6 July, 2021

Transport robotics specialist rebrands

Posted on 6 July, 202125 July, 2025 by David Priestman

With a sharpened brand profile, a completely revised brand design and a new company name, a leading manufacturer of innovative high-tech transport robotics for production and warehouse logistics is positioning itself for the industry of the future: From July 1, 2021, EK Automation will operate as ek robotics.

The central element of the new brand identity and communication is the Infinity sign as the new logo. The multitude of colours and the visualisation of the infinite possibilities through several lines in a functioning cycle form the unmistakable look of the “Infinite colors of transport” and at the same time form the claim that highlights the expertise of the independent family-owned company.

“With the new brand identity we underline our commitment to uncompromising quality, a unique product design as well as our claim to offer every company an optimal and absolutely reliable solution,” explains Andreas Böttner, CEO of ek robotics.

With the goal of making the benefits of intelligent transport robotics available to every company in the world, ek robotics is shaping the future of its customers today and offers endless possibilities: According to ek robotics, no other provider presents a greater variety of solutions for intralogistics, is as flexible and needs-oriented as ek robotics. No challenge is too small or too big, no system too simple or too complex.

With its unique engineering, powerful technology, and software tailored to individual customer needs, ek robotics is among the technical elite in the very fast growing transportation robotics industry.

“With everything we do, we strive to transform intralogistics challenges into critical competitive advantages for our customers. To keep challenging the status quo, we combine the best industrial technologies with our endless inventiveness and unique engineering skills,” explains Böttner.

The reorientation of the brand also includes the expansion of the product portfolio to include additional standard products as well as the continuous expansion of global presence. With its own innovative products and a steadily growing service network of transport robotics specialists, ek robotics is striving to open up further market areas. The innovative high-performance transport robots from ek robotics solve internal inefficiencies in production and warehouse logistics.

With maximum reliability, the automated guided vehicles from ek robotics optimise intralogistics processes and make them more flexible, fail-safe and efficient.

The new brand identity represents the company’s values and identity, while its history of more than 50 years forms the foundation of the transport robotics specialist.

“Trust, safety and quality are values that define us and clearly highlight customer benefits,” says Böttner. “Our direct and authentic communication, as well as our extraordinary expertise, are our trademark. We work pragmatically and need-oriented. This is what our customers appreciate us for.”

“Most secure trailer ever” developed

Posted on 6 July, 20217 August, 2025 by Keith McKinley

ZF, Sioen Industries and Securitas have joined forces with printed side curtains manufacturer Roland International jointly developed the Intrudor Detection system to reduce the growing problem of cargo theft from trailers.

The smart, multi-layered tarpaulin with embedded conductivity can be applied to doors, sides, and roofs for 360-degree trailer security and is compatible with reefers, plywood boxes, containers and curtainsider trailers. Its stand-alone design makes it suitable to apply to both new and existing trailers.

Cargo theft is increasing systematically. A report from BSI Supply Chain Services and Solutions shows that 86% of all cargo theft in Europe involves goods being stolen from trucks. Such thefts not only impact customer deliveries, but also have a detrimental effect on fleet owners – from damaged trailers and trucks to downtime and higher insurance fees.

In keeping with the mission of Roland ‘to improve how the world moves cargo’, they have developed a smart and innovative Trailer 360-degree Trailer Security solution for reefers, plywood boxes, containers and curtainsider trailers. ZF controls the technology via the advanced Transics branded fleet management solution TX-Trailerguard. This solution can be combined with another leading technology from ZF that provides optimum security – the Wabco OptiLock ELB-Lock. This wireless electric door locking system that remotely monitors and operates trailer doors features various real-time sensors and alarms.

Sean Spelman, Head of Product & Technology at Cargo Control Company, says: “By combining our leading side curtain technology with the product knowledge of Sioen, the digital advanced solutions from ZF and 24/7 support by Securitas, we are able to deliver an unique solution for trailer security. Even more, it addresses one of the biggest challenges in the transport sector.

