OSARO®, a prominent player in the field of machine-learning-driven robotics for e-commerce, has unveiled the OSARO® Robotic Depalletization System. This cutting-edge warehouse automation solution by OSARO is designed to tackle one of the most challenging and labor-intensive tasks in e-commerce fulfillment and warehousing—the daily unloading of numerous heavy and unwieldy boxes and packages arriving on standard pallets.
Depalletizing stands out as one of the most labor-intensive tasks within warehouse workflows, with over three billion pallets expected to undergo depalletization globally this year alone, demanding a quarter of a million full-time employees, according to Ash Sharma, Managing Director at Interact Analysis.
Addressing this challenge, OSARO has launched the OSARO Robotic Depalletization System, incorporating the innovative OSARO SightWorks™ Perception Software. This technology empowers the robot to identify, select, and securely grasp diverse sizes and materials of unevenly stacked packages commonly encountered on mixed-case pallets arriving at loading docks. The precise perception technology can detect foreign objects or damaged boxes, providing timely alerts to workers and preventing potential injuries or further damage. The system enhances efficiency, boosts safety, reduces labor costs, and minimizes inventory shrinkage.
The OSARO Robotic Depalletization System is now available immediately for deployment in 3PL operations, distribution centers, and e-commerce fulfillment warehouses. Its key features include:
- Mixed-case box recognition on complex pallets – identifies center, dimensions, and orientation; determines damage score or error conditions.
- Foreign object detection – identifies foreign objects such as box cutters, tools, and tape dispensers.
- Damaged box detection – identifies damaged or structurally unsound boxes to avoid risky picks.
- Protruding box detection – identifies boxes within a defined distance beyond the pallet coordinates.
- Flexible deployment – built on skids that can be easily moved with a forklift within or between facilities.
The OSARO system brings fully automated mixed-case depalletization, addressing the challenges posed by the size, weight, handling procedures, and potential structural failure of pallets. The system’s AI-powered vision quickly determines case angles, prioritizes which cases to pick first, and selects the appropriate end-of-arm tool to grasp each package without interfering with adjacent cases.
OSARO CEO Derik Pridmore highlighted the significance of this innovation: “Our robotic depalletization system can safely unload these pallets and deliver up to 40 percent cost savings when compared to manual labor. And, as more shifts are added, savings increase significantly.”
Beyond efficiency gains, the automation of depalletization also addresses the ongoing worker shortage in the industry. Depalletization jobs are inherently dangerous, often requiring overtime or weekend work, making them less appealing to workers. OSARO’s intelligent robotic system contributes to a safer warehouse environment while reducing the physical toll on workers.
With depalletization being a high-risk and labor-intensive function, the move toward automation aligns with the need to enhance workplace safety and alleviate the economic burden associated with injuries, as estimated by the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). The annual economic burden of injuries related to depalletization is estimated to be between $45 and $54 billion, encompassing compensation costs, lost wages, lost productivity, and ancillary expenses like overtime payments to cover absent workers. OSARO’s innovative solution aims to transform warehouse operations, making them safer, more efficient, and cost-effective.
Learn more about OSARO’s automated depalletization solutions
- Download the guide: Automate Your Mixed-Case Depalletization
- Visit the OSARO depal solution webpage
- Find out What You Need to Know about Robotic Depalletization
- Set up a consultation with OSARO’s solutions team
ABOUT OSARO
OSARO delivers best-in-class robotic piece-picking solutions for e-commerce where key challenges include high SKU inventories, complex packaging, and fragile items. In the rapidly evolving world of logistics technology, OSARO offers smarter automation, low-risk business plans, and its signature Hypercare support from concept exploration to onsite installation. OSARO’s intelligent robots enable goods-to-robot (G2R) use cases, where the greatest gains are yet to be made on the automated warehouse floor. Its machine-learning vision and control software provides the foundation for all its products. For more information, visit osaro.com.