Port Logistics Group (PLG), one of the nation’s leading providers of omni-channel logistics services, is deploying 150-plus autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) from RBR50 company Locus Robotics. The AMRs are being installed at PLG’s Chino, Calif.-based warehouse to help improve productivity, order pick accuracy, and workplace ergonomics and safety.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to drive e-commerce growth, merchants are seeking ways to scale to meet consumer demand. Locus Robotics will be working with PLG over the next few months to deploy dashboard displays in the Chino facility.

“In a tight labor market, it is essential that we prioritize employee safety and have the flexibility to creatively deploy our workforce during peak eCommerce periods — especially headed into the holidays,” says Greg Morello, PLG President. “This gives our customers a distinct competitive advantage they won’t find anywhere else. If a warehouse shift must be temporarily restructured due to COVID-19 issues or social distancing requirements, we won’t miss a beat and our customers will never see a delay.”

Heading into the 2020 holiday season, Locus announced it surpassed the 250 million units picked volume level. The company said its AMRs now pick more than 10,000 units every 15 minutes, a 263% increase vs. the same period last year. Locus’ global customers include CEVA, DHL, Boots UK, GEODIS, Port Logistics Group, Verst Logistics, Radial, and more. Locus said it is now regularly exceeding volume levels of 1 million picks per day.

“The Locus solution increases worker productivity while helping to keep workers safe,” said Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics. “By eliminating unproductive walking time, LocusBots dramatically improve picking volumes and shorten cycle times, while ensuring appropriate health safety measures.”

“We are seeing up to a fifteen percent additional productivity increase in locations we have installed our dashboard displays,” stressed Faulk. “Stay tuned for an update early 2021.”

Locus Robotics was named a 2020 RBR50 company because of its expanded relationship with DHL Supply Chain. The companies announced new deployments of LocusBots at 10 new facilities. With the agreement, DHL Supply Chain, part of the Deutsche Post DHL Group, will have 1,000 LocusBots supporting 12 DHL sites in North America.

In June, Locus raised $40 million in Series D funding to continue its global expansion.