Pittsburgh, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/30/2012 -- Giant Eagle, one of the nation’s largest privately held multi-format food and fuel retailers, had to address how to handle inbound pallets beyond the manned hi-lift industrial vehicles used to putaway the product. Between twenty and thirty percent of inbound freight is now handled by three Seegrid GP8 double robotic pallet trucks at their retail support center in Crafton, Pennsylvania. Giant Eagle uses driverless robotic pallet trucks to “streak” (moving pallets from one area to another) inbound delivered pallets to a drop zone via WMS (Warehouse Management System). Currently the robots are used for inbound delivered pallets. The company is evaluating opportunities to use the same process for outbound deliveries. The full case study text can be found at http://www.seegrid.com/images/pdf/giant_eagle_casestudy_11_20_12.pdf.

“Our Seegrid pallet jacks enable us to minimize travel within our operations,” said Joe Hurley, Sr. VP of Supply Chain and Logistics for Giant Eagle. “The robot is able to take pallets directly from the pickup point on the receiving dock to an end-of aisle drop point without requiring an operator of a hi-lift. We’ve increased productivity with our replenishment hi-lifts in aisles, because operators now have more products to move in shorter distances. So we’ve actually increased productivity.”

Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Seegrid Corp. brings robotic vision-guided technology to the material handling industry. Seegrid offers solutions that optimize workflow processes by increasing productivity and reducing costs, creating economic and operational advantages.

According to Pittsburgh-based Seegrid Corp. (http://www.seegrid.com), the leading in Robotic Industrial Trucks manufacturer, industrial robots are creating more jobs in warehousing and manufacturing facilities. The company has recognized the economic change in manufacturing. There is a strong increased demand for driverless industrial robots to transport goods horizontally without wire, tape, laser or other costly automated guided vehicle (AGVs) systems. These industrial robots are manufactured in America and support American manufacturing and warehousing companies— keeping America at the forefront of innovation and technology.

David Heilman, CAO at Seegrid, said, "Our customers are growing and innovating by using robots to increase facility productivity and efficiency to become more profitable, thus expanding their operations and adding more jobs. Robots are the high-tech tool companies are using to increase profits and grow their business."

Seegrid Corporation
http://www.seegrid.com
Amanda Merrell
amerrell@seegrid.com
412-379-4500