Pittsburgh Material Handling Leader Seegrid CEO Anthony Horbal Profiled in Pop City
Submitted by: TR Cutler, Inc.
2012-08-11 12:09:14
(OPENPRESS) August 12, 2012 -- Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Seegrid Corp. (www.seegrid.com) has pioneered technology which transforms industrial vehicles into un-manned, automated pallet trucks and tow tractors that operate without the need for wire, tape, laser or other costly automated guided vehicle (AGV) guidance systems. Seegrid offers solutions that optimize workflow processes by increasing productivity and reducing costs, creating economic and operational advantages.
According to Deb Smit, writer for Pop City, Seegrid Corporation CEO Anthony Horbal was recently interviewed. Pop City is a weekly e-magazine and website that connects the people and places that are making Pittsburgh a lively, diverse and livable city. The e-publication is read by 37,535 subscribers weekly.
The article, titled, "Seegrid's business is booming, hiring 20-30 this year", may be read in its entirety at http://www.popcitymedia.com/innovationnews/seegrid071112.aspx. According to Smit, Seegrid's CEO Anthony Horbal can't say enough about the company's accelerating trajectory and commitment to Pittsburgh. "In talking with friends in business, my observation is that the economy is far better in the U.S. than the media would lead us to believe," says Horbal. "From Seegrid's perspective, we have sold more machines this year than in the last two to three years combined."
Horbal has been named CEO of the company, a developer and manufacturer of industrial forklifts; Scott Friedman, formerly CEO, has assumed the title of president. The company expects to add 20 to 30 people this year, bringing the total company to between 90 and 100 people. Seegrid is looking to hire electrical, mechanical and software engineers and plans to expand its sales force. Truck drivers are also in demand.
Driving growth is a partnership with Raymond Corp., a subsidiary of Toyota, and another European partner, two of the largest manufacturers worldwide of industrial trucks, tractors, forklifts and pallet jacks, machinery that is used indoors, often in warehouse settings.
The company also hopes to establish a presence in Asia and possibly China, but more hiring needs to take place first, Horbal says. The company will be shipping to three continents out of Pittsburgh.
Founded in 2003, Seegrid's robotic technology was developed by Dr. Hans Moravec, a professor at CMU, considered a godfather of artificial intelligence. The company remains committed to Pittsburgh.
"The point is we have to do more to invest in ourselves globally here," says Horbal. "We have to feed the fires that are burning in the local economy and keep the jobs here."
The biggest challenge is finding enough good workers, he adds. It's a systemic issue that goes back to how we educate students. To address this, Seegrid is supporting STEM (science, math, technology and engineering) curriculums in schools and has begun offering a scholarship to students pursuing an education in robotics.
