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Month: May 2026

Sodium-ion Battery Field Trial for Trucks

Posted on by David Priestman

Jungheinrich has reached another milestone in the development of sustainable energy storage solutions and is launching field trials of sodium-ion batteries in industrial trucks at selected customer sites. With this move, the company is underlining its role as a driver of innovation in material handling and its commitment to the further development of cutting-edge battery technologies.

Innovation for sustainable logistics

Sodium-ion technology is regarded as a promising alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries. Greater availability of raw materials, lower costs and a better environmental footprint characterise it. “We are working intensively on new battery technologies so that we can continue to offer our customers high-performance, sustainable and cost-effective solutions in the future,” explains Martin von Werder, Head of Technology Development at Jungheinrich.

Field trials for real-world applications

As part of the current project, vehicles are being fitted with lithium-ion batteries and tested in real-world customer use. The aim is to validate the performance and reliability of the new technology under a wide range of operating conditions, thereby gaining valuable insights for series production. The first prototypes have already been successfully built and tested in forklift trucks.

The advantages of sodium-ion technology are clear: sodium is widely available as a raw material worldwide and is not subject to geopolitical constraints. Furthermore, it offers Sustainability benefits – such as more resource-efficient production and good recyclability. Cheaper raw materials and components reduce manufacturing costs, thereby improving cost efficiency.

Research and development as the key

Jungheinrich works closely with international cell manufacturers and research partners to further develop the technology and tailor it to the specific requirements of material handling. Laboratory and field tests carried out to date have provided important insights into the service life, performance and safety of the batteries.

By testing the sodium-ion battery, Jungheinrich is reaffirming its commitment to embracing innovation at an early stage and playing an active role in shaping it. The aim is to pass on the benefits of new technologies to customers as quickly as possible, thereby contributing to sustainable and future-proof logistics.

Charge Card Tailored for Electric Trucks

Posted on by David Priestman

A new charge card designed specifically for transport operators running electric commercial vehicles is being launched. The DKV Card +Charge Truck provides access to more than 3,000 verified truck-compatible charge points at competitive rates across more than 17 European countries. The card expands DKV Mobility’s existing portfolio and forms part of the company’s e-mobility growth strategy. The aim is to make the transition to alternative drivetrains as smooth as possible for its customers.

While electrification in the passenger car and company car segment is already well advanced, it is still in its early stages in road freight – but gaining momentum: regulatory requirements, ambitious CO₂ reduction targets, and the first available series-production electric commercial vehicles are all driving the shift. At the same time, transport operators face new challenges, particularly around access to suitable charging infrastructure, route planning, and the integration of different billing and energy systems.

Sven Mehringer, Managing Director at DKV Mobility and responsible for Energy & Vehicle Services, says:

“Energy management for commercial vehicles is becoming more complex – more drivetrains, more providers, more billing systems. The DKV Card +Charge Truck gives fleet operators a clear answer: one card for all drivetrains, all services, one invoice. With this, we are actively advancing our transition to a leading integrated mobility platform.”

Unlike passenger cars, truck charging stations must meet significantly higher requirements: adequate clearance heights, wide access lanes, sufficient maneuvering space, and charging capacity that can handle the energy demands of heavy vehicles. DKV Mobility therefore assesses every truck charging station in its network against clearly defined minimum standards. These include a roof clearance of at least four meters, an access width of at least 2.7 meters, and sufficient space for comfortable maneuvering. Stations must also accommodate vehicles of at least nine meters in length. The bar is set high on charging capacity as well: more than 80 percent of the 3,000-plus locations offer charging speeds exceeding 300 kW.

Tim Dambor, Director Product Management eMobility Roaming at DKV Mobility, adds:

“For electric truck drivers and dispatchers, reliability is what matters most. Our verified network and real-time overview in the app give both the confidence that the next station is within reach and that the vehicle can actually charge there.”

At many truck-compatible locations, operators also benefit from competitive charging rates. Prices per station, charging time, and kilowatt-hours consumed are displayed transparently and in real time in the DKV Mobility App. As with all charging transactions across the DKV Mobility network, the company guarantees that every kilowatt-hour comes from 100 percent renewable energy sources. The card also provides access to additional services at selected locations, including repair, tire service, vehicle washing, and parking. If no truck-compatible charge point is available nearby, drivers can also access DKV Mobility’s full charging network of around 1.2 million charge points.

