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Tag: AGV

AI-Powered Robotics Boost Warehouse Efficiency

Posted on by David Priestman

One of the UK’s largest and longest-standing redistributor and retailer of surplus products, Company Shop Group (CSG), has announced a strategic partnership with Dexory, a leading provider of real-time warehouse visibility and automation solutions, to transform inventory accuracy, reduce waste, and improve product flow within its ambient warehouse operations.

The partnership, which uses Dexory’s autonomous robot and AI-driven platform, is delivering transformational results across CSG’s Barnsley, South Yorkshire warehouse, which holds a wide range of surplus stock across food, homeware, personal, and pet categories.

Due to the fast-paced nature of surplus redistribution, accurate and timely stock processing is critical. Historically, inaccuracies in stock levels have led to some picking and dispatch delays. By deploying Dexory’s real-time data and automation solution, CSG is now able to track stock with a level of accuracy and speed not previously possible – with an increase of over 300 pallets added to the warehouse management system (WMS) during the trial period alone.

AI-Powered Robotics

“The Dexory solution stood out as the most effective and least disruptive option after reviewing several providers,” said Martin Upton, Operations Director, Company Shop Group. “It’s fast, flexible, and has integrated seamlessly with our existing warehouse management system. The system has also significantly increased visibility into our Dispatch area – something we had limited access to before. This has dramatically increased efficiency and enabled smoother product flow throughout our operation.”

Dexory’s solution is now used not only for stock integrity – ensuring stock is stored in the right location and allowing for rapid issue resolution – but also to support dispatch operations by providing by-date priority lists and real-time views of dispatch pallets. The robot’s ability to perform multiple autonomous scans per day empowers operational teams to act quickly, identify root causes of issues, and implement targeted training and continuous improvement efforts.

“We’re proud to support a mission-led business that is tackling waste reduction across the industry,” said Oana Jinga, Chief Commercial & Product Officer and Co-founder of Dexory. “By combining our AI-powered robotics and real-time data platform, we’re enabling their team to spot issues sooner, react faster, and ultimately deliver a more effective and efficient end-to-end process – turning warehouse visibility into tangible operational and environmental impact.”

Oana Jinga
Oana Jinga, Dexory

The project has already freed up valuable time for the client’s stock control team, enabling them to focus on wider efficiency initiatives across operations. With the proven benefits in inventory control and process flow, Company Shop Group sees this partnership as a key pillar in achieving its long-term goal: creating a world where no surplus product goes to waste.

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New Bin-mover Robot Launched

Posted on by David Priestman

Supplier of intelligent warehousing and mobile robotics, Quicktron, has launched a new solution for the UK market – the M5F bin-mover robot – which further enhances its Quickbin+ solution. The launch of the M5F robot marks a milestone in Quicktron’s expansion into Europe as the AMR specialist brings its innovative, affordable and intelligent robotic solutions to new customers across the continent.

Quickbin+ combines patented bin-picker and bin-mover robots in a breakthrough intelligent warehousing system that enhances storage density, optimises efficiency and delivers substantial cost savings to maximise ROI. The compact M5F robot delivers high performance to a broad range of industries and applications, from 3PL, retail and e-commerce, to healthcare, food & beverage and manufacturing.

Adaptable, efficient and agile

The M5F robot is a key component of the Quickbin+ solution, which integrates bin-picker and bin-mover robots to deliver a cost-effective, flexible entry into intelligent warehousing with lower investment and maintenance costs, and a faster payback period (as short as two years).

Enhancing efficiency, throughput and flexibility, the durable, streamlined M5F is the next generation of bin-mover robots. It has a long 11-hour battery life to minimise downtime and eliminate mid-shift charging, an acceleration of 2 m/s², and achieves speeds of up to 4.5 m/s and.

With agile horizontal transportation and curved-turn functionality, the M5F operates effectively in tight spaces to reduce operating times and cut the number of bin-mover robots required by up to 40%. Smooth performance is achieved with ±10mm accuracy using QR codes for position tracking, while inertial sensors gather real-time data to adjust orientation, detect obstacles, and ensure smooth navigation.

