Amazon opens ‘eighth-generation’ fulfillment center

Amazon.com Inc. today unveiled a state-of-the-art fulfillment center that uses robotics, Kiva technology, vision systems and almost 20 years-worth of software and mechanical innovations – all in time to fulfill holiday orders.

The company is currently operating 10 fulfillment centers employing what it calls its “eighth-generation” operational set-up across the U.S.

Key features include:

• Kiva robots, of which Amazon currently has more than 15,000 operating across the U.S.;

• Robo-Stow, large robotic arms that move large quantities of inventory for customer order fulfillment;

• New vision systems enabling the unloading and receipt of an entire trailer of inventory within 30 minutes;

• High-end graphically oriented computer systems for employees to use while fulfilling orders for customers.

Amazon is hiring 80,000 seasonal employees to fulfill customer orders this holiday, a 14 % increase over last year. The company expects that thousands of those employees to stay on in regular, full-time roles.

Source: Home & Textiles Today