Sealed Air Corp., which makes Bubble Wrap, has acquired B+ Equipment, which designs, manufactures, and services packaging equipment.
B+ Equipment’s I-Pack and e-Cube are automated systems that can produce 300 to 2,000 boxes per day. The I-Pack uses volume reduction to strengthen corrugated containers. Sealed Air said that its packaging is intended to reduce waste and facilitate “high-velocity” online order fulfillment.
Sealed Air was already the licensee for Aubagne, France-based B+ Equipment in North America, Australia, and New Zealand for more than five years.
B+ Equipment’s e-Cube is intended to reduce packaging waste.
“The acquisition of B+ further solidifies Sealed Air’s position in the growing e-commerce market with a solution that focuses on reducing the cost of shipping and increasing productivity,” said Kenneth P. Chrisman, president of product care at Sealed Air. The material handling company is also in the process of moving its headquarters from New Jersey to Charlotte, N.C.
Sealed Air, whose 2014 revenue was $7.8 billion, recently acquired Intellibot Robotics LLC, which makes commercial floor-cleaning robots. It did not disclose terms for the Intellibot or B+ purchases.
Clearpath expands, hires exec
In other logistics industry news, Kitchener, Ont.-based Clearpath Robotics Inc. said that it plans to open an office in Silicon Valley.
The Canadian startup was founded in 2009 and designs and manufactures driverless vehicles for research, mining, and military purposes. In April, Clearpath raised $11.2 million in venture capital to fund an expansion in its staff from 80 to about 120.
Clearpath also recently teamed up with Rethink Robotics, providing its Ridgeback automated guided vehicle as a mobile base for Rethink’s Baxter armed robot.
More on Logistics Robotics
- When Warehouse Vehicles Know Where They?re Going
- First 10 Startups Join Qualcomm Robotics Accelerator
- Vecna Acquires VGo: Logistics Marries Telepresence
- Seegrid, Topper Industrial Partner on Materials Handling Solutions
- Clearpath’s Strategy for Spending Its $11.2 Million Venture Capital Jackpot
- Fetch Robotics Gets $20 Million to Meet Warehouse Demand
Mike Hanuschik will be Clearpath’s new chief product officer, in charge of product strategy, product management, design, and branding. Hanuschik previously worked on the daVinci Surgical System at Intuitive Surgical.
“Self-driving vehicles are on the cusp of a huge breakthrough, and I am thrilled to be part of a group that is well-poised to pursue this opportunity,” said Hanuschik. “The impact self-driving vehicles will have on the world is going to be incredible.”
Hanuschik will be responsible for establishing Clearpath’s new offices in the San Francisco Bay area. Research firms have predicted that the market for logistics robots will reach $31.3 billion by 2020.
