Zebra Technologies has announced that it intends to acquire on-demand automation company Fetch Robotics.
Fetch’s Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are used for optimised picking in fulfilment centres and distribution centres, just-in-time material delivery in manufacturing facilities and automating manual material movement.
Anders Gustafsson, Chief Executive Officer of Zebra Technologies said: “The acquisition of Fetch Robotics will accelerate our Enterprise Asset Intelligence vision and growth in intelligent industrial automation by embracing new modes of empowering workflows and helping our customers operate more efficiently in increasingly automated, data-powered environments.
“This move will also extend our ongoing commitment to optimise the supply chain from the point of production to the point of consumption.”
Zebra expects to fund the $290 million purchase price – for the 95 per cent of the business it does not already own – with cash on hand.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval, and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021.