Most manufacturers are keen on automating production, so long as it can be done cost-effectively. This goal applies as well to KEEN Inc., a Portland, OR-based company that makes outdoor and lifestyle footwear. Founded by Martin Keen and Rory Fuerst in 2003, KEEN’s shoes are sold in more than 1,000 retail locations in the United States, and distributed worldwide.
The company has grown quickly in recent years, requiring it to further automate production. Earlier this year, for example, KEEN engineers collaborated with House of Design LLC (an ABB Robotics provider located in Nampa, ID) to develop a robotic cell.