What can we expect in 2017? Predicting the future is never easy. But we can ascertain some trends by looking back at developments in the market over the past year. Vanderlande Industries, one of NPM Capital’s successful portfolio companies, foresees a glorious future for robotics.
The parcel market, one of Vanderlande’s key sales markets, has undergone a technological revolution in recent years. The market has grown exponentially through the dawn of e-commerce, with everything revolving around accelerating processes with a clear focus on customers’ needs. The need for new technologies has been driven by the increasing pressure on processing times due to ever greater volumes and the growing demand for faster delivery times. Today it remains a major challenge for market leaders such as Vanderlande to surprise the market with innovative solutions that dovetail with the specific needs of this sector.
Rob Qualm, Market Director Parcel at Vanderlande Industries, shares his views on the direction he thinks the sector will take over the next twenty years in his blog 'Rise of the Machines?'. He believes robotisation of the transportation of objects with special packaging will feature high on the agenda. This vision is in line with comments made by Goof Hamers, CEO of Vanderlande Industries, in an article entitled 'Progress: Man or Machine?' published in Capital Magazine. One of the things he spoke about was breakthroughs in sensor technology. This technology will eventually make it possible for robots to decide in a split second how to pick up an object, regardless of its position or size.
Qualm says labour market shortages are forcing the sector to give robotics a more and more prominent role in business operations. They will not necessarily replace employees entirely, but will instead serve as increasingly smarter workers. What’s more, there are many activities that can be carried out better by a smart machine simply because they are better equipped for these tasks than humans. Examples include physically strenuous work that is not suitable for people from the perspective of working conditions.
Vanderlande Industries has made substantial investments in recent years with a view to preparing for these and other developments. Its acquisition of Ferdar Automation Technology in Almere, the Netherlands is one of these investments. It reflects the company’s commitment to possess the experience and technical competences needed to make a leap forward in the field of robotics.