Working alongside other robots

The M5F is adaptable and scalable, offering easy and seamless integration with other mobile robots, including the C56 bin-picker robot. It can be reconfigured to suit an array of different workflows and applications, while its single-column, fork-arm design improves manoeuvrability and adaptability to a wide variety of different warehouse situations.

Combined with the C56 bin-picker robot, which can operate at heights up to 12m to enhance storage density, the M5F’s dual-layer buffer zones utilise both vertical and horizontal space. The dual-depth storage allows picking from two locations along the aisles, effectively doubling capacity and providing the flexibility needed to adapt to varying SKUs and seasonal demand.

Intelligent technology

Quicktron has a growing portfolio of high-performance robotic solutions and has expanded rapidly since it was founded in 2014. With businesses facing rising pressures to improve warehouse efficiency and reduce intralogistics costs, the company has more than 30,000 operational robotic units deployed worldwide, including over 1,000 AGVs in a single warehouse. The QuickBin (QB+) system is a core offering for Quicktron and a key part of its portfolio of comprehensive warehouse solutions, which integrate intelligent intralogistics technologies, including four-way shuttles, AMRs, and tote handling systems across full-scenario operations.

Quicktron has a strong focus on R&D and intelligent solutions, with more than 500 patents to its name. A long-term strategic partnership with Dematic combines both companies’ expertise, building on a proven track record of successful collaborations, including the joint delivery of multiple QuickBin and G2P picking system projects.

Yang Wei, the CEO and founder at Quicktron Robotics, commented: “The new M5F robot is part of our commitment to enhancing the competitiveness of companies, making the industry more sustainable, and freeing workers from mundane tasks, allowing them to focus on more engaging and valuable work.

“Our strong emphasis on R&D has delivered a faster, more agile, more efficient robot that reduces warehouse and intralogistics costs even further and enhances our flagship QuickBin+ solution. Integrating the new M5F with QuickBin+ provides a 50-60% saving in labour costs and a scalable, flexible future-proof solution that can adapt to companies’ changing needs.

“The M5F robot debuted at the 2025 ProMat show in Chicago in March and we’re excited to see how it can benefit companies across Europe as part of our core QuickBin+ solution.”

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End-to-end Automation with New Forklifts

Posted on by David Priestman

Intralogistics specialist Linde Material Handling (MH) has expanded its range of automated forklift and industrial trucks, thus completing its updated product portfolio. A standout addition to the lineup is the automated Linde K MATIC k VNA turret truck.

“If customers are storing and retrieving exclusively full pallets in high-bay racking, this forklift eliminates the need for them to purchase a manually operated truck,” explains Pascal Kuster, Sales Trainer Automated Guided Vehicles at Linde MH. Other vehicles set to launch include the Linde R-MATIC k reach truck and the Linde L MATIC AC k counterbalanced pallet stacker with cantilevered forks. These series production models are designed to maximize the benefits of automation projects implemented with Linde MH, reducing planning and implementation times while ensuring greater efficiency and lower costs.

“With the new models, the already launched automated Linde L-MATIC HD k pallet stacker, and the fully automated compact Linde L-MATIC core variant, we can automate our customers’ material flow processes more easily and cost-effectively, while also making them more service-friendly and flexible for expansion,” says Kuster. The ‘toolbox’ that Linde MH’s automation planners use to develop these concepts includes high-quality, energy-efficient and easy-to-program AGVs and AMRs. “Our new vehicles play a key role in our automation solutions. However, good project planning and preparation are just as crucial to success,” Kuster emphasizes. “After all, our customers are investing in a solution, rather than just a product.” The standardization of processes is an essential prerequisite for any automation project. In this context, it’s important to note that processes with manual trucks cannot always be replicated one-to-one with the corresponding automated vehicle models. For example: If a reach truck operator was previously also responsible for transporting goods from the receiving area to the high-bay racking, in the automated system using an automated pallet stacker for this subprocess may be more efficient in order to increase throughput and optimize pallet-handling costs per hour.

