PITTSBURGH, PA (SEPTEMBER 30, 2024) – Freespace Robotics, the world leader in next generation dynamic, high density warehouse automation that stores, sorts, buffers, sequences, and retrieves goods of nearly all size and weights, recently welcomed Len DeWeerdt to its executive team. His addition to the team comes at a time of accelerated growth and expansion for Freespace Robotics, including the recent teaming agreement with Fives Intralogistics and investments from US Steel and NFI Ventures.
"As we see stronger market validation for our solutions across a variety of warehouse functions and last mile challenges, it's imperative that we bring top talent with a proven track record of driving growth for innovative solutions," said Karl Sanchack, COO of Freespace Robotics. “Bringing in leaders like Len reinforces our commitment and ongoing promise to bring game changing automation to market that solve client challenges. Len’s experiences guide us to designing the most cost effective, safety conscious, interoperable solutions and services,” continued Mr. Sanchack.
DeWeerdt brings decades of operational, strategic, and technical expertise in warehouse automation and material handling. He has an extensive background in the design, implementation, operation, maintenance and modernization/support of automated material handling systems, in particular Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS).
DeWeerdt held multiple senior leadership positions with warehouse automation providers and was cofounder of Retrotech Inc where he also served as Vice President of Business Development before its sale to Dematic. After Retrotech, DeWeerdt served as senior consultant, primarily with MWPVL International, to venerated brands in retail, grocery, 3PL, healthcare, manufacturing and more, providing business case validation for new system purchases and systemic evaluations and root cause problem analysis for existing poor performing systems.
“My front row seat to the last two decades of automated and robotics solutions for material handling, gives me a truly unique opportunity to see, evaluate and observe all the leading solutions in action – and in all manner of use cases and industries,” said DeWeerdt. “When I had the opportunity to evaluate the Freespace Robotics solutions, I recognized immediately that while many make bold innovation claims, Freespace Robotics delivers a dramatically different design, approach and capability. The solution is simple, highly adaptable and internally integrates critical warehouse functionality and performance like no other system on the market can. I am thrilled to join the team and leverage my experience to deliver what I - and others in the industry - expect the promise of technical innovation to be for warehouse, distribution and material handling automation.”
Freespace Robotics manufactures an autonomous, high density storage cube that leverages robots to not only store and retrieve goods but does so in ingenious ways for the logistics and warehousing market. Its robots can handle totes, cases, ‘eaches’ and typically non conveyable content across its multiple tray sizes and weights within a single structure and can store and retrieve goods in a single action (free put away). The core structure is built around a rack design that can be modularly expanded both vertically and horizontally like a Lego set to meet the needs of a wide range of brown and greenfield facilities. And for safety and simplicity, the solution is not dependent on battery power, is indifferent to uneven floors or unconventional ceiling and footprints and uses 100% source-able parts, in simple movements and with simpler repair.
The warehouse automation market in the US alone is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 16% through 2028 and become a $67B market globally by 2032*. Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems are used for warehousing, retail, and logistics; from the largest of distribution centers to regional centers, and micro-fulfillment and back of store for ecommerce. Freespace Robotics has solutions that service the broadest set of highly integrated operational functions for a variety of industries, including Shipping Buffers, Cross Docking Operations, Goods to Person (GTP) AS/RS designs. Freespace Robotics has a unique capability blending buffering with high speed, time critical sortation and sequencing to meet or exceed the toughest KPIs while reducing spare requirements, labor, order delays and dock/load times.
Freespace Robotics is a spin out company from Carnegie Foundry, a Robotics and AI venture studio headquartered in Pittsburgh that partners with the world leader in autonomous robotics - the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) at Carnegie Mellon University – to build its technologically advanced solutions. NREC combines expertise from decades of applied R&D work in autonomy with highly strategic, corporate, and public sector partners to bring multi-use technology solutions to market.
(*Source: Mordor Intelligence/ Statistica/ Spherical Insights)
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About Freespace Robotics
Freespace Robotics is a warehouse automation company with a reimagining of Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) that are space efficient and high-speed; capable of high-volume movement of goods, in nearly any size, shape, and temperature environment. We are a robotic automation and AI company laser-focused on delivering unimagined advances in order-fulfillment and movement of goods. Freespace Robotics is based, rooted, and embedded in Pittsburgh, where industrial innovation and AI is bred, deployed and acquired. To learn more about Freespace Robotics, please visit www.freespacerobotics.com.
Inquiries:
Pilot/Sales/Operations: Karl Sanchack, ksanchack@freespacerobotics.com
Investment: Matthew B. Wachter, matt@freespacerobotics.com
About Carnegie Foundry
Carnegie Foundry is a unique Robotics and AI venture studio, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA. In partnership with the world leader in autonomous robotics and AI - the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) at Carnegie Mellon University – we develop, mature and spin out companies that commercialize cutting-edge intellectual property and advanced prototypes, already market tested and primed for new and expanded applications. For more information visit www.carnegiefoundry.com.
Inquiries:
CEO: Robert J. Szczerba, rob@carnegiefoundry.com