The DKV Card +Charge Truck is available across Europe starting today. It is particularly well suited for transport operators navigating the transition to electric mobility: the card covers both charging for electric trucks and fueling for conventional vehicles – all through a single card and one unified invoice.

Agentic AI Stack Powers Action in ERP Workflows

Posted on by David Priestman

Enterprise resource planning software supplier Epicor has announced new functionality and a structured approach to designing, building, and deploying a network of vertical AI agents that execute work directly inside the ERP systems that run the make, move, and sell economy.

As ERP evolves from a system of record into a system of outcomes, Epicor is delivering AI that moves beyond insight to action. Introduced at Epicor Insights 2026, the latest advancements include Epicor Lux, the company’s agentic design system, as well as the Epicor Prism Agent Foundry, and a new wave of Epicor Prism agents addressing high value, decision-critical enterprise workflows. These capabilities strengthen Epicor Prism as a foundation for responsible, outcome-driven AI, bringing agentic design, custom agent creation, and intelligent execution together.

“Our customers operate in complex supply chain environments where decisions must be executed quickly and with precision,” said Vaibhav Vohra, President and Chief Product and Technology Officer at Epicor. “Today, with Prism, we’re enabling intelligence that can execute inside the system of record, all while preserving the controls and accountability ERP was built for.”

Enabling users to build what comes next

Epicor’s approach is built on a structured, unified stack that spans planning, creation, and execution:

  • Epicor Lux: Establishes a consistent framework for agent design, governance, and security
  • Epicor Prism Agent Foundry: Provides a guided workspace environment for building and customising AI agents.
  • Epicor Prism Agents: Within ERP workflows, agents operate to execute actions across data, processes, and decisions.

At the core of this approach is Epicor Lux, Epicor’s agentic design system. More than a traditional UI framework, Lux is designed to help humans and AI agents communicate with ERP systems dynamically, while enforcing consistent user experience and security standards across all agents built with Epicor Prism.

As the control framework for agentic innovation, Lux ensures that every agent looks, feels, and behaves like a trusted Epicor product. It is designed to help users understand context, confidence, and potential consequences while keeping humans in the loop. Building on Lux, Prism Agent Foundry provides a guided, self-service workspace that enables customers and partners to build custom vertical-specific agents directly within the Epicor platform.

Prism Agent Foundry enables customers to use their data to create agents tailored to their specific business goals, while supporting an increasingly open agentic ecosystem. Customers will be able to orchestrate workflows and visibility tooling across ERP while their agents operate safely within Epicor’s enterprise governance guardrails.

Proof at scale: AI already operating in production ERP environments

These advancements build on Epicor’s existing production AI footprint, with its agentic vision already delivering measurable results. The Prism Knowledge Agent alone processes more than 70,000 requests per month, supporting users inside Kinetic, Prophet 21, and Propello applications, providing in context learning for users to complete tasks with greater efficiency and confidence.

In parallel, Epicor operates the largest opt in ERP dataset, supporting inventory and transactions across roughly 40 percent of the estimated $54B U.S. independent wholesale automotive aftermarket, based on light and medium duty parts distributors. This breadth provides additional context into operational patterns, helping customers better understand activity across their business and support more informed decision making.

Those benefits translate directly into day to day operational gains. “Prism delivers ~85% faster shipment tracking by collapsing multi system lookups into a single click, single view experience-enabling near instant customer responses and higher customer confidence,” said Daniel Epler, Chief Financial Officer, Tuffaloy Products, Inc.

Together, this combination of scale, embedded intelligence, and contextual insight provides the foundation needed to responsibly apply AI within complex supply chain workflows, helping customers move beyond isolated use cases and take action more consistently in their operations.