A new generation of vehicles for efficient automation

The larger the product portfolio, the more options arise for developing automation solutions that are precisely tailored to customers’ specific needs. Linde MH capitalizes on this by offering the industry’s most comprehensive range of vehicles. The Linde K-MATIC k stands out in the premier league of warehouse technology. With a load capacity of 1.5 tons and a maximum lift height of 14.5 meters, this very narrow aisle (VNA) truck is designed to optimize warehouse capacity usage. “Since the truck primarily operates in rack aisles, using an automated vehicle is a sensible choice,” explains product trainer Kuster. “This allows employees to focus on higher value-added activities.”

The Linde R-MATIC k reach truck is ideal for automated replenishment in wide-aisle warehouse sections. Three models are available, with load capacities of up to 2.3 tons. To optimally customize the trucks for individual needs, they can be equipped with a wide selection of modular mast variants, offering maximum lift heights of up to 10 meters. Automated shuttle and storage solutions round off the extended range of vehicles.

Innovative technology boosts productivity

Both VNA trucks and reach trucks use state-of-the-art reflector technology for navigation. They feature a sensor-based pallet positioning system with “intelligent” forks for precisely storing and retrieving qualified load carriers such as Euro pallets, mesh boxes and CHEP pallets. The system not only detects whether a rack location is empty but also identifies any obstacles in the way. If pallets are not correctly aligned, the forks adjust accordingly. Furthermore, the system ensures that the goods are precisely positioned in the rack before the forks withdraw from the load carrier. The trucks are powered by either lead-acid batteries or the latest generation of lithium-ion batteries for maximum energy efficiency. Both battery types can be combined with all available manual or automatic charging options. A clear, colored touchscreen simplifies human-machine communication and makes entering control commands easier. Numerous standard features such as 360° scanners, emergency stop switches, lights and acoustic signals ensure maximum operational safety. Optional functions are available to supplement these features, including 2D curtain lasers and other lighting solutions such as BlueSpot and Red Warning Lines.

Integrated software platform MATIC:move

All new vehicles have been developed in-house and are designed to map key intralogistics processes end-to-end. VNA trucks and reach trucks are digitally networked with the pallet stacker variants. Automated trucks are controlled via the Linde MATIC:move (or MATIC:move+) software platform’s uniform user interface, which allows for real-time monitoring, display of open orders, predictive maintenance and standardized connection to WMS and ERP systems. Additionally, the Linde Warehouse Manager facilitates the networking of automated and manual vehicles and their integration into operational safety assistance systems such as the Linde Safety Guard. “However, cooperation with our customers is a key factor for success,” emphasizes Kuster. “We provide comprehensive support to decision-makers throughout the entire process, from the conceptualization phase through implementation. We assist in standardizing processes, defining key performance indicators and simulating material flow with the help of our digital twin. This approach ensures a solid foundation for successful project completion and a swift return on investment. And after commissioning, our experienced service technicians and the high density of our sales and service network ensure that customers can rely on fast response times for maintenance and repairs.”

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Maximum AMR Flexibility

Posted on by David Priestman

Autonomous mobile robots optimise the movement of goods in warehouses, logistics centres and manufacturing plants. The internal transport of goods is a core element of companies’ logistics operations. AMRs are intelligent vehicles designed to move loads independently, without the need for human guidance.

These high-tech machines plot their routes using virtual warehouse maps, performing their assigned tasks with the utmost efficiency. Moreover, they are equipped with innovative navigation software that enables them to identify and avoid obstacles. This technology ensures safe coexistence with other machines and people sharing the workspace.

Mecalux’s AMR line features models to manage a wide variety of loads, from boxes, totes, bins and trays to pallets and shelving. The integration of these systems significantly contributes to optimising intralogistics processes.

Meet the Models

Mecalux’s range of AMRs can handle goods weighing between 100 and 1,500 kg, making them a versatile solution adaptable to a multitude of logistics environments:
• AMR 100 Multi-Box: Incorporates a mast to transport bins, boxes, crates and trays. Maximum payload: 100 kg
• AMR 100 Box: Equipped with a conveyor to transfer boxes, trays and packages. Maximum payload: 100 kg
• AMR 600 Rack: Designed to move shelving units to pick stations. Maximum payload: 600 kg
• AMR 1500 Pallet Lifter: A lifting system transfers pallets to and from fixed platforms and conveyors. Maximum payload: 1,500 kg
• AMR 1500 Pallet Conveyor: Outfitted with a conveyor to transport pallets to the various warehouse areas. Maximum payload: 1,500 kg

AMRs can carry out a wide variety of tasks in all kinds of facilities and offer an excellent opportunity for boosting efficiency and productivity in picking. They can be integrated in three working methods:
• Goods-to-person: These devices supply pick stations with the goods required to fill orders.
• Rack-to-person: The mobile robots transport picking shelves to operator workstations.
• Person-to-goods. AMRs assist employees when locating products in the warehouse by freeing them from using picking carts.

Internal Material Transport

AMRs replace or complement handling equipment such as forklifts, conveyors and electric monorail systems. Mobile robots make product transfers more flexible: they automatically adapt to modifications made in logistics facilities. AMRs can reconfigure their routes in the event of changes in workspace layouts, racking/shelving arrangements or any other adjustments within the warehouse.

By quickly adapting to fluctuations in demand or workflow, mobile robots help companies stay competitive in an ever-evolving logistics environment. AMRs also optimise order shipping and other outbound processes. Once orders have been filled at the pick or consolidation stations, the AMRs move them to the shipping area.

By following streamlined routes and working autonomously, the robots ensure that orders are moved efficiently and promptly. AMRs – for both light and heavy loads – automate the delivery of parts, components and raw materials to work and assembly stations on the production lines in various industries.

The ability of mobile robots to adapt to dynamic environments makes them suitable for operational areas requiring flexibility and agility. Automation also reduces downtime and increases throughput in manufacturing processes.

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Intelligent Scheduling of AMR Robots

Posted on by David Priestman

How can warehouse AMR robots achieve orderly collaboration on a multi-machine scale? How do they adapt to terminal-diversified logistics scenarios? We analyze how one manufacturer’s system can improve the efficiency of factory logistics for typical scenarios.

Intelligent scheduling can be solved by integrating the ‘smart brain’ of automated logistics. SEER Robotics‘s M4 Smart Logistics Management System, which integrates robot scheduling and business systems, provides a one-stop management service for robot-centered automated warehousing and logistics.

M4 consists of five plates, including the RDS unified resource scheduling system with multi-vehicle scheduling as the core, which can meet the business needs of enterprises in different scenarios of scheduling. It provides the optimal solution for robot task allocation, route planning, traffic control, and equipment docking.

Scheduling Across Floors

In large facilities it is common to perform tasks across multiple floors and areas, and so cooperation between robots and intelligent devices is increasing. As an intermediary, the RDS system will dock the upper-level business systems of customers to exchange data and convey tasks downwards to managing robots and other smart devices such as elevators and automatic doors.

Dynamic Global Programming

In an equipment manufacturing workshop conditions for multiple robots to perform tasks are even stricter, such as the narrow aisles that only allow a single vehicle to pass through and the mixed operation environment of humans and machines, making them highly susceptible to congestion and deadlocks due to conflicting robot paths.

However, the RDS system supports dynamic global collaborative planning. By analyzing the robot’s position in real-time, setting task priorities, and considering environmental changes, it can perform multi-robot path search and traffic control and dynamically adjust paths to avoid congestion.

Toy manufacturer Winfat Holdings has 44 intelligent forklifts, with multiple human-robot interaction scenarios. Based on the collaborative planning of the RDS system dozens of robots avoided deadlocks, congestion, and other problems, achieving an overall production efficiency improvement of 300%.

Prevent Empty Loads

Resource waste caused by unloaded robots has always been a problem for most businesses. To solve this problem RDS introduces the modes of ‘hitchhiking’ and ’pre-ordering’ to improve production efficiency. Based on the integrated evaluation function, the RDS system considers the global optimal task allocation scheme from the bottom and provides the pre-order mode for the round-trip transportation from the warehouse to the production line. It prioritizes assigning waybills to robots that are about to complete their tasks. For multi-storage robots, such as the container robots, it provides the ‘hitchhiking’ mode, which allows them to pick up and place their goods at the nearest warehouse to prevent robots from running empty and increase the tempo.

