Hai Robotics, a leading global provider of Autonomous Case-handling Robot (ACR) systems, is committed to providing flexible, intelligent, and efficient warehouse automation solutions through robotics technology and AI algorithms. The HaiPick solution, independently developed in 2015, is the world’s first ever ACR solution. Hai Robotics is a global enterprise that has more than 1,000 projects worldwide and serves customers from more than 30 countries and regions. We have offices to cover the United States, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia and Australia. We strive to combine global experience with local expertise to provide our customers with tailored, quality solutions.
Country Manager UK & Ireland
Damien Skinner, Country Manager UK & Ireland at Hai Robotics speaks to Warehouse & Logistics News.
Can you give us a brief overview of Hai Robotics UK and tell us what the company does?
HAI Robotics UK Ltd is the UK division of HAI Robotics, delivering ACR (Autonomous Case-Handling Robotic) solutions. We design, sell, manufacture, deliver and support robotic logistics solutions, centred around our core competence plus supplementary technology. Although we can provide small scale turn-key solutions ourselves, the majority of our work is with third party integrators.
The company has opened its maiden UK office at Vulcan Works, Northampton.
Why did you choose this location?
Northampton has a number of benefits for us. Firstly, we are in the corner of the UK’s “Logistics Golden Triangle”, which allows us to be close to our customers and suppliers.
Secondly, the transport links are great by either road, rail or flight. We are no more than 2 hours away from anywhere.
Thirdly, Vulcan Works is a great space for us to work and grow into. The environment is second to none, in my opinion.
What benefits will the new office bring to the company?
Having a UK base means we have somewhere we can call “Home”. It allows us to come together as a team (currently we have 9 full-time UK resident employees), in one place for strategically important meetings, such as kick-offs or handovers.
We can bring customers and suppliers here for meetings, we can use the well-equipped meeting rooms for training and workshops. And potentially, we can use the facilities within Vulcan Works for open days or partner-focused events.
How is the UK automation/robotics market performing at the moment?
We have been present in the UK for just over 18 months and the interest in HAI Robotics’ technology is growing and growing. This interest is turning itself into an expanding pipeline of opportunities, many of which are progressing.
There is a definite trend post-Brexit, for the need for not only larger companies, but small-medium scale logistics operations to automate through robotics. We see that the shorter lead-times and flexible and scalable nature of the HAI Robotics’ solution to be really attractive to the end user.
Which industries would benefit the most from Hai Robotics’ solutions?
HAI Robotics’ main focus is on highly efficient goods to person order picking solutions. Therefore, the solutions we provide can yield great benefits for e-commerce operations, anything that requires item picking really.
Saying that, full case picking can be achieved too, for example when sequencing for a despatch dolly or pallet is required.
What are the unique advantages of Hai Robotics’ solution?
Flexibility and scalability.
Flexibility in that we can handle multiple unit loads using the same robot and load handler, for example totes and cartons or variable width cartons. We can deploy in brown or green-field sites too. We now have robots that can reach up to 12m in height and have the advantage of storing double-deep, further increasing storage density.
Scalability because the customer doesn’t need to start with a large-scale investment in the infrastructure. We can add robots, racking, pick stations etc. in the future with little to no disruption to the existing operation. Many of our customers start with a POC (Proof of Concept) of 1 or 2 robots and grow from there, as their operation gets used to the technology and their business grows.
And because we don’t rely on too much fixed infrastructure (generally only racking and pick stations are bolted to the floor), there is the possibility of moving the solution from one building to another.
Tell us about how you teamed up with Logistex to optimise John Lewis Partnership’s new e-commerce distribution centre in Fenny Lock, Milton Keynes.
Both Nikil Bharakhada, Solution Design Manager for UK & Ireland and I are former employees at Logistex. We were approached as our solutions match their customer requirements. Once we introduced to them what we can offer and our ambitions for the UK market, we were approached to tender for the Fenny Lock project.
We are fortunate enough to have won and look forward to delivering a successful project.
Are there any other projects and contracts you would like to talk about?
We work with our customer base under the strictest of confidence. All I can say is “watch this space”.
What companies do you partner with and how do you integrate with them?
We currently have three UK based integration partners with whom we work. As mentioned previously, we work with Logistex, but are also partners with Invar Systems and Breathe Technologies exclusively in the UK.
We also have pan-European agreements with SSI Schaefer and GreyOrange.
What financial options does Hai Robotics offer to overcome automation challenges?
One of the exciting areas of growth I can see happening in the next few years is the change of moving from traditional capex models to flexible user (lease) or repayment (hire purchase) models.
Think of it like FLT rental or car hire purchase. These options remove that initial barrier for moving from a more traditional operation into automation.
How future proof and flexible are your solutions?
I have covered flexibility previously.
But technology moves on rapidly. Even during my time with HAI Robotics we’ve developed telescopic mast technology from 8m to 10m now.
The key areas of improvement for our technology are batteries and software. Batteries are now becoming cheaper and more efficient, so there can be interchanges when required.
In terms of software, we offer an upgrade path, so that all our customers have the ability to have the latest software release running their robot fleet.
What do you see as the biggest opportunities in the coming year for Hai Robotics?
When I reflect on what we have achieved in 18 months it is incredible. We’ve got the core of a really strong business in place and a huge amount of support from our European and Global HQ.
Our biggest opportunity is to use these achievements as the foundation for something that can be truly special in the UK logistics automation market. We want to take onboard feedback from our customers and end-users to improve and strengthen our team to maintain our customer service and offer and develop new and existing relationships with our integration partners and suppliers.
Hai Robotics
+31-(0)23-3039101
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