New agents now available

In addition to Agent Foundry, Epicor continues to develop purpose built, industry specific agents engineered to deliver capabilities beyond what general-purpose tooling can achieve. The company also introduced a host of new and forthcoming Prism agents designed to address time-intensive, decision-critical workflows, including:

  • MRP Log Agent – Analyses MRP output logs so users can better understand why MRP recommendations were made.
  • Freight Spend Agent – Combines ERP and shipping data to identify carrier discrepancies, reconcile variances, and prevent ongoing freight leakage.
  • Reasoning Agent – Helps users move from answers to action by synthesising Epicor ERP data, documents and context.
  • Quick Ship Tracking Agent – Provides fast access to shipment tracking information using PO, SO, or customer names, helping teams quickly understand shipment status.
  • Quick Ship Freight Insight Agent –Delivers shipment volume and performance insights at the carrier and facility level, enabling logistics decisions based on pattern analysis.
  • Prophet 21 Prism Business Rules Agent – Allows P21 users to create and modify business rules from natural language prompts while preserving platform governance.
  • EDI Agent – Enables Kinetic users to ask plain-language questions about EDI document status, investigate errors, and review transaction status.
  • CPQ Snap Assistant – Increases efficiency for CPQ administrators during configurator development and maintenance.
  • Smart Data Capture Agent – Extracts and validates complex documents across AP and compliance workflows.

More than 30 additional Epicor Prism agents are in development, including financial planning and optimisation, compliance, invoicing, logistics, and sustainability use cases.

“AI only succeeds in production when it’s grounded in reality. That requires deep industry knowledge, a trusted ERP data model, and enterprise grade security. All of which are capabilities that uniquely position Epicor to bring AI into real supply chain execution at scale,” Vohra continued.

A practical step toward cognitive, outcome driven ERP

Looking ahead, Epicor also outlined its long-term vision for predictive, network-level insights across the supply chain, leveraging opt in, anonymised data across its customer community. Together, these advancements represent a practical step in Epicor’s long term direction toward cognitive, outcome-driven ERP where intelligence executes within the systems businesses depend on the most.

Trailer Manufacturer Builds Technology Centre

Posted on by David Priestman

Kögel Trailer GmbH aims to advance the strategic development of its production site in Choceň, Czechia. Through a multi-million Euro investment, the subsidiary is being transformed into a modern technology centre, significantly expanding production capacity. The site is set to play an increasingly important role within the company’s production structure in the long term.

The first phase of measures was successfully implemented last year, when an existing warehouse was transformed into a fully equipped production facility, spanning approx. 1,000 square metres. The facility is equipped with a new automated laser cutting centre and a state-of-the-art edging and bending machine.

Optimisation of Production

This big investment will accelerate frame production while improving cost efficiency across the entire production process. At the same time, it will strengthen security of supply, as production processes can be organised with reduced reliance on external supply chains. In addition to frames for Kögel semi-trailers – several hundred per week – complete trailers are also manufactured in Choceň. The introduction of modern manufacturing technologies has also created additional jobs at the site. Output will be gradually increased over the coming months, with full utilisation of the plant’s capacity expected by 2028.

The new systems are supplied by Trumpf, a technology company based in Ditzingen, and a leading supplier of machine tools and lasers for industrial manufacturing. Trumpf provided comprehensive project support, from system installation and process integration through to successful commissioning.

“The Choceň site has been a key component of our production strategy for many years and is of major strategic importance. With this investment, we are specifically enhancing our manufacturing expertise and securing a reliable supply of frames for our semi-trailers,” explains Markus Siegner, CEO of Kögel Trailer GmbH.

Ready for the Future

Additional investment in the Czech site is planned for the course of this year. The aim is to continuously modernise production processes and ensure that the site is well equipped to meet future requirements. To this end, a new robotic welding system for tipper bodies and trailer frames is scheduled for installation by summer 2026, alongside a solar power system, due to come on stream shortly to provide additional electricity for production.

The plant in Choceň has belonged to Kögel since 1996 and is a key component of Kögel’s trailer production. Around 350 employees currently work there.

Podcast: Warehouse Automation is Evolving

Posted on by Will Priestman

Most warehouse leaders are still grappling with how to implement automation without overwhelming their teams—or their budgets. But what if the secret to smarter, faster warehouse transformation lies in tiny, strategic steps rather than giant overhauls? In this episode, Mike Morgan from OPEX reveals how beginning with small automation projects can lead to massive long-term gains without the risk of costly mistakes.

