The Robot Report

  • Home
  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Humanoids
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Business
    • Financial
      • Investments
      • Mergers & Acquisitions
      • Earnings
    • Markets
      • Agriculture
      • Healthcare
      • Logistics
      • Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Security
    • RBR50
      • RBR50 Winners 2025
      • RBR50 Winners 2024
      • RBR50 Winners 2023
      • RBR50 Winners 2022
      • RBR50 Winners 2021
  • Resources
    • Automated Warehouse Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • eBooks
    • Publications
      • Automated Warehouse
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
    • Robotics Weeks
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Muratec, Alert Innovation to deploy Alphabot at leading sports retailer in Japan

By The Robot Report Staff | September 18, 2020


Automated fulfillment provider Alert Innovation Inc. and Murata Machinery Ltd., also known as Muratec, said they are supplying Alphabot to Alpen Co., one of the largest sports retail brands in Japan. The companies said it is the first deployment of the 3D robot cart warehousing technology in that country.

North Billerica, Mass.-based Alert Innovation was founded in 2013. Its products include the Alphabot automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS), the eGrocery micro-fulfillment center, and the Novastore automated supermarket.

Muratec was founded in 1935 and supplies machine tool technology, automated material handling systems, clean room automation, and textile machinery. The company’s global headquarters are in Kyoto, Japan, and its North American headquarters are in Charlotte, N.C.

Muratec, Alert Innovation collaborate on warehouse automation

Alert Innovation formed a strategic partnership with Muratec last year to automate everything from storage to picking.

Unlike conventional ASRS, the robot cart drives horizontally and climbs up and down, running outside the storage rack to automatically supply products to a picking point, said the companies. This eliminates the need for workers to prepare products by order from an enormous inventory of products from walking around massive warehouses, enabling efficient picking from a fixed location.

In addition, because products are stored in a three-dimensional storage rack, the 3D robot warehouse can accommodate a larger volume of products with less floor space than other warehousing systems, claimed Alert Innovation and Muratec. The system also includes a workstation for product storage and picking, enabling total picking operations from individual order picking to batch picking. This total system helps to realize more flexible shipping processes, according to the companies.

Other benefits from the introduction of the Alphabot system include expanding the range of SKUs handled, enhancing worker productivity, and improving sorting and shipping efficiency, said Alert Innovation.

Muratec, Alert Innovation to deploy Alphabot at leading sports retailer in Japan

Alphabot. Source: Alert Innovation

Alpen expects benefits

Nagoya, Japan-based Alpen is expanding its outlets nationwide to meet the diversifying needs of customers in the sports retail industry under the corporate slogan “Making sports more accessible.” As part of this expansion, the retailer is implementing Alphabot warehousing systems featuring 130 robot carts selecting from about 26,000 case locations at its distribution centers.

Alpen and Muratec said they expect the Alphabot system to reduce logistics operations by complementing its storage capacity and reducing picking, sorting, and packaging activities by approximately 60%.

“We are delighted to see our partner Muratec winning business with the Alphabot solution in a highly competitive market,” stated John Lert, founder and CEO of Alert Innovation. “This is a validation of both the capabilities of Muratec as a company and the breakthrough design of Alphabot. We look forward to seeing many more deployments of the technology by Muratec in the future.”

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles Read More >

a student takes delivery from a starship robot
Starship Technologies surpasses 8M autonomous deliveries
The long-endurance SULE HALE-UAS was part of a NASA UAV project with the U.S. Forest Service to help fight wildfires.
The future of flight: How autonomous systems are shaping the next generation of UAVs
Three of Amazon's warehouse robots picking boxes.
Amazon to discuss its robotics evolution at Robotics Summit & Expo
image of the RIVR quadruped robot delivering a package on the sidewalk.
Swiss-Mile rebrands to RIVR, continues developing wheeled quadrupeds

RBR50 Innovation Awards

“rr
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for Robotics Professionals.
The Robot Report Listing Database

Latest Episode of The Robot Report Podcast

Automated Warehouse Research Reports

Sponsored Content

  • Sager Electronics and its partners, logos shown here, will exhibit at the 2025 Robotics Summit & Expo. Sager Electronics to exhibit at the Robotics Summit & Expo
  • The Shift in Robotics: How Visual Perception is Separating Winners from the Pack
  • An AutoStore automated storage and retrieval grid. Webinar to provide automated storage and retrieval adoption advice
  • Smaller, tougher devices for evolving demands
  • Modular motors and gearboxes make product development simple
The Robot Report
  • Mobile Robot Guide
  • Collaborative Robotics Trends
  • Field Robotics Forum
  • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
  • RoboBusiness Event
  • Robotics Summit & Expo
  • About The Robot Report
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search The Robot Report

  • Home
  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Humanoids
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Business
    • Financial
      • Investments
      • Mergers & Acquisitions
      • Earnings
    • Markets
      • Agriculture
      • Healthcare
      • Logistics
      • Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Security
    • RBR50
      • RBR50 Winners 2025
      • RBR50 Winners 2024
      • RBR50 Winners 2023
      • RBR50 Winners 2022
      • RBR50 Winners 2021
  • Resources
    • Automated Warehouse Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • eBooks
    • Publications
      • Automated Warehouse
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
    • Robotics Weeks
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe