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  One Scanner, Any Distance: KEYENCE Unveils the BT-A800 Rugged Android™ Mobile Computer

  November 11, 2026

  Keyence Corporation

  New rugged Android™ handheld computer reads barcodes from 1 inch to 150 feet, runs 40 hours per charge, and ships with an upgrade path to Android™ 21KEYENCE Corporation of America today announced the BT-A800, a new rugged Android™ handheld mobile computer engineered to be the most capable and future-focused handheld on the market for barcode scanning applications that feed directly into warehouse management (WMS) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Designed for warehouse, logistics, distribution center, and manufacturing operations in industries such as automotive, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, electronics, and semiconductor, the BT-A800 gives teams a single device that scans at any distance, works through the longest shifts, and keeps running in the harshest environments.The BT-A800 is built around four core capabilities that address the most common failure points of mobile computers on the floor: scan range, read performance, battery life, and durability. Scan from 1 inch to 150 feet. A single device reads labels at arm’s length or on pallets stacked on your highest racks, eliminating the need to switch between short- and long-range scanners or to bring a code down closer to you. Behind that range is KEYENCE’s Full-Range Triple Camera — close-, mid-, and ultra-long-range cameras paired with a liquid lens and a long-range, time-of-flight sensor that sets focus instantly, so reads are fast at every distance and reach twice the distance of the previous-generation BT-A700. AI-powered reading of damaged codes and printed text. A dedicated AI core, pre-trained on more than 100,000 images, reliably reads dirty, faded, damaged, and low-contrast barcodes, including direct part marking (DPM) codes. Aim Assist and Sniper Mode let operators target a single code on a label crowded with barcodes, or read from the forklift seat, simply by pointing the laser — with no changes to existing An optional AI-OCR license adds reading of printed and handwritten text such as manufacture dates, lot numbers, expiration dates, and 7-segment displays. 40-hour battery life. Powered by a 40-hour continuous-scan battery, the BT-A800 runs through multiple shifts — a full day in a three-shift, 24/7 warehouse — on a single charge, removing mid-shift battery swaps and charging-dock downtime from the workflow. 5-inch HD display with a 13-foot drop rating. A large 1080 × 1920 Gorilla® Glass screen makes WMS and ERP applications easy to read and operate with one hand, while an IP68-sealed, dust- and water-resistant, ruggedized design — rated for drops of 10 feet onto concrete (13 feet with protector) and 20,000 tumbles — keeps the device in service after the drops, knocks, and impacts of real warehouse and plant-floor use.“At KEYENCE we pride ourselves on innovation. The BT-A800 combines four key technological advancements that have not coexisted before in the market: accurate scanning at long range, incredible ability to scan tough-to-read codes at high speed, 40-hour-work-week battery life, and unparalleled durability. This combination allows our customers to deploy with confidence that the device will keep up: reaching every label, lasting every shift, and surviving every drop, year after year,” said Bryan Franz, Executive Director, KEYENCE Corporation of America. “That is what innovation means at KEYENCE — not a feature for its own sake, but a tool our customers can build their operation around.”Together, these capabilities make the BT-A800 well suited for inventory management, tracking and traceability applications across receiving, put-away, picking, packing, shipping, inventory counts, and work-in-process tracking, as well as lot number and expiration date management — anywhere accurate, real-time barcode data needs to flow into a company’s systems of record.Built for What Comes NextThe BT-A800 is designed to stay current for the life of the deployment. The device ships with Android™ 21 upgradability guaranteed, protecting the investment against OS end-of-life. An octa-core processor with a dedicated AI core, 8 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of storage provide headroom for increasingly demanding WMS and ERP clients. Connectivity covers Wi-Fi® 7 (2.4, 5, and 6 GHz) with 802.11r fast roaming for seamless handoff across large facilities, Bluetooth® 5.4, NFC, and USB Type-C. The BT-A800M model adds 5G/4G LTE with nano SIM and eSIM support plus multi-constellation GNSS for yard, dock, and field operations beyond the Wi-Fi® footprint.“A mobile computer is a long-term decision, and most of them become obsolete long before the hardware wears out,” said Jason Walter, Marketing Director, KEYENCE Corporation of America. “Our customers are being asked to track more, prove more, while being faster than ever, and those requirements keep rising. With an upgrade path through Android™ 21 and the processing headroom to run tomorrow’s WMS and ERP clients, the BT-A800 is built to meet that demand for years to come. It reflects where we believe the mobile computing category has to go.”Enterprise deployment is equally streamlined. The BT-A800 is Android™ Enterprise Recommended (AER) certified, supports OEMConfig for managed configuration through leading enterprise mobility management platforms, and is Zero-Touch Enrollment (ZTE) enabled, so IT teams can provision devices out of the box and roll out fleets with minimal hands-on setup. KEYENCE’s BT Management Tool adds centralized device monitoring, remote access, and operation-log analysis across many devices and locations, and the BT-A800 integrates with WMS, ERP, and MES systems through terminal emulation, web browser, embedded application, or remote desktop connections.A 13-megapixel autofocus camera supports proof-of-delivery and damage documentation, and the device operates from −20°C to +50°C (−4°F to 122°F), enabling use in frozen and refrigerated warehouses and other cold-storage environments below freezing. At approximately 430 g (15.17 oz), the BT-A800 remains comfortable for full-shift use.AvailabilityThe BT-A800 is now available beginning November 9, 2026, in the United States and other regions. For more information, to request a demonstration, or to speak with a KEYENCE representative, visit keyence.com/onescanneranydistance or contact your local sales representative at 1-888-539-3623.ContactJason WalterMarketing DirectorJason.Walter@keyence.com513-260-5540About KEYENCE Corporation of AmericaKEYENCE Corporation of America, a subsidiary of KEYENCE Corporation (founded in Japan in 1974), was established in 1985 and is headquartered in Itasca, Illinois. KEYENCE serves more than 400,000 customers in 110 countries worldwide. KEYENCE designs and manufactures sensors, barcode readers, mobile computers, machine vision systems, measurement instruments, laser markers, and microscopes for manufacturers in industries including automotive, semiconductor, electronics, medical device, packaging, food, and pharmaceutical. Through its direct sales model, KEYENCE’s technical sales engineers provide on-site demonstrations, application testing, and fast support, with same-day shipping available. KEYENCE has been recognized on Forbes’ list of “The World’s Most Innovative Companies.” For more information, visit keyence.com.

