Heico Sandee, Founder and CEO of Smart Robotics – Interview Series

Heico Sandee, is the Co-Founder and CEO of Smart Robotics.

Smart Robotics offers technology and services designed to automate pick-and-place stations in fulfillment centers. The company provides user-friendly, reliable, and adaptable pick-and-place systems capable of handling a wide variety of items.

What inspired you to co-found Smart Robotics back in 2015? What challenges in the robotics industry were you aiming to solve?

Together with Mark Menting, I founded Smart Robotics in May 2015. We opposed the status quo within the robotics industry and noticed there was a need for renewal. Traditional robot applications are created for a specific project and need custom programming, resulting in high costs per installation, low flexibility and limited functionality. However, in today’s society there is an ever increasing and varying consumer demand, which is why logistics- and production companies are in need of more flexible and innovative pick & place automation.

How has Smart Robotics evolved over the past nine years, and what are the key milestones that have shaped its growth?

In 2015, Smart Robotics started in a small office at the High Tech Campus Eindhoven. Now, we are situated in our head office in Best, in the middle of the high tech region Brainport. After our start, Smart Robotics was quickly noticed within the industry. Nowadays, you can find our pick and place robots all over the world and we have developed a strong partner network within Europe and beyond.

Smart Robotics has seen impressive global expansion. Could you share some insights into the key markets you’ve entered and the specific industries where your solutions are most impactful?

Europe as a region is specifically focusing on industrial automation and smart infrastructure development, creating opportunities for robotics companies. Benelux and Dach are our strongest markets and our solutions are most impactful in the food, retail, pharma and parcel logistics industries.

Smart Robotics designs robots to work alongside people rather than replace them. Could you elaborate on how this human-centered approach differentiates you from competitors?

Human-centrism is fundamental for Smart Robotics.Our mission is to create a workplace where people do what they are valued for, through collaboration with smarter robots. For example, the use of Smart Robotics cobot palletizers significantly improves the speed and accuracy of palletizing tasks. Our cobot palletizer cooperates safely with your employees, as there is no need for safety fences because it can continue its operation when an operator is near. This approach results in high flexibility and user-friendly cooperation with the cobot.

How is Smart Robotics specifically addressing the increasing demand for automation within the pharmaceutical sector?

Smart Robotics is addressing the increasing demand for automation in the pharmaceutical sector by offering tailored robotic solutions designed for precise, repetitive tasks like order picking, and packing.

Our hardware-agnostic software allows for seamless integration with various robotic systems, optimizing operations in sterile environments. The robots’ advanced vision and task planning capabilities ensure accurate handling of sensitive pharmaceutical items, enhancing efficiency, minimizing human error, and improving overall operational safety. This approach supports the sector’s need for reliable, scalable automation solutions in line with stringent regulatory requirements.

Can you walk us through how the Smart Palletizer has improved operational efficiency for your pharma clients, like Bayer? What specific benefits have they seen?

Bayer was in search of a cobot integrated palletizing system. For them, the relevant certificates and safety were of great importance. Even though they did not yet have any experience with cobot systems, they were already convinced of the quality of Smart Robotics’ Smart Palletizer. At the beginning, Bayer’s line operators were not entirely convinced of a cobot system, because it is a new technology that was quite unfamiliar to them. However, because the Smart Palletizer is very user-friendly, the employees on the floor at Bayer were able to work with the system quickly and it has now become one of the more popular ‘colleagues’.

What role does AI play in the operation of your robotics systems? How do features like continuous learning and adaptability enhance their performance?

AI plays a fundamental role in Smart Robotics' robotic  systems by enabling robots to autonomously navigate complex logistics tasks. Through AI-driven vision, task planning, and motion control, the robots can interpret their environment, optimize their movements, and execute tasks efficiently. Continuous learning allows the robots to improve with each task, adapting to new items, environments, and challenges without needing manual intervention. This adaptability enhances their performance by reducing errors, increasing accuracy, and ensuring smoother, faster operations, especially in dynamic and changing environments.

The Technology Trinity (motion, vision, and decision making ) is a core innovation. How does this improve the accuracy and reliability of your robots?

Vision is powered by 3D camera sensors and deep learning, enabling precise detection of items in their surroundings. Motion planning ensures smooth and efficient movements, while decision-making algorithms guarantee tasks are executed at the right moment. These systems work together to allow the robot to pick and place a wide variety of items with precision across different environments, significantly improving reliability.

Could you share more about your software's hardware-agnostic nature? How does this feature offer flexibility to your clients across different industries?

Our software integrates seamlessly with a wide range of robotic systems, independent of the hardware in use. This flexibility enables businesses across various industries to tailor the software to their specific operational needs while benefiting from advanced technology, without being restricted to a single type of hardware platform.

What are your long-term goals for Smart Robotics? How do you envision the company's role in shaping the future of warehouse automation and robotics?

The ultimate goal for Smart Robotics is to create smoothly functioning warehouses where a team of robots, guided by advanced software and AI, can efficiently handle products and packages. This doesn't mean robots will take over human jobs. Instead, they'll work alongside people, making their tasks easier and more effective and safer.

We can expect to see a 50% or greater increase in the use of robotics in warehouses worldwide over the next five years in which Smart Robotics will play an important role. As more distribution centers evolve into ‘smart warehouses,' it's crucial to focus on key areas for improvement. The best approach involves maintaining flexibility, focusing on productivity and efficiency, creating valuable career growth opportunities for employees and implementing smart technologies. By following these practices, warehouses can optimize their operations while still valuing and developing their human workforce.

Thank you for the great interview, readers who wish to learn more should visit Smart Robotics.

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