Keywords
Citation
(2005), "ABB wins $48 million contract from US postal service", Assembly Automation, Vol. 25 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2005.03325cab.003
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2005, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
ABB wins $48 million contract from US postal service
ABB wins $48 million contract from US postal service
Keywords: Automation, Robotics, Materials handling
ABB, a leading power and automation technology group, has won a $48 million robotics contract from the United States Postal Servicew (USPS), to help the utility increase the efficiency of its mail service.
ABB will supply turnkey robot-based containerisation systems – 67 in all – to assist USPS mail processing facilities in the daily task of handling several million items of mail. Each of the systems will incorporate two robots that automatically sort, move and stack mail trays, by interpreting zip code information embedded in bar codes on the containers.
The new systems will support the next phase of the USPS mail automation programme, which follows a 2000-2001 project under which ABB supplied 100 similar containerisation systems to 50 different USPS facilities.
Dinesh Paliwal, head of ABB's Automation Technologies division, said: “This contract reflects a successful and continuing relationship between ABB and the USPS spanning nearly 10 years. We have worked together to develop solutions that meet USPS needs in software, automation and service, and this order is testament to ABB's complete offering and strong performance.”
“Substantial time and effort is associated with verifying, lifting, stacking, pushing, unloading and reverifying trays of mail across our processing operations,” says USPS Vice President of Engineering, Tom Day. “These systems will enhance our automation program by applying the flexibility and modular design of ABB's gantry solution to complete the automation of tray handling requirements.”
ABB's scope of supply includes all equipment, training, installation, documentation, spare parts, and system tools. Shipment of the systems will begin in May 2005 and the programme is projected to be completed by the end of 2006.