Skypod System

Exotec’s signature solution, The Skypod system, utilizes robots that can reach a height of 36 feet to enable high-density inventory storage. Exotec increases warehouse throughput up to 5 times with 2-minute response times for all SKUs. Exotec systems are fully modular allowing customers to deploy in a matter of months and easily expand their systems without interrupting production by simply adding robots, stations, or racks. The systems drastically improve working conditions for human operators and foster more sustainable warehouse productivity by reducing highly repetitive, physically intensive tasks such as excessive walking, lifting, and bending.

The Skypod goods-to-person system is comprised of the Skypod robots, racks, bins and a variety of station options and can be easily integrated to all other inbound and outbound logistics solutions in a warehouse such as conveyors, pallet lifters, etc.

Legacy warehouse automation is falling short to meet today’s challenges. Traditional warehouse automation solutions offer improved storage density and cost efficiencies compared to manual order preparation.However, they lack the flexibility that today’s volatile world requires. Especially in e-commerce with hard-to-predict growth and rapidly evolving consumer demands.

The Skypod system from Exotec is flexible, quickly scalable according to business needs and able to pivot to unknow future models, all without disrupting ongoing operations. Futhermore, it is able do so without compromising on efficiencies, which is essential to meet cost pressures.

Finally, the Skypod system uses up to 80% less energy compared to traditional automated solutions. This is why Monoprix and Prologis have chosen Exotec to be their order picking system at their newly live warehouse in Moissy, known now as the first carbon neutral warehouse in the world.

At the beginning of 2021 Exotec announced a new innovation to be added to the Skypod system: The Skypicker. The Skypicker is an articulated arm able to move solid objects weighing up to 4.4lbs and with a minimum surface of 0.8 x 0.8 inches at a speed of 4.5mph. It allows for simultaneous preparation of four orders and transfer to the next station for order completion with manual picking or packing. The Skypicker is controlled by the Astar software (developed by Exotec) in an enclosed and secure environment that guarantees the safety of the operators. Astar synchronizes the articulated arm with the robots operating in the warehouse and defines which bin to send to the picking station. All this is supported by a high-resolution camera and sophisticated visualization algorithms. The Skypicker can reach outputs of up to 600 items per hour and ensure sustained order picking for products without handles that account for 30-50% of the items in the cosmetics, health, high tech, cultural and food sectors.

Exotec supports 25+ industry-leading brands spanning e-commerce, grocery, retail, manufacturing, and 3PL sectors. Customers including Decathlon, Carrefour, Gap, and Uniqlo leverage Exotec to improve their operations and profitably navigate rapid shifts in business models and customer expectations.

"We will draw on the outstanding ability and experience of [Exotec] to strengthen our supply chain by stepping up our warehouse automation and global transformation" Takuya Jimbo, Group Executive Vice President, Fast Retailing

"We chose to partner with Exotec in large part due to the high-performance system, speed of implementation, and strong history of successful execution" Jérôme Saillour, Logistics Transformation Manager, Decathlon

https://www.exotec.com/