“We’re proud to be recognised by other key players in the market for our innovative side curtain solutions and outstanding durability under all conditions.”

Frederik Vroman, Sioen Sales and Business Development Manager, adds: “I am delighted that we work together with our partners to develop this innovative solution to help fleet owners increase the security of their cargo.

“Sioen has been working on securing trailers from cargo theft for more than 15 years. This is a milestone for us.”

Tesdted solution for H. Essers & Wallenborn

The Intrudor Detection system is a fully operational solution that has been tested by leading transport companies such as H. Essers, Wallenborn and Soncotra.

H. Essers has been investing heavily in high security solutions for years, with more than 1,000 special security units to date. Christopher van den Daele, Business Unit Manager H. Essers, explains its approach to cargo security: “In terms of security, there are actually three issues to consider. First and foremost, there’s the choice of hardware. We’ve got to ensure that we have the right hardware to detect an issue the instant it happens.

“Secondly, there’s software. Once you start scanning for those issues in the fleet, e.g., the positions, door sensors and more. We have to be able to present that data to the end user in a user-friendly format.

“Thirdly, we have to address the problem detection processes and determine how to deal with the problem itself. To that end, we provide customers with a control tower that monitors the cargo 24/7 and access, where needed, to a European incident response intervention network.”

The global company Wallenborn is also a specialist in providing intermodal transport solutions and integrated supply chain logistics. It aims to offer accessible, fully secure solutions for its trucks and trailers. Donald Schaap, Operations Manager Wallenborn, explains: “Together with our partner ZF, we are always trying to stay a step ahead of crime. It’s not just about the hardware. Software, training, and any interventions are also a part of that picture.”

The solution is delivered in the form of a plug & play kit with mounting instructions.

FedEx joins Capital Equipment Coalition

Posted on 6 July, 2021 by David Priestman

FedEx Express Europe has become the newest member of the Capital Equipment Coalition (CEC) in Europe.

Led by not-for-profit organisation Circle Economy, in close collaboration with the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE), the Capital Equipment Coalition (CEC) engages leading businesses from multiple industries involved in the servicing, manufacturing, or operating of durable goods known as “capital equipment.” FedEx Express Europe joins nine coalition members, each putting forward a pledge to increase circularity in relation to their own supply or use of capital equipment.

A global transportation provider, FedEx Express Europe sorts over two million packages per day in its three air hubs and 34 road hubs in Europe – each making use of high-value technical equipment. Large equipment such as sortation machines, conveyor rollers, weight check and x-ray equipment, and caster decks used in operational facilities, in addition to smaller handheld devices couriers take with them on the road are all included in scope of the commitment.

David Canavan, COO, FedEx Express Europe said: “As FedEx embarks on a journey towards its goal to achieve carbon neutral operations by 2040, building circular practises into our sourcing and procurement processes will help to reduce the impact of our operations. Our participation in the Capital Equipment Coalition allows us to engage in shared-value learning experience with other industries and helps us work with suppliers to put sustainability front of mind when we source equipment, whether at size or at scale.”

FedEx Express Europe’s pledge aims to reduce the use of raw materials, while also seeking to extend the lifespan of the capital equipment it procures. This builds on existing sustainability considerations to include specifying the use of durable materials and, where possible, favouring a modular design that allows for easier extensions, upgrades, and repairs.

Tamara Veldboer, lead facilitator of CEC in Europe said: “We’re delighted to welcome FedEx Express Europe as the newest member of the Capital Equipment Coalition. FedEx Express Europe brings the perspective of an organisation that sources and procures capital equipment, with the ambition of engaging its suppliers in very practical and scalable ways.”

In joining the coalition, FedEx Express Europe commits to adopting a ‘continuous improvement’ approach, working with suppliers of equipment large and small, to set ambitious sustainability specifications that both minimise the material footprint and extend the lifecycle of equipment it procures. In addition to encouraging use of recycled and recyclable materials in capital equipment, FedEx Express Europe also seeks to formalise end-of-use plans with its suppliers – whether through responsible disposal, repurposing, or recycling of the equipment.

