Amazon has announced that it has acquired D. Cloostermans-Huwaert NV, a Belgian company that specializes in robotics technology.
The new acquisition is the latest in the US tech conglomerate’s efforts to improve its robotics division and automate its logistics operations.
Amazon launched its robotics division back in 2019 with its acquisition of Kiva Systems Inc. and has since incorporated over 520,000 robots into its warehouses, and recently launched it’s first completely autonomous robot that is capable of safely working and moving around employees without being restricted to a single area.
The company has said that the acquisition of Cloostermans, a company it has been working with since 2019, will allow it to improve the safety and efficiency of robots working alongside warehouse staff.
According to vice president of global robotics for Amazon, Ian Simpson, “Amazon’s investments in robotics and technology are supporting how we build a better and safer workplace for our employees and deliver for our customers.”
The solutions provided by Cloostermans are currently used by Amazon robots for stacking heavy pallets and packaging products.
Amazon rapidly expanded it’s US logistics network over the 2 years of the pandemic, making the most of massive increases in online shopping demand. With inflation on the rise and shoppers returning to physical brick and mortar stores, online demand has declined and as a result, the company is slowing it’s expansion and hiring process, and culled 99,000 employees in July.
