Ocado Group acquires robotics start-up Myrmex Inc for $11M

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Myrmex delivers a entrance finish interface for buyer pickup of egroceries. | Credit score: Myrmex

Ocado Group introduced as we speak that it’s buying materials dealing with startup Myrmex for $11M (€10.2M). The Myrmex resolution will speed up the event of clever asset dealing with methods for the Ocado Good Platform. The 2 corporations have agreed the phrases of the transaction and anticipate to finish the acquisition by June sixth, 2022. 

Ocado Group beforehand acquired a minority stake in Myrmex Inc in October 2020 and appointed them to design and develop a proprietary resolution that automates the loading of totes containing buyer orders onto frames prepared for dispatch. The ‘Automated Frameload’ resolution (AFL) was unveiled at Ocado Re:Imagined in January 2022 as one of many seven crucial improvements, and might be going reside in Ocado Group CFCs later this 12 months. 

Myrmex makes use of autonomous cell robots to stage grocery orders for click-and-collect buyer workflows. | Credit score: Myrmex

The acquisition of Myrmex will allow quicker rollout of AFL throughout Ocado Group’s world CFC footprint, in addition to open up new alternatives for the event of bespoke automation options for the Ocado Good Platform. Myrmex has developed merchandise and options relevant to a wide range of processes in Ocado’s CFCs, however its know-how additionally has potential purposes for in-store areas, particularly for automating the grocery order pickup course of. 

Myrmex features as a buyer dealing with resolution, just like a financial institution ATM, the place clients can pickup their egrocery order 24/7. The backend of the answer will encompass an Ocado high-density, dice storage and retrieval resolution.

A staff of over 30 folks from Myrmex with deep area experience in automation {hardware} and software program will be part of Ocado Know-how’s 2,500 robust staff of technologists. 

James Gralton, Chief Engineering Officer at Ocado Know-how stated: 

“We’re excited to welcome Myrmex to Ocado Group. We’ve been impressed with Myrmex’s capabilities and their capability to design, develop and convey to market bespoke options. The collaboration between Ocado Group and Myrmex led to the launch of Automated Frameload in just a little over a 12 months. This acquisition is one other essential step on our automation journey and offers a chance to additional develop and increase our engineering presence in Southern Europe as we proceed to put money into creating Myrmex’s applied sciences for the Ocado Good Platform.” 

George Katiniotis, CEO at Myrmex stated: 

“We’re thrilled to be becoming a member of Ocado Group. Over the past 20 months, we’ve been impressed with Ocado Group’s disruptive merchandise, pioneering know-how, visionary management and proficient folks. I’m proud to see our mental property and sensible engineering staff recognised by the worldwide chief in on-line grocery and am excited concerning the journey forward of us.”