FedEx joins Capital Equipment Coalition

Posted on 6 July, 2021 by Keith McKinley

FedEx Express Europe has become the newest member of the Capital Equipment Coalition (CEC) in Europe.

Six winners celebrate IFOY 2021 Awards

Posted on 6 July, 2021 by David Priestman

Representatives of arculus, Cargotec, idealworks, Interroll Group, STILL and VOLUME Lagersysteme received their IFOY Awards – dubbed the “Oscar of intralogistics” – at an awards ceremony at the German Football Museum in Dortmund.

The honours were given out by laudators Thomas Westphal (Lord Mayor of Dortmund), Gordon Riske (Chairman of the Board of the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Sector Association and CEO of KION Group), Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Michael ten Hompel (Executive Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML in Dortmund), Sabine Loos (Managing Director of the Westfalenhallen Group), Jan-Dietrich Hempel (Managing Director of GARBE Industrial Real Estate) and Birgit Heitzer (Director Corporate Logistics at REWE Group).

IFOY 2021 AWARD WINNERS

Moffett E4-25.3NX, Cargotec
iw.hub, idealworks
Smart Pallet Mover (SPM), Interroll Group
arculus Fleet, arculus
Danfoss Project, STILL
Volume WAVE, VOLUME Storage Systems

The IFOY Award is the most important intralogistics award in the world. In 2021, 14 international companies entered 17 products and solutions in the ninth round of the award. “The winners of the IFOY Award 2021 have once again demonstrated that businesses can be innovative and forward-thinking even in persistent pandemic times and bring top products to the market that have a significant effect on the future of intralogistics,” emphasises jury chairwoman Anita Würmser.

Forklift specialist Cargotec won its first IFOY Award in the “Special Vehicle” category with the second generation of its Moffett E4-25.3NX, the world’s first fully electric truck-mounted forklift. According to the jury, the emission-free and low-noise truck is unique in its class. It has a three-wheel drive as well as numerous safety features and convinced the jury in the IFOY test, for example, with its economic efficiency and high performance.

The winner in the “Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV)” category is the BMW subsidiary idealworks with the iw.hub. Originally developed for in-house use, the autonomous mobile robot (AMR) is now freely available on the market and can be implemented very easily in just two days without any structural adjustments. The AMR, which set an example at the IFOY Test Days with its flexibility and other features, also scored points with its competitive price.

In the “Special of the Year” category, the IFOY Award got to the Smart Pallet Mover (SPM) from the Swiss Interroll Group. The new, mobile robot solution for the automation of pallet transport in the areas of production machines and order picking convinced testers and the jury not only with its high degree of innovation, but also with an outstanding cost-benefit advantage.

An IFOY Award was also won by arculus. In the category “Intralogistics Software”, the manufacturer-independent fleet management system arculus Fleet convinced the jury. The system enables the operation of AGVs from different manufacturers in one area via a VDA5050 interface and opens up new possibilities for the mixed operation of automated warehouse vehicles, which were unthinkable in practice until not long ago.

In the “Integrated Warehouse Solutions” category, this year’s award went to STILL. The Hamburg-based intralogistics company made it to the top with its Danfoss project. For Danfoss Power Electronics’ new production warehouse, STILL had implemented a perfectly coordinated solution consisting of three automated series industrial trucks, the smart iGo insights tool and the ELOshield safety system for its Danish customer. According to the jury, the project is an impressive example how automated warehouses will be controlled, monitored and analysed in the future.

No fewer than five young companies qualified for the final round in the “Start-up of the Year” category this year with very different innovative solutions. In the end, Volume WAVE from VOLUME Lagersysteme came out on top. The world’s first fully automated pallet shuttle warehouse with individual access to each storage location convinced the jury with its fundamentally new design principle as well as its professional implementation. Scientists described the extremely space-saving solution in the IFOY Innovation Check as “impressive”.

