Automated air cargo handling eyes new heights as labour shortage bites
Automation is changing air cargo handling, a trend exacerbated by the shortage of a skilled ...
The economics of automating warehouse operations are becoming increasingly plain – in the US, the minimum wage for a worker is $15 an hour, while leasing a robot (as opposed to purchasing one for around $100,000) comes in at around $8 an hour.
This feature from Wired explains how the pandemic-induced labour shortages in production and distribution facilities led to the emergence of a new breed of leasing companies building up fleets of robots and renting them out – a particular attraction for smaller operators nervous of the large capex requirements of directly investing in automation. “The robot-as-employee approach could help automation spread into smaller businesses more rapidly by changing the economics. Companies such as Formic see an opportunity to build large businesses by serving many small firms. Many are mining the data they collect to help refine their products and improve customers’ operations.”
Knights of Old parent enters administration, but sister firm Nelson is saved
'Freefalling' Asia-North Europe rates shed half their value in three weeks
China Railways launches new 50ft container designed for express rail services
Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd offer their guides to 2024 ETS surcharges
MSC's second-hand ship shopping spree continues despite declining vessel values
Little hope of 2024 upturn in box shipping trades, says Yang Ming
Forwarders and box lines will carry on with their own air networks
Manufacturing boom in India drives up intra-Asia freight rates
Rush for e-commerce capacity could trigger airfreight rate rise
Mexico-US trade flows checked as borders become pressure points
Lidl-owned Tailwind targets apparel shippers on its China-Europe services
Carriers hunt e-commerce volumes as China-UK air freight capacity jumps
Air India targeting pharma trade with air freight fleet capacity set to quadruple
Are China’s ports and shipping companies being used to spy on the world?
Alex Lennane
email: [email protected]
mobile: +44 7879 334 389
During August 2023, please contact
Alex Whiteman
email: [email protected]
Alessandro Pasetti
email: [email protected]
mobile: +44 7402 255 512
Comment on this article