Amazon has agreed to buy Cloostermans. This is a Belgian company specializing in the manufacture of robots capable of stacking pallets in warehouses. Note, however, that Amazon was already using Cloostermans’ technology to package products.
Once the acquisition closes, Cloostermans employees will join Amazon Global Robotics. They will dedicate their time to building technologies suitable for all of Amazon’s needs. The latter also declared in a press release that Cloostermans’ experience in the field of engineering, robotics and machinery will improve working conditions within the company.
The benefits of the Cloostermans takeover
Cloostermans specializes in robotics. Its acquisition by Amazon confers multiple advantages on the e-commerce giant. Indeed, in addition to the experience of Cloostermans engineers, Amazon can now facilitate the search for solutions to the various problems encountered in the workplace. This represents an alternative to reducing packaging waste, as well as increasing worker safety. Indeed, the company has already expressed its desire to have more robots to improve the safety of its employees.
Other than that, the introduction of more robots in Amazon’s warehouses helps increase automation. For example, last June Proteus, Amazon’s first autonomous warehouse robot, was able to move carts full of packages on its own. In other words, the robotization of activities can only increase the speed of work while protecting employees as much as possible from the various accidents that may arise.
Robots will not yet replace humans
Robots are making more inroads at Amazon. Indeed, for several years, we find them in its many distribution centers. With the acquisition of Cloostermans, automation is more than present within the company.
However, this modernization will not yet take over human workers. In 2019, the company said automation was not expected to replace human workers in warehouses for at least a decade.
Amazon is committed to protecting its employees in the workplace. Thus, robotization is a safe and effective means of achieving this end. The acquisition of Cloostermans can therefore only be beneficial for society, even if automation will not replace human labour. Moreover, since it will speed up the pace of work, it could make the business even more productive.
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