We know well that Amazon has been one of the pioneers in betting on automated technology to increase its production rate, although this means eliminating jobs. Now, according to Reuters, Amazon is implementing new machines in its warehouses, which are responsible for putting the products in custom boxes.
According to the information, Amazon has been testing this technology for a few years, which consists of a large machine that scans the products on a conveyor belt, to subsequently wrap them in cardboard, creating a fair-sized box, and leaving them ready for delivery.
Machines that are up to five times faster than humans
According to Reuters sources, Amazon is contemplating at least two packing machines per warehouse, this for a dozen of its facilities in the United States. Each machine would replace the work of 24 people, who every day are responsible for packing the products, sealing the boxes and placing the corresponding label so that they can be sent later.
According to Reuters, installing these machines in 55 of Amazon's "standard size" logistics centers in the United States would represent more than 1,300 layoffs. Amazon expects to recover the costs of each machine, whose price is one million dollars, in less than two years.
The machines, baptized as CartonWrap, would be manufactured by the Italian company CMC and would offer a packaging capacity of between 600 and 700 boxes per hour, that is, four to five times more compared to a human.
The machine is not 100% automatic, since it still requires three people for its operation: one that puts and accommodates the items on the conveyor belt; another one that is waiting to load the cardboard and the glue; and the third would be a technician who would be there to resolve possible traffic jams.
Speaking to Reuters, Amazon mentioned:
"We are testing this new technology with the aim of increasing security, accelerating delivery times and increasing efficiency throughout our network. We expect efficiency savings to be reinvested in new services for customers, where new positions will continue to be created. job".
So CMC not have confirmed that its collaborating with Amazon for the installation of its machines service. On the other hand, people familiar with this issue say that these types of machines are already being used by companies such as JD.com Inc., Shutterfly Inc. and even Walmart. In fact, they claim that Walmart has been using them for more than three years.
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