integrators have been sound collaborators in the definition of this new program and are active participants in our first Locus Array deployments.”