At the Chinawrr warehouse managers can more accurately understand the dynamics of the area based on the real-time data of the RDS system, which facilitates the dynamic adjustment of the task allocation of the inbound and outbound warehouses. It realizes the inbound and outbound warehousing of 290 pallets/hour unilaterally, and the storage capacity has been increased by 20%.

Beat Simulation

How to accurately assess the production cycle and determine the number of robots required is the first consideration for enterprises to implement robots. RDS creates simulation tasks through the Tianfeng task system, adds the number of robots dynamically, and supports random library and concurrent design to simulate production scenarios in real life, facilitate timely adjustments, and make the most accurate evaluations.

For example, the Swedish factory of Electrolux uses the RDS system to conduct simulation of robot and system interfacing, troubleshoot business logic, optimize multi-system communication and production beat problems. They successfully land the robots to optimize the production process from semi-finished products to finished product transportation.

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Rise of the Cobots

Posted on by David Priestman

Edward Hutchison, Managing Director of BITO Storage Systems, explains how robots can work with people to positively change the picture of traditional retail warehouse operations.

Counterbalanced and warehouse forklift trucks moving goods to and from storage locations in racking and shelving forms a familiar image of work inside a typical retail warehouse. But with drivers being a growing cost factor, some foresee this picture changing in the future. Many operations will of course continue to rely on forklifts, but automation is coming to the fore and, according to market intelligence company Interact Analysis, the UK is set to become Europe’s largest warehouse automation opportunity.

Driverless Internal transport systems are one such interesting opportunity because they are extending their role beyond merely transporting goods by gaining an ability to interact with racking and shelving, without the need for human intervention.

Edward Hutchison

Take BITO’s LEO flow, for example. This low cost, simple plug and play AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) is equipped with a belt conveyor top and an automatic lifting mechanism, making it ideal for picking up and delivering goods to and from conveyor systems. Without the need for expensive software or infrastructure, it can carry a 600 x 400 mm load of either bins or small parts, which it can pick up and discharge sideways to the direction of travel using the belt automatically.

Goods can be fed directly to and from an Automated Storage and Retrieval System or LEO can deliver goods directly to the flow lanes of a Carton Live Storage system. Sensors allow bins to be transferred seamlessly from LEO to back of the flow lane, allowing personnel at the front of the lane to carry out the productive task of picking orders without running out of stock. With a payback period often in one year or less, this collaborative operation between people and robots is a great example of how a new image of work inside an retail warehouse can be created.

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Asset Tracing and Transport Flow Optimization with ANT Locator

Posted on by David Priestman

Autonomous navigation and fleet management equipment supplier BlueBotics – whose ANT navigation technology drives over 6,000 AGVs and AMRs around the world – has announced ANT locator, a new and highly flexible vehicle tracking and mixed fleet management solution that will be commercially available from June 2025.

“Based on our proven vehicle positioning technology, ANT locator allows companies to understand exactly where their forklifts are, and therefore where their pallets are too, whether inside or outdoors,” explains Dr. Nicola Tomatis, CEO of BlueBotics. “ANT locator also addresses an evolving challenge for internal logistics teams: how to ensure effective interactions between manual forklifts and driverless AGVs and AMRs, by enabling traffic light systems for mixed vehicle types, smart interactions in pre-defined zones, and the integrated monitoring of all vehicles.”

ANT locator is natively integrated with BlueBotics’ popular ANT server AGV/AMR fleet manager. It can also be integrated with a customer’s existing WMS, MES, ERP, or fleet management system. Further add-ons are also available, for example for outdoor use, and to manage the tracking of other mobile assets – such as pallet jacks, or staff – within shared spaces.

