Material Handling | IMPO

Robot arm preparing an omelette.

Robot Chef Trained to Make Omelettes

Researchers used machine learning to account for highly subjective matters of taste.

I Stock 1160399243 5e82b1a1ee118

Chemours Won't Face Federal Charges

For years, the company discharged compounds with unknown health risks into a river.

In this March 18, 2020, photo, a maintenance worker looks at a robot outside the offices of ZhenRobotics in Beijing. While other industries struggle, one robot maker says China's virus outbreak is boosting demand for his knee-high, bright yellow robots to deliver groceries and patrol malls for shoppers who fail to wear masks.

Robot Maker's Demand Surges

Demand has spiked for robots that deliver groceries and patrol malls looking for shoppers who fail to wear masks.

In this April 16, 2019, file photo, attendees take a close look at cars from BYD at the Auto Shanghai 2019 show in Shanghai. China’s auto sales plunged 81.7% in February, 2020, from a year ago after Beijing shut down much of the economy to fight a virus outbreak, adding to problems for an industry that already was struggling with shrinking demand.

Automakers Dodged Parts Shortage

Now, they face fast-moving new threats that seem beyond their control.

I Stock 1178562884

Nestlé Commits to 100% Recycled Packaging by 2025

The Swiss company has signed the European Plastics Pact, which focuses on accelerating the transition towards a circular plastics economy.

I Stock 1126935527

Landfill Accepts Radioactive Waste

The move is a violation of Oregon regulations and has alarmed environmental advocates.

In this June 22, 2019 file photo, a shopkeeper weighs California almonds for a customer at a shop in New Delhi, India. Almonds used to have about 170 calories per serving, then researchers said it was really more like 130. A little later, they said the nuts may have even less. The shifting numbers for almonds show how the figures stamped on nutrition labels may not be as precise as they seem.

Changing Calorie Counts Reveal Inexact Science

The shifting numbers for almonds show how the figures printed on nutrition labels may not be as precise as they seem.

Home Depot Opens 1st Drive-Through Distribution Center

The retailer plans to build 40 such flatbed distribution centers, catering to its Pro customers.

Malaysia's Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin, third from left, inspects a container with plastic waste at a port in Butterworth, Malaysia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2020. Malaysia has sent back 150 containers of plastic waste to 13 mainly rich countries since the third quarter last year, with the environment minster warning on Monday that those who want to make the country a rubbish bin of the world can “dream on.”

Malaysia Sends Back Waste

Shipments of unwanted rubbish have been rerouted to Southeast Asia since China banned the import of plastic waste in 2018, but developing countries are fighting back.

3M Invents New Packaging

Say goodbye to tape.

Picnic's pizza-making robot makes a pizza at a food vendor's booth during the CES tech show, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, in Las Vegas.

CES: Pizza from Robots

The robot, which resembles an assembly line, can churn out 300 12-inch pies in an hour.

Employees and contractors watch as the core stage of NASA's Space Launch System rocket, that will be used for the Artemis 1 Mission, is moved to the Pegasus barge, at the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility where it was built, in New Orleans, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020. It will be transported to NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi for its green run test.

Rocket Part Ferried on Mississippi

A huge component of a new rocket system was wheeled slowly from a New Orleans spacecraft factory on Wednesday to a barge that will float it up the Mississippi River for testing.