RALEIGH, N.C. – Tompkins Robotics, which develops autonomous mobile robots, today announced a strategic partnership with PULSE Integration to deliver its t-Sort system to companies “looking to keep up with rising and evolving customer demands.”

PULSE Integration, based in Pittston, Pa., creates customized and scalable supply chain solutions for clients in the manufacturing, third-party logistics (3PL), and retail industries. As part of the alliance, PULSE will offer Tompkins Robotics’ t-Sort Systems to help clients streamline and improve fulfillment operations, the companies said in a statement.

The t-Sort system are mobile robots that can assist in automating sortation processes. Image: Tompkins Roboitcs

“Tompkins Robotics’ t-Sort solution helps our customers keep up with growing fulfillment and shipping needs while achieving high speed and accuracy,” said Chris Paulsen, CEO at PULSE Integration. “Their flexible, fully modular solution enables our clients to implement leading automation that is flexible, scalable and configurable at a lower cost and in less time of traditional sortation systems.”

Automating sortation

Aimed at small to large distribution operations, t-Sort is a portable, scalable robotic sortation system that operates similar to a tilt tray sorter without a fixed track, moving freely to any divert or induction station along the shortest path, Tompkins said. Capable of handling parcels and units as small as a penny and up to 66 lbs., the system can process several items, including apparel, shoe boxes, general merchandise, shipping bags, and small-to-medium boxes. Applications include e-commerce, retail replenishment, returns, shipping, with deployment even possible in a back room of a retail location or postal area. The company said its fully modular robots can be added or removed instantaneously without interruption or downtime, and doesn’t require a large upfront investment – “a great perk for retailers that need to ramp up for holiday or peak seasons.”

The market for robots within a warehouse continues to grow as companies turn to automation to address the current labor shortage and rising costs. According to ABI Research, more than 4 million robots will be installed in more than 50,000 warehouses by 2025, up from just less than 4,000 robotic warehouses in 2018.

“We are excited to partner with PULSE Integration and help support their mission to provide clients with technology solutions that are capable of adapting and scaling to meet constantly evolving consumer and supply requirements,” said Mike Futch, president of Tompkins Robotics. The company, a business unit of Tompkins International, is focused on the robotic automation of distribution operations.