  

• News & Media

  Moffett Automation Begins Construction of €4 Million Centre of Excellence at Monaghan Headquarters

  November 10, 2026

  Moffett Automation

  Moffett Automation has begun groundwork on a new Centre of Excellence at its headquarters in Clontibret, Co. Monaghan. Representing a €4 million investment, the facility will support research and development and provide a dedicated space to showcase the company’s warehouse automation systems.The new Centre of Excellence will provide a practical setting for developing and demonstrating how software intelligence and engineered automation work together around the needs of warehouse operations.Moffett Automation’s integrated offer combines software intelligence, engineered automation and lifecycle support. The company works through a global network of integrator partners, as well as direct project delivery.Founder and Managing Director Sam Moffett said: “Starting work on our new Centre of Excellence is an important step for Moffett Automation and our team in Monaghan.“Warehouse automation depends on software and engineering working together in practice. Our ambition for this facility is to support research and development and demonstrate that integration, informed by the challenges our clients and partners face every day.”The start of groundwork marks the first stage of construction at the headquarters site.About Moffett AutomationBased in Clontibret, Co. Monaghan, Moffett Automation designs and delivers integrated automated warehousing systems, combining in-house software, engineered automation, project delivery and lifecycle support. Its approach brings these capabilities together around the requirements of each warehouse operation.

  

• News & Media

  KUKA to Feature Advanced Industrial Robot and Mobile Automation at the Smart Technology Expo 2026