As automation technology becomes more accessible, many companies make the mistake of overestimating what their team can handle or trying to deploy full-scale systems too early. Mike shares real-world examples and explains why focusing on incremental wins—like simple sortation engines or targeted pick systems—can build trust, deliver quick ROI, and set the foundation for more advanced automation later. You’ll discover why starting small reduces risk and how these tiny gains compound into a resilient and adaptable warehouse.

We break down critical insights on integrating automation seamlessly into existing operations, the importance of change management, and the real role of AI—from predictive maintenance to digital twins – helping warehouses become more agile in a volatile supply chain world. Mike also discusses how automation and AI are no longer just tools for efficiency but strategic enablers of flexibility, resilience, and environmental sustainability.

Perfect for logistics managers, warehouse operators, and tech executives eager to avoid pitfalls and maximize their automation investment, this episode offers actionable guidance to start small, grow steadily, and prepare your warehouse for a future where flexibility is king. Whether you’re just exploring automation or planning your next step, these insights will help you unlock continuous improvement and avoid common pitfalls.

Tune in and learn how to turn strategic patience into unmatched warehouse success.

UK Government extends fuel duty cut

Posted on by Will Priestman

The UK government has announced that the 5p cut in fuel duty will be extended for a further 12 months, a move welcomed by the freight and logistics sector as operators continue to face significant cost pressures.

The announcement, which also includes a 12-month holiday on vehicle excise duty (VED) for HGVs, is intended to help businesses manage rising operating costs and ongoing supply chain challenges.

Responding to the news, the British International Freight Association (BIFA) said the decision showed that government is listening to industry concerns.

Steve Parker, BIFA director general, said:

BIFA has been a strong supporter of a campaign around fuel duty and we are glad to see that the government has taken onboard our concerns… The announcement of a 12-month holiday on vehicle excise duty for HGVs should also help the freight forwarding and logistics businesses that BIFA represents cope with the higher costs affecting the international supply chains that they manage.

Fuel remains one of the largest costs for road freight and logistics operators, with many businesses continuing to deal with inflationary pressures, volatile energy prices and increased wage costs.

While welcoming the extension, BIFA reiterated its call for longer-term measures to provide greater certainty for the sector.

Parker added:

BIFA has consistently called for long-term certainty and a dedicated fuel duty stabilisation mechanism rather than incremental, temporary postponements… The association has long pressed for the introduction of an essential user rebate to support the competitiveness of British freight and logistics companies. We will carry on with our lobbying on those matters.”

Industry stakeholders have argued that maintaining lower fuel duty rates is essential to supporting supply chain resilience and helping logistics businesses continue investing in fleet renewal, sustainability initiatives and operational efficiency.

The latest extension is expected to provide short-term relief for haulage, freight forwarding and logistics companies across the UK as the sector continues to navigate challenging economic conditions.

AI Workspace for Complex Supply Chains

Posted on by David Priestman

Manhattan Associates Inc. has announced the launch of ‘Solution Design Studio’, a new AI-powered workspace that allows business users to configure complex supply chain systems in their own words. Part of ‘ActivePlatform’, this innovation marks the next phase of the company’s Agentic AI strategy, moving beyond individual agents to a platform where AI now helps design, configure and extend the entire supply chain commerce experience. This solution is designed to completely transform the speed and efficiency of the traditional solution design and configuration experience.

Solution Design Studio sits alongside ProActive®, where customers create extensions to Manhattan’s applications, and Agent Foundry, where they build AI agents. Instead of navigating multi-step configuration screens, business users can simply create blueprints – living, business-language descriptions of how specific parts of their warehouse, transportation network or broader operation should run. These blueprints can be authored directly in Studio’s word like, endless-scroll editor or uploaded from existing documents. Users then review, edit and approve each section before deploying, at which point the platform’s agents translate the blueprint into live configuration across Manhattan Active solutions. By interpreting business requirements and transforming them into structured, natural-language designs, Solution Design Studio simplifies how organisations move from intent to execution, within defined guardrails.