Designed to meet the needs of AGV/AMR and manual forklift producers, third-party software providers, and end users alike, ANT locator’s functionality spans three key use cases:

1. Optimization of transport flows on mixed vehicle sites
While automated vehicles like AGVs are a proven productivity booster, operating these in the same spaces as manual trucks is a challenge, especially on complex, confined sites. How can transport flows be optimized? Who has right of way? How can efficiency-killing deadlocks and accidents be avoided?

With ANT locator, the live coordinates of manual trucks are integrated directly into BlueBotics’ ANT server AGV fleet manager. This precise positioning data enables the software to automatically manage interactions between automated vehicles, manual trucks, and even human staff – for example, via the use of traffic light systems – helping companies to use their space as intelligently and safely as possible.

2. Precise tracing of manually moved goods

For material handling to run efficiently, knowing the precise location of every pallet is key. But while the drop-off points of automated vehicles are pre-programmed, knowing the precise location of every manual truck’s drop-off is far from guaranteed. With ANT locator integrated into every manual truck, the precise positions of these vehicles can be communicated continuously to a company’s existing WMS/logistics software, allowing material handling teams to trace the exact location of every payload – at pick-up, at drop-off, and everywhere in between.

3. Improvement of manual truck operations through data analytics

One of the biggest barriers to optimizing forklift use is not knowing how they are currently being used. Which flows are most common? Are drivers using the most efficient routes? The precise positioning data and analytics that ANT locator supplies allow companies to improve their manual truck flows, by understanding and optimizing their usage based on real-world insights. No asking, no watching, no guessing — just track, analyze, adjust, and advise.

Positive market feedback

German warehouse management software supplier, SEP Logistik, is an early adopter of ANT locator. “We use ANT locator in our RELAG-System to determine the exact position of each forklift. The system, which provides a real-time 3D visual of the warehouse to the operator, then can show them the most efficient path to reach their target location. ANT locator even enables us to offer this functionality outdoors,” explains Markus Fischbacher. “On one project for example, thanks to the efficiency gains achieved, we enabled a sheet metal producer to reduce the number of forklifts they required by 20%. With ANT locator inside our RELAG-System, our customers can enjoy greater intralogistics transparency and traceability, without needing to leave the office.”

Tomatis of BlueBotics concludes, “For manufacturers and warehouse operators looking to improve the efficiency of their internal logistics, ANT locator is a great fit. It provides the accurate vehicle positions and usage data they need to optimize truck flows, track pallets, manage mixed vehicle interactions and enhance on-site safety.”

Safety can be further boosted with additional collision avoidance solutions from Ubiquicom, which ZAPI GROUP acquired in October 2024. These solutions include proximity sensors that can be integrated into ANT server to create additional smart behaviors related to the operation of manual vehicles, AGVs, and AMRs. Conversely, ANT locator is able to interface seamlessly with Ubiquicom’s range of ‘Forklift Ecosystem’ solutions, enabling ZAPI GROUP to meet the needs of every internal logistics and warehouse management team.

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Everyone Can Automate Warehouse Trucks

Posted on by David Priestman

Oranges are not the only fruit, and in the world of warehouse vehicles brand differentiation is significant. Still Materials Handling, the ‘orange truck’, is automating its product line, as David Priestman reports from a press event in Antwerp.

In the charge towards warehouse automation materials handling OEMs want to avoid being typecast as just a forklift supplier or racking provider. Still’s new pitch is to be a systems integrator, while continuing to offer manually-driven warehouse vehicles. “We’re a one-stop-shop,” declares Managing Director Dr Florian Heydenreich (pictured). “70% of customers want to automate. We want them to think smart from the start and we’re providing customer-optimised products, robotics, hardware and software.”

The former factory of Egemin, the Belgian automated guided vehicle (AGV) pioneer, on the outskirts of Antwerp, is now Still’s automation competence centre, with 400 staff here. Since Egemin joined the KION group in 2015 (for a reputed €72m), expertise in AGVs has permeated to the rest of the group’s companies. The AGV market is forecast to grow by 18% per annum, driven by a need for process efficiency, cost control and the shortage of labour. Still, understandably, wants to rapidly gain market share. “Our aim is to advise and offer the best fit solutions, regardless of customer size and experience in automation,” Heydenreich adds, describing a holistic strategy.

