In a significant move to bolster its logistics capabilities, Apotea, Sweden's premier online pharmacy, has announced an expanded agreement with RightHand Robotics to implement the RightPick™ item-handling system in their new logistics center in Varberg, Sweden. This strategic robotic expansion, carried out in close collaboration with SSI Schaefer, a global leader in automated workflow and logistics solutions, is set to be fully operational by 2025, enabling Apotea to efficiently handle the growing demand for online orders.
The new 30,000-square-meter (323,000 square feet) facility in Varberg will mark the second Apotea warehouse to be automated by RightHand Robotics. In 2022, Apotea successfully implemented the RightPick platform in their Morgongåva facility, which currently processes around 70,000 orders of medication and non-prescription products daily. With the continued trust in RightHand Robotics' technology and the new investment in SSI's solutions, Apotea anticipates a substantial increase in the number of orders processed per day at their Varberg warehouse, aiming to handle an additional 50,000 orders.
Pär Svardson, CEO of Apotea, expressed his satisfaction with the tailor-made solution, stating, "We are happy to have found a unique and tailor-made solution with RightHand Robotics technology for our warehouse in Varberg. We have worked with RightHand Robotics for a few years now and our initiatives for automation have substantially increased our efficiency. This is a necessary investment for us, as we continue our expansion and fulfill customer demands."
Renowned for its intelligent robotic manipulation and machine-learning capabilities, the RightPick system will seamlessly integrate with the SSI Cuby single-level shuttle system, a fully automated solution for the storage of containers and cartons. During operations, the RightPick system will be strategically positioned at the end of a conveyor belt, receiving and picking products from the SSI source tote, performing barcode scanning when necessary, and placing the product in the designated tote location for its final destination. The synergy between RightHand and SSI systems will ensure precise automated item handling, minimizing errors and significantly enhancing the speed of Apotea's order processing and fulfillment.
Brian Owen, CEO of RightHand Robotics, expressed his gratitude for Apotea's continued trust, stating, "We're honored that Apotea chose us again to support their e-commerce needs. This is a true testament to our RightPick system's proven track record of increased order fulfillment rates and a strong ROI. We're excited to work with SSI on this project, integrating our technologies to provide Apotea with a powerful solution that will meet their evolving e-commerce demands."
Apotea's investment in RightHand Robotics and SSI Schaefer's technologies represents a significant milestone in the evolution of logistics and e-commerce in Sweden. The deployment of the RightPick system in the new Varberg facility showcases Apotea's commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and meet the growing demands of their customers.
As Apotea continues to expand its operations and embrace automation, the partnership with RightHand Robotics and SSI Schaefer is expected to yield substantial benefits. The integration of the RightPick item-handling system with SSI's automated storage solutions will not only increase the speed and accuracy of order processing but also provide Apotea with the scalability and flexibility needed to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of e-commerce.
