Continuing growth in e-commerce is fueling a tight market for distribution and fulfillment centers space, either leased, purchased or through a partner, as companies look to expand their networks to meet growing consumer demand for rapid parcel delivery.
Improving economic conditions have boosted investment in the construction sector and also the spending pattern of consumers, both of which have contributed to growth in the material handling market. Another factor is rising labor costs, which has led to investments in these solutions to cut down on operating expenses.
In the world of material handling, the notion of "driverless-ness" has been around for 60 years since the first automated guided vehicle (AGV) appeared in a grocery warehouse. High-tech warehouse operations are already used to the sight of AGVs performing tasks such as the vertical storage and retrieval of pallets and the loading and unloading of pallets onto outbound trailers.
Amazon has about 30,000 Kiva robots scuttling about its warehouses across the globe. Dave Clark, the retailer's senior vice president of worldwide operations and customer service, estimated the addition of the bots reduced operating expenses by about 20 percent.
Mainfreight USA, a global supply-chain and logistics services provider, has added two warehouses to its North American logistics network, in Newark, N.J., and Dallas.
