Amazon buys manufacturer of robots for $ 775 million

The largest online retailer Amazon has signed an agreement to acquire Kiva Systems - manufacturer of robotic loaders, which are able to independently move the goods. The deal amounted to $ 775 million in cash. Kiva technology will automate the Amazon warehouse logistics and make the delivery faster.

As expected, the transaction will close in the second quarter of 2012. Kiva will be the largest purchase for Amazon since 2009, when the company acquired online shoe seller Zappos.com for $ 1.2 billion, reports Bloomberg.

Amazon's revenue up to 2011 grew by 41% and the number of employees exceeded 56,000 people. According to the annual report, the largest operating expense Article Amazon warehouses to service - this in 2011, the online retailer spent $ 4.6 billion. Should we expect significant reductions in production personnel whose work will replace the robots, the company did not say.

Kiva went on profitability only in the past year. In 2011 the company got 24 new clients, including Toys "R" Us, and Timberland. Kiva robots are also used in warehouses Quidsi - the former owner of online retailers Soap.com and Diapers.com, which Amazon bought last year for 545 million dollars.

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