“Automation is a hype, with five myths,” he explains:
1. Automation only works in new build facilities with high investment. This is not true as automation does not always replace manual operations, can be scaled-up and is therefore suitable for existing, ‘brownfield’ DCs
2. Automation solutions lack reliability. Automating cannot turn a bad operation into a good one without collaboration. 98% reliability is achievable
3. Immature technology. The biggest risk is the human factor. Companies must define standards, expectations and processes, for example regarding peak performance
4. Traditional materials handling providers are not innovative enough. We need to set standards for automation. Still has 600 employees working on simulation and project design
5. Automation is a purely contractual arrangement – the customer orders it and the integrator just implements. No – it is a joint approach, including change on the customer’s side, that needs time and consideration. Success requires close co-operation.

No forklift accidents without humans

Automation-as-a-service is what Still propose. An AGV is essentially a set of computers and sensors with forks and wheels. ‘Service readiness’ is key. Data is provided by every vehicle to the customer and to Still technicians for predictive maintenance. There no longer needs to be two different types of engineer – one for hardware and one for software as every technician can do all the work an AGV needs, using diagnostics and system updates. The machines have been ‘industrialised’, being built on the same production lines as manual trucks, making them cheaper and more highly available. For a three-shift, 24/7 operation, automation is the answer.

With two fleet management systems, ‘iGo Easy’ and ‘iGo Systems’, users can choose between standard or high-performance AGV fleets, with models such as the EXV 16 and AXV 12. iGo Easy does not require ERP or WMS and the user interface is any mobile device, with a lean project team. iGo Systems integrates AGVs into the customer’s WMS, with intelligent order allocation and storage location selection, to maximise throughput based on priority, weight of load etc. Data is stored on which AGV stores which load, where and when.

Reaching up, not out

The entire warehouse is mapped, creating a digital twin, for navigation, with precision to the nearest centimetre. The EXV has a lead time of just 8 weeks, from order to delivery. AGVs can be customised too. The company has many years of reach truck expertise and is putting that to good use with automated reach trucks, offering high-bay operations up to 7m and beyond. These AGVs can work in VNA warehouses with aisle widths as narrow as 2950mm.

Other automation solutions include AMRs, which learn from changes in the warehouse without re-programming, and the ‘iGo Cube’ for high-density storage, using AMRs. This is a pallet shuttle with WCS – a fully-automated ‘black box’. It takes six months to order and install a standard iGo Cube system, which can used in cold stores. All automation installations envisage a 12-year lifespan, with return-on-investment typically 3 years. Installation challenges often include the floor quality for AGVs to be able to drive at full speed and up to the maximum height, as well as when there are both pallets and totes being utilised.

Driverless installation

Third party logistics (3PL) provider Yusen Benelux’s Project Manager for Contract Logistics, Gitte Daelemans, talked me through the recent automation solution by Still for a 40,000 m2 greenfield hub, fully-automated warehouse. The DC is run exclusively for one large pharmaceutical company and features temperature-controlled zones (including vaccine storage for 11000 pallets), as well as quality control, packing and despatch and a secure area of 1440 pallets for hazardous products. Commenced in 2022, it went live last summer, undertaking 160 pallet transport per hour.

“This was a chance to automate,” says Daelemans. “The longer the 3PL contract the bigger the investment in automation. We defined the process implementation and what needed improving.” The DC is managed in a single integrated system, using Manhattan Associates’ WMS and provides smart integration of inbound and putaway processes. “It’s hard to find drivers with reach truck skills. But we still need staff for picking,” she points out.

The AGV vehicles operate in ambient conditions (35000 pallets) as well as in cool storage environments. The narrow aisle racking system has 10 automated VNA trucks – MX-X iGo, and 18 automated high lift pallet trucks – EXV iGo with sensor-based positioning. The EXV iGos deliver pallets to designated aisle drop-off points, where the automated VNA trucks pick them up and store them in the narrow aisle racks. This ensures high pallet throughput with minimal human intervention.

