Brabant'sVanderlande has taken a minority stake in Smart Robotics, the employment agency for robots. The two parties are jointly starting a research & development programme to develop robotics systems for logistics automation, and with Vanderlande's support, Smart Robotics also aims to scale up internationally.
Robotic arms tailored to customer needs
Smart Robotics originated three years ago as a spin-off from TU/e. The company rents robots to companies. With control and user software developed in-house, the robot arms are adapted to the client's requirements. The robots can be used for, among other things, order picking or product packaging. Smart Robotics rents out the robots to customers who need temporary support, for instance around the holidays.
Scaling up internationally
Vanderlande, manufacturer of logistics transport systems, is offering Smart Robotics funding in addition to research and development opportunities. This will allow the company to scale up internationally. Furthermore, Vanderlande will outsource projects to Smart Robotics in the future.
Distribution network
"Vanderlande has the perfect product-market combination for our ambitions in the logistics market," says Mark Menting, Managing Director at Smart Robotics. Abroad, Smart Robotics does not want to open its own branches, but to set up a distribution network, Menting let the Brabants Dagblad note. The first step in that direction focuses on packaging within the food and pharmaceutical industries. Together with partner Verduyn Packaging, it is setting up a European distribution network for that.
