Federal Express Corporation, a leading global express transportation company, has introduced its first AI-assisted robotic sorting arm in Europe. This new technology will enhance the operations at FedEx's air operation center in Cologne, Germany. The move represents another step in FedEx's ongoing digital transformation to strengthen its intelligent logistics network.
The Cologne logistics center is FedEx's largest facility of its kind in Germany, handling air shipments and employing 900 team members. The sorting arm, supplied by Hellebrekers B.V., is installed within a protective cage where it will sort small incoming parcels, mainly documents and packages weighing up to 4 kg. It can process up to 1,000 packages per hour across approximately 90 locations simultaneously, allowing employees to focus on more complex tasks.
"Technologies utilizing AI solutions help manage shipment handling more efficiently, improving customer service levels and enhancing the competitiveness of our services, especially in the e-commerce sector," said Boris Stoffer, Managing Director of Network Operations Germany at FedEx. "These technologies also support our employees by taking over physically demanding repetitive tasks," he added.