Designed expressly for business users such as warehouse operations leaders and transportation managers, rather than architects or developers, Solution Design Studio keeps the blueprint as the system of record. As operations evolve, users can simply update the blueprint and redeploy, keeping the system continuously aligned with the current business reality. This enables teams to manage business intent directly, while Manhattan’s platform handles the complexity of translating that intent into operational configuration.

“As supply chain and commerce grow more complex, the design and configuration phases are often where speed-to-value suffers,” said Sanjeev Siotia, executive vice president and chief technology officer at Manhattan Associates. “Solution Design Studio simplifies configuration by translating it into natural language for business users, helping customers move faster.”

“During testing, Solution Design Studio autonomously and successfully configured the majority of ActiveWarehouse using externally created designs. What once took months can now be done in minutes, saving significant time.”

Design Studio is already in use with Manhattan’s own services teams in targeted implementations, with the full studio experience expected to begin rolling out to customers in the coming quarters too.

Motivation is Measurable with Gamification

Posted on by David Priestman

For years, warehouse productivity has been driven primarily by technology: automation, robotics, warehouse management systems, and artificial intelligence. While these tools are essential, they overlook a key reality: logistics remains a labour-intensive environment. In many processes – especially picking – people make decisions, execute tasks, and ensure quality every day.

This is where warehouse gamification becomes relevant. Rather than a novelty, it provides a structured way to connect motivation, focus, and performance within daily operations. Motivation, attention, and purpose directly influence outcomes, yet many systems still optimise workflows without offering meaningful feedback to employees. Gamification addresses this gap by embedding recognition and progress into the workflow itself.

Invisible Nature of Daily Work

Warehouse work is highly standardised. Processes are optimized for efficiency, leaving little room for deviation. While this ensures stability, it also creates invisibility: strong performance often goes unnoticed in real time. Feedback is typically delayed and indirect, delivered through KPIs or reports rather than during the activity itself.

As a result, employees often receive attention only when errors occur. Motivation is treated as a personal trait rather than something shaped by system design. In times of labour shortages and high turnover, this becomes a structural issue. When work feels repetitive and unrecognized, employees are more likely to disengage or leave.

Research consistently shows that motivation, focus, and perceived meaning impact performance and quality. Yet many systems remain silent – they measure and control but fail to communicate.

“Motivation does not arise from incentives alone. It develops when people see progress and feel recognised,” says Tim Just (pictured, below), CEO of LYDIA Voice at EPG.

“Two factors are crucial: context and timing. Feedback must be directly linked to the activity and delivered at the right moment. If it comes too late, it loses relevance. If it interrupts the workflow, it becomes counterproductive. Many gamification approaches fail because they operate outside the workflow. Extra screens or disconnected ‘game layers’ may create short-term interest but do not improve the work experience itself.”

Gamification as a Feedback Structure

Effective warehouse gamification is not about games but about structured feedback. It makes progress visible, provides orientation, and integrates recognition into daily tasks. Elements like coins, levels, or challenges are not the goal – they translate performance into tangible signals. For this to work, gamification must not add complexity. It should require no extra actions and must integrate seamlessly into existing processes.

Integration Matters

The effectiveness of gamification depends largely on technical integration. Systems must understand operational context – distinguishing between active work, travel time, and phases of concentration.

“Voice-based systems offer a strong foundation because they are already embedded in workflows”, adds Just. “When gamification is integrated into these systems, feedback can be delivered naturally, for example during walking phases. This avoids distractions while maintaining focus on the task.”

Visibility Without Harmful Comparison

Performance visibility must be handled carefully. Public rankings and constant comparisons can demotivate, especially in diverse teams. Sustainable motivation comes from making individual progress visible without exposing employees to pressure.

Mechanics such as personal levels, badges, or team challenges support this approach. Team-based goals strengthen collaboration and create a shared sense of purpose rather than competition.

Evidence from Research and Practice

Studies on intrinsic motivation highlight three key drivers: visible progress, immediate feedback, and a sense of competence. Warehouse gamification supports these when integrated closely with processes.
Practical implementations confirm this: when gamification is part of the system rather than an add-on, it becomes accepted and naturally used. Productivity improvements emerge as a byproduct of better engagement.

