Nov 30, 2021

Associated Wholesale Grocers has partnered with Universal Logic for multiple installations of Universal’s Neocortex® Pallet Sorter - technology which provides a revolutionary method for automated pallet sortation using AI driven robots. Download Neocortex Pallet Sorter Work Cell (Photo: Universal Logic) November 30, 2021 09:15 AM Eastern Standard Time NASHVILLE, Tenn.--( BUSINESS WIRE )--Universal Logic®, the inventor of Neocortex®, the longest running AI robot control software in the world, announced today a deal for their fully integrated Neocortex Pallet Sorter in several distribution centers of Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (AWG). Designed for hands-free sortation, it uses an industrial robot, controlled by the Neocortex software “brain”, to distinguish between various pallet types: blue, black, red, and white wood, then separates them into homogeneous stacks. A single operator activates the system through a simple interface then moves on to other tasks, eradicating manual sorting. Throughput exceeds manual sorting, providing high accuracy, while generating real-time data metric reporting. Additionally, floor space is significantly reduced. A pallet quality inspection module is available as an upgrade. Richard Kearns, Executive Vice President, Distribution and Logistics of AWG, said, “The Neocortex Pallet Sorter is instrumental in improving our distribution supply chain efficiency. Previous pallet handling required human judgment to sort the pallets. That is no longer the case. Universal’s software has resulted in greater efficiency, transparent real-time data metrics, and reduced costs.” Neocortex has been in use over a decade, with 280 million cycles in production, handing nearly every type of object that moves through supply chains – from manufactured components to consumer goods. Universal provides full stack solutions for a host of applications, with the engineering knowhow that comes from years of practical experience. David Peters, CEO of Universal, said, “Every seasoned engineer understands that achieving high reliability requires both best-in-class development and superb integration, borne from years of practical experience. Universal is ahead of the competition, in measure, due to our rich, nuanced insight that comes from tens of thousands of hours of effort delivering to satisfied customers.” About Universal Logic: Founded in 2008, Universal provides full stack automation solutions, used to mimic light-duty, semi-skilled labor on supply chains. The Neocortex software uses sensor data, sophisticated machine control, and inference derived from artificial intelligence, to handle high variability at high speeds. Underneath this broad horizontal software platform are silos of application-specific hardware, including pallet inspection & sorting, palletizing and depalletizing, each picking, and decanting. For more information, visit www.universallogic.com . About Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc.: Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. is the nation's largest cooperative food wholesaler to Independently owned supermarkets, serving over 1,100 member companies and over 3,100 locations throughout 28 states from 8 full-line wholesale Divisions. The consolidated sales for AWG are $10.6 billion. In addition to its cooperative wholesale operations, the company operates subsidiary companies which provide real estate and supermarket development services, print and digital marketing services, health and beauty care, general merchandise, pharmaceutical products, specialty foods, and natural and organic products. For more information, visit www.AWGinc.com and follow @AWGCorporate on Twitter. Contacts