SlipBot strikes automotive elements for Nissan in Mississippi. Supply: Slip Robotics
For greater than a century, truck trailers have been loaded and unloaded in the identical method, resulting in wasted time for drivers and harmful bursts of exercise for forklift operators. Slip Robotics as we speak mentioned it has raised Sequence B funding of $28 million because it provides to automate and speed up truck loading and unloading with its SlipBots.
Truckers spend 23% of their workday idling at loading docks, whereas forklift operators rush to hold freight between the trailer and staging space, regardless of 25% of all industrial accidents going down on the loading dock, in accordance with Slip Robotics.
“Modernizing loading and unloading is a gigantic drawback ready to be solved,” mentioned James Hardiman, normal accomplice at lead investor DCVC. “Slip Robotics is driving a stage of change within the provide chain {industry} not seen because the containerization of sea freight. Their options will not be simply theoretical—they work, and so they ship worth and scale as we speak.”
Slip Robotics received a 2024 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award for its improvement of SlipBot.
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SlipBots minimize loading occasions to minutes
“The necessity for larger provide chain automation has by no means been extra important,” mentioned Slip Robotics. “Labor shortages, rising operational prices, and the demand for quicker supply occasions are all driving a shift towards smarter, automated options.”
SlipBot allows the automated loading and unloading of any truck at any dock, with any sort of freight, in any trailer, and with zero Wi-Fi or IT integration required, claimed the Norcross, Ga.-based firm. The robots can minimize loading occasions from 30 to 60 minutes to simply 5, it added.
Slip Robotics asserted that its programs, which it provides in a robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) community, can 10x enhancements in security, velocity, and financial savings throughout the provision chain. It mentioned this broad applicability and ease of deployment has fueled Slip’s speedy adoption and enlargement with prospects.
Firms throughout North America are utilizing SlipBots in 24/7 manufacturing operations, together with John Deere, GE Home equipment, Nissan, and different producers and logistics operators, mentioned Slip.
SlipBot automates trailer loading and loading for Valeo in Indiana. Supply: Slip Robotics
Valeo will increase throughput, security
Valeo, a multinational automotive elements producer, used SlipBots to scale back its trailer load/unload occasions. It mentioned 26 SlipBots seamlessly built-in into its operations, enabling staff to extend dock throughput by 6x, scale back forklift site visitors by 8x, and improve security on the loading dock.
“Slip Robotics makes our lives simpler and proves that automation doesn’t need to be tough,” mentioned Lou D’Allura, productiveness supervisor at Valeo. “It’s the actual deal.”
“Slip’s options don’t simply symbolize the longer term—they resolve as we speak’s challenges,” added Chris Smith, CEO of Slip Robotics. “We’re transferring freight quicker, extra safely, and at a decrease value for industry-leading manufacturers throughout the provision chain.”
Slip Robotics invests in staffers, R&D
DCVC, a number one Silicon Valley enterprise capital agency specializing in deep tech, led Slip Robotics’ Sequence B spherical. The corporate has raised $45 million to this point from buyers akin to Eve Atlas, Tech Sq. Ventures, Hyde Park Enterprise Companions, Overline, and Pathbreaker Ventures, all of which participated in its newest financing.
Slip Robotics mentioned the funding will assist it “to speed up change in one of the labor-intensive elements of logistics.” The firm plans to increase its group to help speedy development, improve deployments, and improve its product choices.
As well as, Slip mentioned it’s investing in continued business development together with analysis and improvement with a deal with delivering larger worth to prospects. Different builders of truck loading and unloading robots embrace Boston Dynamics, Dexterity, Mujin, Pickle Robotic, and Rightbot Applied sciences, and extra.