  November 9, 2026

  KUKA Robotics Corporation

  SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Michigan, November 3, 2026 – Spotlighting its latest industrial and mobile automation technologies, KUKA Robotics will feature a KR AGILUS industrial robot and an LBR iisy collaborative robot, both equipped with the new KR C5 micro-2 controller, alongside the KMP 250P autonomous mobile robot (AMR) at Smart Technology Expo 2026.  The event will take place November 18-20 at Expo Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico, where KUKA will exhibit in booth C20. In the booth, KUKA will demonstrate a pick-and-place application featuring a KR AGILUS industrial robot handling KUKA giveaways. Designed for high-speed, precise operation, the compact, six-axis KR AGILUS is well suited for applications requiring efficient handling in confined spaces. Available in a range of payload capacities, reaches and mounting configurations, the KR AGILUS series offers flexibility for a variety of industrial applications, including material handling, assembly and packaging.KUKA will also showcase intelligent 3D vision-guided picking with the LBR iisy collaborative robot and Mech-Vision software from Mech-Mind. The demonstration will highlight how 3D machine vision enables the robot to identify and locate objects, supporting accurate picking without relying on fixed part positions. Mech-Vision simplifies the development of vision-guided automation applications, from bin picking and machine tending to piece picking, depalletizing, palletizing and assembly.The LBR iisy is a lightweight, six-axis cobot designed for easy integration, intuitive operation and safe human-robot collaboration. Equipped with integrated joint torque sensors for collision detection and sensitive operation, the cobot can be programmed through simple manual guidance, reducing the need for extensive programming knowledge.Equipped with the iiQKA.OS2 operating system, the KR AGILUS and LBR iisy cobot allow users to start small and scale automation across multiple robots, applications, and production lines – from high-mix, low-volume production to serial manufacturing. With a virtual robot controller (VRC), the iiQKA.OS2 offers comprehensive engineering and innovative features that enable efficient virtual startup and optimized processes. Developed for maximum performance, it is both standard-compliant and cyber-resilient while allowing for faster setups and commissioning.KUKA’s flexible KMP 250P autonomous mobile robot platform transports goods and components weighing up to 250kg and can be optionally equipped with a lifting unit. Its differential drive enables maneuverability in confined spaces, making it ideal for material transport in production and warehouse environments.For safe operation, two diagonally mounted laser scanners, combined with 3D cameras, provide 360-degree protection. If an obstacle is identified in the path, the KMP 250P automatically and safely bypasses it if there is sufficient space, or the robot automatically comes to a full stop.The KMP 250P can be integrated into a mixed fleet of KUKA AMRs and managed using KUKA.AMR Fleet software, with support for the standard VDA 5050 communication interface. An extended sleep mode allows operators to conveniently place even large fleets in standby, making fleet management and operation more efficient.Christopher Hernández, Managing Director of KUKA Mexico, will participate in the panel discussion “The Future of Manufacturing: How Automation Is Redefining Manufacturing in Mexico” on Wednesday, November 18 at 1:40 PM on the Smart Insights Theater Stage. Hernández will join Klaus von Moltke, President and CEO of BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosí, with Fernando Ibarra, President of Alianza 4 Cero, serving as moderator.All KUKA automation solutions, including those shown during the Smart Technology Expo 2026, are backed by the company’s expert service and support for training, complete system engineering and simulation, readily available spare parts, robot refurbishment and more, all of which are easily accessible through the my.KUKA.com site.About KUKA KUKA is an international automation group with sales of around EUR 3.7 billion and approximately 15,000 employees. As one of the world's leading suppliers of intelligent, resource-saving automation solutions, KUKA offers industrial robots, autonomous mobile robots (AMR) including controllers, software, and cloud-based digital services, as well as fully networked production systems for various industries – primarily for markets such as automotive with a focus on e-mobility & battery, electronics, metal & plastic, consumer goods, food, e-commerce, retail, and healthcare. The company is headquartered in Augsburg, Germany.

  

• News & Media

  KNAPP Establishes Robotics and AI Innovation Hub in Boston, MA

  November 6, 2026

  KNAPP Inc.