The International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year (IFOY) Award recognises the best intralogistics products and solutions of the year. It has established itself as an indicator of cost-effectiveness and innovation and is regarded as the leading innovation award in intralogistics due to its technical expertise. The basis for the decision is the three-stage audit – consisting of the IFOY test protocol with around 80 criteria, the scientific IFOY Innovation Check and the jury test. The most important detail is that the nominees are not compared with each other, but with their competitors’ products on the market.

At the IFOY Test Days in March at the Messe Dortmund exhibition centre, all nominees went through the IFOY test series. For the second year in a row, around 100 potential buyers were also on-site at the Test Camp Intralogistics. The winners of the IFOY Award are chosen annually by an international jury of trade journalists.

The IFOY Award is sponsored by the Association for Materials Handling and Intralogistics within the VDMA. IFOY partners are Messe Dortmund and the world’s leading forklift attachment manufacturer Cascade. The IFOY Awards’s pallet partner is CHEP, the global market leader in the pooling of pallets and containers. The logistics real estate partner is GARBE, the trailer partner is Kögel and the logistics partner is LTG.

The application phase for the IFOY Award 2022 starts on 1st August, 2021.

Six winners celebrate IFOY 2021 Awards

Posted on 6 July, 2021 by Keith McKinley

IFOY 2021 AWARD WINNERS

Moffett E4-25.3NX, Cargotec
iw.hub, idealworks
Smart Pallet Mover (SPM), Interroll Group
arculus Fleet, arculus
Danfoss Project, STILL
Volume WAVE, VOLUME Storage Systems

The application phase for the IFOY Award 2022 starts on 1st August, 2021.

Antonov delivers 3 firetrucks on single aircraft

Posted on 6 July, 2021 by David Priestman

Antonov Airlines has safely transported three Rosenbauer Panther 6×6 fire trucks on a single AN-124-100M-150 flight from the Middle East to Central Asia at short notice.

The team managed to find a solution within a week to get the trucks to Central Asia after a change in circumstances meant short-notice airfreight was the only way to deliver the cargo safely and on time.

“When Rosenbauer came back to us and described the developments that affected the movement of its fire trucks, Antonov Airlines was able to connect this cargo with flight schedules already operating in the region to provide a cost-effective and time-sensitive solution that met Rosenbauer’s demands,” said Ivan Bozhko, Commercial Executive at Antonov Airlines.

Antonov Airlines flew an AN-124-100M-150 aircraft from its home airport in Kyiv, Ukraine to the Middle East to load the fire trucks and transport them to Central Asia.

After arriving at the destination, the fire trucks were unloaded, and cargo for a separate project was loaded, optimising the routing and cargo capacity of the aircraft.

The fire trucks weigh 21 tonnes each for a total payload of 63 tonnes and the length is 12m each, totalling 36m for a full AN-124.

“Once again we had the pleasure of working hand-in-hand with Antonov Airlines to airlift our fire trucks to an otherwise difficult to reach final destination,” said Philip Karl, Key Account Manager, Rosenbauer International AG.

Recently, Antonov Airlines transported five Black Hawk helicopters from Poland to the Philippines on one of its seven AN-124-100 that have a payload of up to 120 tonnes.

Antonov delivers 3 firetrucks on single aircraft

Posted on 6 July, 2021 by Keith McKinley

Antonov Airlines has safely transported three Rosenbauer Panther 6×6 fire trucks on a single AN-124-100M-150 flight from the Middle East to Central Asia at short notice.

Antonov Airlines flew an AN-124-100M-150 aircraft from its home airport in Kyiv, Ukraine to the Middle East to load the fire trucks and transport them to Central Asia.

After arriving at the destination, the fire trucks were unloaded, and cargo for a separate project was loaded, optimising the routing and cargo capacity of the aircraft.

The fire trucks weigh 21 tonnes each for a total payload of 63 tonnes and the length is 12m each, totalling 36m for a full AN-124.

Recently, Antonov Airlines transported five Black Hawk helicopters from Poland to the Philippines on one of its seven AN-124-100 that have a payload of up to 120 tonnes.

IFOY 2021 AWARD WINNERS

IFOY 2021 AWARD WINNERS

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