France's Exotec Solutions has received a €15 million capital injection to develop and scale up its warehouse robots that can 'climb'. Before the end of 2019, it aims to produce and sell 1,000 robots.
The startup is the creator of the Skypod, a warehouse robot that climbs warehouse racks, so to speak. Exotec Solutions' system is a 3D variant of existing shuttle systems that can only move horizionally. The Skypod moves not only from left to right but also from top to bottom. Using laser technology, it navigates through the warehouse, then collects products and drives them to the packing tables. The robots can carry up to 60 kilograms of products.
Late last year, Exotec Solutions integrated the system at French etailer Cdiscount. The new system would allow Cdiscount to pick 400 items per hour, double the number of picks with standard automation. In addition to the robots, Exotec also sells the racks and crates they move between.