  The New Business Boosts the Development of AI-powered Robotics Solutions for Warehouse Automation and Intelligent Fulfillment ProcessesBOSTON & HART BEI GRAZ, Austria--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KNAPP, the reliable technology partner for value chain innovation, founded KNAPPRobotics.ai Inc. to drive the development of intelligent robotics solutions and accelerate achieving their industrial readiness. KNAPP’s new U.S. location in greater Boston is designed to be a robotics and AI innovation hub that will grant the existing robotics center in Graz, Austria direct access to one of the world’s leading research and technology ecosystems.KNAPPRobotics.ai at a Glance New cutting-edge robotics lab located in Somerville, Massachusetts Part of a global robotics organization with competence centers in Graz, Austria and Boston, MA Team of 30 to 35 employees by early 2027 Focus on AI, computer vision, robotics and product development Building closer ties with MIT, a renowned center for AI and robotics researchTwo Locations, One Shared MissionWith KNAPPRobotics.ai, KNAPP is establishing a global organization that spans the full continuum of robotics expertise, product management and product launch management. While the location in Graz, Austria will stay the center for robotics development, logistics know-how and achieving industrial readiness, the Boston location will serve as an international innovation and technology hub for specific industrial applications. Together, these centers form a well-connected network of competence linking research, product development, and solution design and deployment.The new hub in Boston was founded with the aim of translating market requirements into scalable and profitable robotics solutions more quickly. As the group-wide business owner of robotics, KNAPPRobotics.ai unites product management, development and implementation under one roof, shortening KNAPP’s development cycles, accelerating product launch and paving the way for robotics to become a scalable product and solution business. “Robotics is developing at a rapid pace, while customers are expecting solutions that can be implemented quickly, operated reliably and scaled at a global level. With KNAPPRobotics.ai, we are laying the organizational foundation that will enable us to firmly link innovation, product development and product launch management and turn new technologies into real customer applications faster,” explains Gerald Hofer, CEO of KNAPP AG.Boston: Robotics and AI Innovation HubAs a state-of-the-art robotics lab, KNAPPRobotics.ai will consist of a team of software developers, AI specialists, mechatronics and robotics experts who will work on intelligent, next-gen logistics solutions. By early 2027, KNAPPRobotics.ai will employ 30 to 35 people, around 20 of whom will be working in software development and be composed of experienced KNAPP employees and new talent from the Boston tech and robotics scene – a deliberate move that will create a balanced team of experts. Wolfgang Toferer will lead the company as the CEO and, together with Christopher Reiß as the COO and Vice President Thomas Zilk, will build KNAPPRobotics.ai and drive the global robotics business in the KNAPP group.Boston is one of the leading centers for robotics, artificial intelligence and technology development in the world. As the area is home to many renowned universities, research institutes, tech companies and start-ups, it is the ideal place to keep the finger on the pulse and deploy industry-ready solutions.At the core of KNAPPRobotics.ai’s endeavors are physical AI systems, which are able to perceive their environment, make decisions and perform physical tasks reliably. For example, they can be used to carry out piece picking, bin picking, cycle counting and other processes throughout the material flow in a warehouse. Overarching these systems is the KNAPP Brain, a platform that covers solutions for AI, computer vision, grip point calculation, motion planning and continuous learning, forming a powerful basis for intelligent robotics solutions. Besides innovating, KNAPPRobotics.ai aims to turn their technologies into scalable, robust and profitable applications for warehouse logistics.“Boston offers an extraordinary combination of robotics research, entrepreneurship and a pool of highly qualified talent. Our goal is to build an innovation hub that adds fresh impetus to the entire KNAPP group and optimally complement the strengths of our location in Graz. This allows us to combine the innovative power of a worldwide leading robotics ecosystem with KNAPP’s decades of automation and logistics experience,” says Wolfgang Toferer, CEO of KNAPPRobotics.ai.MIT Proximity Spurs InnovationAnother major advantage of the new location in Boston is its proximity to the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). KNAPP has been collaborating with MIT for several years and became a member of the MIT Industrial Liaison Program (ILP) in 2026. Being close to MIT allows KNAPP to access the most recent scientific knowledge and innovative methods and reach highly qualified talent. The goal is to accelerate translating research results into industrial applications and strategically develop the company’s robotics platform KNAPP Brain.In addition, KNAPP is also seeking partnerships with other businesses in the area of robot learning, computer vision, autonomous systems, simulation and intelligent robotics.About KNAPPKNAPP is one of the worldwide leading technology partners for logistics automation and digital supply chains. The company develops software, robotics and AI solutions for manufacturing, distribution and retail. As a value chain tech partner, KNAPP designs efficient intralogistics solutions for customers in the healthcare, retail, food retail, fashion, wholesale and manufacturing sectors. The KNAPP group has 9,000 employees worldwide and is headquartered in Austria.KNAPPRobotics.ai is a subsidiary of the KNAPP group and is located in Somerville near Boston (MA), USA. The company focuses on the development and enhancement of robotics, AI and physical AI solutions for logistics applications, supporting the long-term innovation strategy of the KNAPP group.ContactAlex Taylor+1 470 962 8657alex.taylor@knapp.com

  

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August 20, 2026

Join us for an Industry Hangout at The Port House Social Bar &  Kitchen in Burlington, Ontario - where great conversations meet good times.

Hosted by MHI and WERC, this Industry Hangout is your chance to connect with fellow supply chain professionals in a fun, energetic atmosphere. Enjoy delicious food and drinks while expanding your network ! 

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