Motivation as a System Component

The central insight is that motivation is not a ‘soft factor.’ It is a measurable and designable element of warehouse operations. Properly implemented gamification creates a system language that acknowledges effort, visualizes progress, and supports long-term performance.

As companies seek to increase productivity without adding complexity, motivation plays a larger role than often assumed. Warehouse gamification can contribute significantly when tightly integrated into workflows. The key is not the game itself, but how feedback, progress, and shared goals become part of daily execution.

Tariffs are Reshaping Rules of Global Trade

Posted on by David Priestman

New research shows tariffs are becoming a real-time execution variable, driving leaders to experiment with new routes, shift transportation modes and turn compliance into a competitive advantage.

Infios, experts in intelligent supply chain execution, has published a new proprietary research report, “The Rise of the Tariff-Optimized Supply Chain: Inside the New Rules of Global Trade,” showing how the 2025 U.S. tariff policy created a structural break in global trade and permanently changed how companies execute their supply chains.

Based on year-over-year analysis of more than one million U.S. customs entries, the report finds that tariffs are no longer a predictable cost line item. They are a live execution variable that companies actively manage through classification, mode selection, routing, warehousing and financial sequencing.

“At Infios, one of our guiding principles is ‘Thinking Ahead’, helping customers to anticipate change instead of reacting to it after the fact,” said Ed Auriemma, CEO at Infios. “This research highlights how global trade patterns are evolving and where companies are adjusting routes, transportation modes and execution strategies in response. Organizations that recognize those shifts early and respond quickly will be best positioned to deliver execution without interruption.”

The report identifies two distinct phases of response. In the initial shock period, importers experimented with ‘panic routing,’ short-term mode shifts and temporary United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) surges. The 50%+ duty bracket, which had barely existed before 2025, spiked sharply before settling at a lower but still elevated level. And with urgency overriding cost discipline, air freight and truck share both rose as speed became the priority. Over time, the behaviors that lasted created a structural and deliberate redesign for global trade execution.

“What we’re seeing isn’t just a shift in sourcing or supplier mix. It’s a fundamental change in how trade is executed,” said Don Mabry, SVP, Global Trade Solutions at Infios.

“Tariffs have introduced a level of volatility that companies can no longer manage with periodic adjustments or manual processes. Organizations able to sense change early, evaluate options quickly and reconfigure execution paths will outperform those operating within rigid, single-path systems designed for a more stable world. The organizations that treat trade execution as a dynamic discipline, not a back-office function, are the ones gaining a durable competitive advantage.”

Notable findings include:
• Effective duty rates reached 20–80 percent higher in some categories due to tariff stacking.
• Air freight increased by ~12 percentage points and stayed elevated, while ocean freight declined ~10–12 points and did not rebound, signaling that mode choice is now used as policy-risk insurance, not just cost optimization.
• Truck freight rose ~8 points, reflecting sustained nearshoring and demand for more stable, shorter supply chains.
• Bonded warehouse usage jumped from ~10 percent to ~16–18 percent of entries and kept climbing, signaling that duty deferral is now mainstream.
• Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification complexity nearly doubled from ~6 to ~11.6 sequences per entry, pushing many organizations beyond what manual compliance workflows can support.
• Shipment value rose ~78 percent while entry counts fell ~7 percent, indicating consolidation and “smarter shipping,” not a retreat from trade.

Not all sourcing shifted equally. Consumer goods and light manufacturing diversified away from China; specialty chemicals and industrial components stayed dependency-bound regardless of tariff exposure. At the same time, entirely new trade corridors emerged while others collapsed under policy pressure. The data reveals a supply chain landscape in motion: new corridors opening, unviable ones falling away and early signs of manufacturing relocation, making route intelligence a strategic asset, not a logistics afterthought.

Infios’s analysis concludes this is not a sourcing story, but an execution story. In a volatile policy environment, flexibility beats efficiency and execution precision is key. Companies thriving will be those that can sense change early, evaluate options quickly and reconfigure execution paths before conditions force their hand.

The report introduces a consistent definition for this new operating model: a tariff-optimized supply chain, which treats duties as a live execution variable, actively managed through classification, mode selection, routing, warehousing and financial sequencing, rather than as a fixed cost to absorb. In an environment where volatility is structural, those capabilities are what will separate the leaders in global trade.

