Kerry Logistics Network has added the use of robotic arms, named “KOOLBotic”, to sort chilled products in its Food & Beverage (F&B) operation. This has been done as part of the company’s attempt to integrate automation into its operation and to increase productivity. KOOLBotic has been installed in a regional distribution centre in Hong Kong which Kerry Logistics Network uses to manage a leading UK retailer in the region.
The KOOLBotic is claimed to be able to handle large volumes of chilled food products in a low temperature environment, work in 20-hour shifts, and deliver a relatively short lead time to market. Kerry Logistics Network states the adoption of the new automation technology has resulted in a 20.0% raise in sorting productivity.
The development of robotics was spurred in part due to the pandemic, where a reduction in human contact was necessary. Kerry Logistics Network views robotics as a technology which can be further expanded into other sectors, especially in e-commerce, which saw a rapid expansion over the pandemic.
Samuel Lau, Deputy Managing Director commented: “We see this type of selective automation and collaborative robots as the future of our industry, as it combines the best of both worlds – the flexibility of humans and the endurance of machines. We anticipate installing more cobots in our logistics centres to take our operations to the next level.”
Source: Kerry Logistics Network
