Modern Materials Handling

6 days ago | mmh.com | Amy Wunderlin

Mobile robots aimed to enhance human efficiency and productivity have become more attainable over the last decade as technology has improved allowing for larger-scale automation and better cost efficiency. Their ability to adapt and collaborate with other people and systems is further driving demand at a time when companies are no longer willing to sacrifice flexibility for performance.

6 days ago | mmh.com | Gary Forger

Rewind to early February 2025. Come on in. Sit next to me. We’re at a Modern editorial planning meeting and the next topic is the story about robots for the April issue. “I think we should do something on special-purpose robots.”“You mean something other than an AMR or robotic AS/RS?”“Yeah.”“Can you be more specific?” “Kind of.” And with that, the hunt for special-purpose robots was off and running.

1 week ago | mmh.com | Bridget McCrea

At first glance, origami and commercial packaging seem worlds apart. One is the Japanese art of paper folding, or using folds and creases to transform flat sheets of paper into intricate sculptures without cutting or gluing. The other involves designing and producing containers that protect, hold and preserve products. Zoom in closer and an extremely functional, protective and sustainable packaging option materializes when these two disparate concepts collide.

1 week ago | mmh.com | Bridget McCrea

The race to integrate more robotics and automation in the intralogistics setting-companies’ own internal supply chains—is underway in full force. The ongoing warehouse labor shortage, demands of the booming e-commerce channel and the need to “do more with less” have created an environment where adding robotics to the equation just makes sense.

1 week ago | mmh.com | Amanda Loudin

If you attended this year’s ProMat, the odds are you spent some time talking about, learning about, or thinking about robotics. Whether traditional fixed arms, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), or automatic guided vehicles (AGVs), robots are all the buzz in warehousing these days. And you may even have a few on your floor by now, enjoying their many efficiencies.