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Symbotic’s automation system utilizes autonomous mobile robots and robotic arms with advanced vision and sensing capabilities. | Source: Symbotic
Symbotic Inc. today announced it has entered into commercial agreements with Walmart de México y Centroamérica, also known as Walmex. The companies will implement Symbotic’s warehouse automation in two of Walmex’s locations near Mexico City.
Under the agreements, Symbotic will deploy its systems at two greenfield distribution centers. Walmex is currently breaking ground on the first site in the Bajio region of Mexico. The retailer said the Bajio site will be one of the largest in its distribution network in Mexico and is the largest system Symbotic has deployed as a single-phase project.
“We are pleased to welcome Walmex as a customer and to implementing state-of-the-art automation within its Mexican network that will enhance productivity in both its distribution centers and stores,” stated Rick Cohen, the chairman and CEO of Symbotic. “This marks a significant milestone in Symbotic’s growth, demonstrating the broad applicability of our systems and our ability to provide revolutionary supply chain technology to a global market.”
Symbotic also established a new business entity, Symbotic Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., to serve customers in Mexico and tap into the growing global demand for warehouse automation. The company said the new entity and first customer agreements “represent meaningful progress for Symbotic’s strategic international expansion plans.”
SymBots to modernize Walmex operations
Symbotic said its robotic case-picking systems will help Walmex modernize its extensive supply chain network. At the core of the company’s system are its autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) called SymBots. The company designed it for machine learning, so it equipped the AMR with enough onboard computing power to collect data, extract insights, and flexibly adapt to its environment and variations in operations.
The SymBots can handle a wide array of products of different sizes, weights, and shapes. Symbotic said this makes them a good fit for a company like Walmex, which delivers a wide variety of goods.
The AMRs can also adjust to pick up and place products on shelves at variable heights. SymBot is capable of parallel operations while the robot is in motion, reducing the time between tasks and increasing productivity.
Symbotic asserted that its systems can increase efficiency, inventory capacity and accuracy, and worker safety, as well as enable faster shipments to Walmex’s stores.
Symbotic grows to meet industry demand
Wilmington, Mass.-based Symbotic said it applies high-density storage, mobile robots, and machine learning to help solve complex distribution challenges.
The company won a 2024 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award for its modular automation in response to logistics demand. It was also recently named to Fast Company’s sixth annual list of the “100 Best Workplaces for Innovators.”
After bringing in $424 million in revenue in the second quarter of this year, Symbotic acquired “substantially all of the assets” of Veo Robotics Inc. for $8.7 million. Veo’s FreeMove technology supports safeguarding for industrial robots, essentially turning them into collaborative robots.