Fast Company magazine has released its 2013 list of “Most Innovative Companies” featuring “the businesses whose innovations are having the greatest impacts across their industries and our culture as a whole.” Two Pittsburgh-connected companies made the list – Modcloth (under the category of style) and industrial robot manufacturer Seegrid, which now has both headquarters and manufacturing operations in a former U.S. Airways facility in the Pittsburgh International Airport corridor. The following Q & A is excerpted from an article about Seegrid published last summer in The Pittsburgh Regional Compact Quarterly, an e-newsletter formerly published by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development.
Robotics manufacturer Seegrid, located in the Pittsburgh International Airport corridor, is growing in the Pittsburgh region. How did the company get its start and what exactly is it designing and manufacturing here?
Seegrid was co-founded in 2003 by Dr. Hans Moravec and Dr. Scott Friedman and is proud to be among the cutting-edge companies that call Pittsburgh home. The company is a spin-off from Carnegie Mellon University and has remained in the Pittsburgh area. Both Moravec and Friedman knew the company’s vision-guided technology could play a major role for ground vehicles and would revolutionize the material handling and supply chain industries. They recognized there was a more advanced and efficient way to move product from point A to point B – robots not operators. Seegrid’s technology transforms industrial vehicles into unmanned, automated pallet trucks and tow tractors that operate without the need for wire, laser, tape or magnet. Seegrid robots optimize workflow processes by increasing productivity and reducing costs, creating economic and operational advantages. Seegrid’s robots are manufactured exclusively in Pittsburgh and support U.S. manufacturing and warehousing companies, keeping the U.S. at the forefront of innovation and technology.
What is it about the region that not only keeps Seegrid located here, but that’s also keeping it growing?
The Pittsburgh region is home to leading technology corporations and high-tech innovative small businesses. Pittsburgh also houses the world-renowned Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute, from which Seegrid is a spin-off. The company is pleased to be in a region that fosters technology innovation and business growth, while delivering a workforce that is skilled in high-tech manufacturing and engineering. Seegrid is passionate about being a good corporate citizen for Pittsburgh. Supporting education initiatives in science and technology locally allows the company to build a strong future workforce.
What’s it like working at Seegrid?
Joining the Seegrid team is becoming part of a family. The company prides itself on providing a work environment that allows employees to grow and increase skill sets. There are substantial opportunities for hard-working and talented individuals with different career backgrounds. Seegrid is agile and adapts to the needs of the marketplace while being deeply committed to investing in the team.
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