Corporate News

The RobEx Centre – Hong Kong’s First Fully Automated Smart Warehouse Launches at Science Park

The facility uses robots and smart warehousing technologies to offer express courier and self-service storage to customers

28 Aug 2018

Senior executives from various organisations join hands to make the RobEx Centre a reality. (From left to right) Dr Crystal Fok, Associate Director, MPE Cluster & Robotics Platform, HKSTP; Mr P.L. Leung, CEO, Bi-Polar Tech Asia Pacific Limited; Mr Albert Wong, CEO, HKSTP; Mr Rio Chau, CEO, RV Automation Technology Company Limited; and Mr George Tee, CTO, HKSTP.

The RobEx Centre is Hong Kong’s first fully automated and unmanned warehouse service. Storage racks with lockers are picked up by Autonomous Mobile Robots to and from the front station when users need to pick up or place their goods in the lockers.

The RobEx Centre is fully self-serviced. Users can access the system either through a smartphone app or the control panel installed at the front station when picking up or placing the goods.

(Hong Kong, 27 August 2018) - Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and RV Automation Technology Company Limited (RV Automation), a partner company of HKSTP, today announced the opening the RobEx Centre, Hong Kong’s first fully automated and unmanned warehouse service at Hong Kong Science Park.

A new initiative of HKSTP’s Robotics Platform, the RobEx Centre will offer express courier and selfserviced storage to all Hong Kong customers, and acts as a working showcase of cutting-edge warehousing technologies for the logistics and supply chain industry. The Centre features Autonomous Mobile Robot technology, smart warehousing system and facial recognition, provided by a group of technology companies in Science Park including RV Automation, Altai Technologies, Master Dynamic and QBS.

The RobEx Centre is a revolution to traditional warehousing and logistics operations with its fully unmanned and automated capability. It has the ability to operate 24/7 as well as reduce the need of menial and physically demanding human labour. The smart warehousing system calculates and maximises the use of space within the venue, a much-needed ability in land-scarce Hong Kong. Big data analysis helps in scaling its warehousing services to take into account peak hours, impact of weather on delivery times, and reduce human errors in storing and delivery of parcels. Facial recognition technology is utilised for enhanced security.

Mr Albert Wong, Chief Executive Officer of HKSTP, said, “It was 18 months ago that RV Automation first demonstrated their smart warehousing system and we are very happy to see the RobEx Centre become a reality. This first-of-its-kind facility is the culmination of work led by HKSTP, RV Automation and many technology and business partners. It is a living showcase of how we can embrace innovation and technology in the logistics industry, a key pillar of Hong Kong’s economy. Science Park, as a Government-designated Smart Region, is the venue where innovative solutions will be piloted. We hope to showcase even more cutting-edge solutions that will drive Hong Kong closer to becoming a Smart City.”

Mr Rio Chau, Chief Executive Officer, RV Automation, said, “We thank HKSTP for the support and giving us this venue to test out our solutions and allow the RobEx Centre to go live. Many companies worked with us to make the RobEx Centre a reality, from technology providers, to e-commerce and logistics and delivery companies. We hope to bring a whole new 24/7 user experience for consumers as well as bring multiple benefits for warehouse operators with potentially new revenue streams in warehousing services. For real estate developers, this smart system improves utilisation of space and per-square-feet yields. With it being a living showcase, we will continually bring new technologies to improve its capabilities and show the world how the logistics industry can be more productive and efficient.”

The RobEx Centre is fully self-serviced. Through the automatic warehouse solution, the storage racks with lockers will be picked up by the Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) to and from the front station automatically when users need to pick up or place their goods in the lockers. Users access the system either through a smartphone app or the control panel installed at the front station. Facial recognition will be used as an added security for the lockers.

Before opening to the public, industry trials will be conducted in the RobEx Centre in September to collect operational data.

Information about the RobEx Centre:

Address: RobEx Centre, S071, 12W, Hong Kong Science Park.

Size of the Centre: