Partnership | XYZ Robotics, SG Systems, and Sanwa Supply Collaborate to Drive Robotic Automation in Japan

XYZ Robotics, SG Systems, and Sanwa Supply (Shanghai) have formed a strategic partnership to promote robotic automation in Japan. Sanwa Supply has adopted XYZ Robotics' RockyOne, a Mobile Manipulation Robot (MMR), at its East Japan Logistics Center. The robot automates container unloading and has already delivered strong operational results. Together, the three companies aim to expand this success to additional logistics facilities in Japan.

RockyOne’s Introduction at Sanwa

Before automation, Sanwa relied on 2 to 3 workers to unload each container. The manual work was physically demanding, especially in extreme conditions. In summer, temperatures inside containers often reached nearly 40°C. To ease the burden on workers, Sanwa introduced the RockyOne MMR.

"Now, our workers barely need to enter the hot containers, and the robot is easy for them to operate," said Junichi Hojo, Operational Manager of Sanwa’s East Japan Logistics Center. "The operation has become much easier."

Fast and Adaptable Unloading by RockyOne

Automating container unloading at Sanwa’s site presented several challenges. Containers are tightly packed with cartons of different sizes and weights. Some are especially large and heavy. RockyOne was a perfect fit for this complexity. With a 3D vision system and a multimodal gripper, RockyOne detects mixed cartons in real time and stably handles those weighing up to 25 kg.

Since deployment, RockyOne unloads 1.5 times faster than manual labor. Now, it handles up to 320 heavy cartons or 470 medium-weight cartons per hour. As a result, RockyOne has greatly improved inbound efficiency and created a safer work environment.

"XYZ Robotics' technical expertise, responsiveness, and strong in-house production capabilities impressed us," said Hiyori Honda, Manager of the Smart Logistics Division at SG Systems. "We trust their ability to quickly and effectively address the challenges we face on-site."

Scaling Robotic Automation Across Japan

Building on the success at Sanwa, SG Systems and Sanwa Supply decided to scale this robotic unloading solution to more local logistics facilities. In February 2025, the three companies signed a cooperation agreement to serve as a stepping stone for promoting robotic automation across Japan.

By combining their respective strengths, the three partners aim to drive Japan’s logistics industry toward a smarter, safer, and more sustainable future.