Teradyne companies Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) and AutoGuide Mobile Robots have merged to become a single supplier of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). At the end of September, the integrated company officially became known as Mobile Industrial Robots. Long-time Teradyne executive Walter Vahey takes the helm as president. It will have its headquarters in Odense, Denmark, where MiR has managed its global operations since launch in 2013.

Specifically, MiR develops and markets safe and collaborative mobile robots that can quickly, easily and cost-effectively manage internal logistics. Consequently, they can free up employees to perform higher-value activities. Prior to the merger, MiR offered a broad range of AMRs capable of carrying payloads and pallets up to 3000 pounds (1350kg). By combining with AutoGuide, the portfolio will expand to include high payload AMR tuggers and forklifts that will operate on the MiRFleet software.

Meet Automation of Internal Logistics

Vahey led Teradyne’s acquisition of MiR in 2018 and AutoGuide a year later. According to him, customers in the global market for internal logistics are asking for a full product line of AMRs. They span low, medium and high payload vehicles to automate material transport throughout the value chain. “By joining forces, we will uniquely meet our customers’ need for automation of internal logistics, from a single supplier offering easy to deploy, reliable, scalable AMRs with common fleet management software,” he said.

As part of Teradyne, these two companies have already been working together to develop a method for their AMRs to operate on the same fleet management software. “This close collaboration accelerated the merger,” Vahey added. “Being one organization helps ensure we deliver a broad AMR product line operating on a common fleet software to our customers.” 

Maintains Massive Global Presence

The new combined company employs 450 employees, including 250 engineers. Moreover, MiR is already well-established in the AMR market with more than 7,000 AMRs sold in more than 60 countries. The AMRs can pick up, transport, and deliver pallets or other loads automatically and safely in even highly dynamic environments. For these reasons, they constitute a safe and efficient alternative to traditional automated guided vehicles (AGVs), forklifts and pallet trucks.

The now merged company MiR has a global distribution network with more than 200 partners worldwide. In addition to its headquarters in Odense, Denmark, MiR has regional offices in Boston; Holbrook, New York; San Diego; Chelmsford, Massachusetts; Georgetown, Kentucky; Singapore; Frankfurt; Barcelona; Tokyo; Seoul, and Shanghai.