Automation Of Warehouses Still A Decade Away, Says Amazon’s Robotics Chief

Amazon Inc has reportedly said that the technology for running a fully automated warehouse is at least a decade away. The comments were made by Anderson during a tour of Amazon’s Baltimore warehouse for reporters on Tuesday. The superior cognitive abilities of humans and limitation of current technologies have been cited as the reason by Scott Anderson, director of Amazon robotics fulfilment, Reuters reported.
The technology is at least 10 years away from fully automating the processing of a single order picked by a worker inside a warehouse, Anderson said. Anderson further added that In the current form, the technology is very limited. The technology is very far from the fully automated workstation that we would need. No robots are employed in warehouses which handle fresh food, Derek Jones, who oversees Amazon’s fresh food offerings like Amazon Fresh and Amazon Pantry told Reuters.

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Comfort Systems USA Announces Acquisition

Business Wire | February 01, 2024

Comfort Systems USA, Inc. today announced that it has closed its previously announced transaction to acquire Summit Industrial Construction, LLC (“Summit”) headquartered in Houston, Texas. As previously disclosed, Summit is a specialty industrial mechanical contractor offering engineering, design-assist and turnkey, direct hire construction services of modular systems serving the advanced technology, power, and industrial sectors. Summit’s capabilities encompass a wide range of modular and site-based construction, including process piping, equipment setting, large pipe rack trestles, and related steel erection and specialty concrete work. Summit is a trusted supplier to some of the world’s largest advanced technology, power and industrial companies and is currently deployed on several major chip fabrication projects. Initially, Summit is expected to contribute annualized revenues of approximately $375 million to $400 million, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of $35 million to $40 million. In light of the amortization expense, Summit is expected to make a neutral to slightly accretive contribution to earnings per share in 2024 and 2025. Brian Lane, Comfort Systems USA’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are delighted to announce the closing of our agreement to acquire Summit, an extremely capable provider of modular and other complex mechanical services. Summit brings a stellar reputation as a modular technology leader in growing end markets, including multiple ongoing and large semiconductor projects. We are happy to welcome Summit’s wonderful leadership team and excellent production and craft workers across many states, and we are confident Summit will continue to innovate and grow as a part of our network of world-class contracting companies. We are grateful that Summit has chosen to become part of Comfort Systems USA.”

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