Robotic Mobile Manipulation Firm Acquired

Posted on by David Priestman

Locus Robotics has announced the acquisition of Nexera Robotics, a Vancouver-based robotics company specializing in advanced robotic grasping. The integration of Nexera’s proprietary NeuraGrasp™ end-effector technology into the Locus Robotics physical AI platform significantly expands the company’s autonomous mobile manipulation capabilities and broadens what Locus Array can handle across end-to-end fulfillment workflows.

Advanced mobile manipulation offers the most flexible and scalable path to fully autonomous fulfillment, eliminating the constraints of fixed infrastructure. Realizing that potential requires the ability to handle the full complexity of real inventory, in real warehouse conditions, across millions of SKU types. With Locus Array already setting a new standard for autonomous Robots-to-Goods mobile picking, the addition of NeuraGrasp accelerates that roadmap and extends the platform’s reach into SKU categories and manipulation tasks that existing solutions have struggled to address.

“The frontier of warehouse robotics today is AI-driven mobile manipulation at enterprise scale,” said Rick Faulk, CEO, Locus Robotics. “Being able to efficiently grasp millions of SKU types with both speed and precision is where the next decade of value gets created. Nexera has built something technically significant in that space, and combining it with Locus Array puts us at the forefront of leveling up mobile manipulation across the industry.”

A Single Gripper for a Broader Range of Real-World Inventory

NeuraGrasp™ combines AI-driven grasping intelligence, onboard sensory inputs, computer vision, and a patented soft membrane structure to adapt dynamically to the physical characteristics of each item. This enables a single gripper to conform to variations in shape, surface texture, material, porosity, and weight, creating reliable grasps across the high-variability inventory found in real warehouse operations.

Developed over five years and refined through six generations of continual improvement, NeuraGrasp has been validated with thousands of hours and tens of millions of picks, including the broadest SKU testing with commercial partners.

“We built NeuraGrasp to solve the manipulation challenges that have held robotic picking back for years,” said Roy Belak, CEO, Nexera Robotics. “Joining Locus Robotics gives us the platform, scale, and customer base to bring this breakthrough technology into the high-velocity fulfillment environments it was designed for, where speed, reliability, and real-world adaptability matter most.”

The acquisition of Nexera builds on momentum by expanding what Locus Array can autonomously handle and significantly broadening the addressable market for Locus Robotics and its customers.

Acquisition Details

Nexera Robotics will be wholly owned and operated as part of Locus Robotics. The full Nexera team and leadership will join Locus Robotics to accelerate integration of NeuraGrasp™ into the Locus Array platform and roadmap. The acquisition strengthens Locus Robotics’ intellectual property position in mobile manipulation and adds deep AI-driven manipulation and end-effector expertise to the company’s engineering organization.

Why is Locus Robotics acquiring Nexera Robotics?

Locus Robotics is acquiring Nexera Robotics to bring patented grasping technology and specialized robotic picking expertise into the Locus Array roadmap. Nexera’s NeuraGrasp™ technology significantly expands the range of SKU types Locus Array can pick autonomously, advancing mobile manipulation capabilities and broadening what the platform can handle across end-to-end fulfillment workflows.
What does NeuraGrasp™ do?

NeuraGrasp™ combines AI-driven grasping intelligence, onboard sensory inputs, computer vision, and soft, compliant grasping hardware to help robots adapt dynamically to a wide range of item characteristics. This enables Locus Array to pick a much broader range of items reliably, including products with varying shapes, surfaces, materials, porosity, and weight.

What types of items can Nexera’s technology help Locus Array robots pick?
Nexera’s technology is designed to expand autonomous picking across a broader range of SKU types, including porous textiles, loosely bagged items, perforated polybags, irregular packages, delicate goods, contoured products, small items, and products with inconsistent surfaces or thin packaging features.

When will Locus Array begin using Nexera’s technology?
Locus Robotics will begin integrating Nexera’s NeuraGrasp™ end-effector technology into the Locus Array platform following the acquisition. The technology is expected to become available in the coming months.

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