A full ‘day-in-the-life’ test prior to implementation helps to resolve any outstanding issues. “Volume testing is really important,” adds Daelemans. “Not just 1 or 2 machines but with inbound and outbound running to detect bottlenecks. This is difficult without the customer’s pallets being there before go-live.” She advises appointing a dedicated person to oversee the automated solution, along with implementing a contour scanner check for weight and measurement with an adjustable tolerance range that maximises acceptance, reducing rejection rates and the need for manual intervention. “We learned some lessons after go-live to be able to optimise things in the subsequent months and hit our KPIs,” Daelemans concludes, citing reject lanes and barcode readability.

Pragmatic approach

Still’s corporate culture is to be pragmatic. The company is not pursuing the highest-tech products for the sake of it, but rather the right technology and solution, sensibly. There has been a change in philosophy to ‘think automation’, instead of ‘building forklifts’. The company has the distinct advantage of having many customers already familiar with the brand, rather than being a new entrant to this space and Still is re-asserting its brand distinctiveness within KION.

I concluded my insightful visit by spending time with Frank Heptner, VP of Automation. An enthusiast, the former BMW executive embodies the upbeat Still attitude. “What is Still’s USP now?” I asked him. “Our local footprint, for installation and service is key, but we’re also a global partner; we’re everywhere, in every vertical market. We have a long history and our own DNA: Experience, stability and innovation,” he emphasises. And the competitors? “We have good coverage. There are lots of AMR suppliers, but few companies are automating larger AGVs,” he states.

What is the impact of automation on existing manual trucks? “There are 2 types of customer,” Heptner tells me. “Those that needed to automate years ago and those new to it. They’re all looking for automation. The speed of replacement of manual, driven trucks with ‘plug & play’ AGVs will accelerate. Perhaps a third of trucks will be automated in the foreseeable future.” Instead of training forklift drivers, managers will run a fleet of bots. For petrolheads like Heptner and myself that inevitability is sad, but true.

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Matthews International Announces Partnership with MiR

Posted on by David Priestman

Matthews International has announced a global commercial partnership between its Automation Solutions business segment and Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR), a manufacturer of collaborative autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and part of Teradyne Robotics, a division of Teradyne, Inc.

The new partnership combines Matthews’ proven warehouse automation technologies with MiR’s advanced AMRs uniquely suited for internal transportation and material handling tasks in a variety of settings. This collaboration positions both companies to capitalize on the projected 30% CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) in the AGV/AMR market by 2028, driven by rising demand in e-commerce and the flexibility of AMRs to deploy without major infrastructure changes.

The Matthews–MiR partnership promises to provide complete, integrated warehouse automation solutions that streamline picking, packing, and material movement. Matthews’ Warehouse Execution System (WES) software, picking systems, and automation expertise will complement MiR’s best-in-class AMRs, offering customers a new level of customization, flexibility, and performance. The partnership will enable businesses to seamlessly scale and optimize their operations, from production floors to distribution centres, ensuring a competitive edge in an increasingly complex marketplace.

“We are excited to partner with MiR to broaden our automation capabilities,” said Lars Vöcking, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Matthews Industrial Automation EMEA. “Our customers face rapidly changing demands in their supply chains and distribution networks. By integrating MiR’s AMRs into our existing suite of material handling solutions, we can help them unlock new efficiencies and build a more resilient, future-ready operation.”

To date, Matthews’ Warehouse Automation solutions have been deployed in over 2,000 manufacturing and distribution centers globally, helping customers boost productivity, improve quality, and reduce operational costs.

“With its strong customer relations and significant experience servicing global brands across multiple industries, Matthews International is the perfect partner for MiR,” said Jean-Pierre Hathout, President of MiR. “Modern automation is all about cross-technology collaboration and integrability and this partnership will make it easier for operations to integrate and utilize AMRs in their business.”

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CE Certification for High-Payload Vector Robot

Posted on by David Priestman

Locus Robotics, a global leader in flexible, AI-powered warehouse automation, announced that its largest, most dynamic mobile robot, the Locus Vector, has achieved CE certification. This milestone reinforces Locus’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence, enabling broader deployments across Europe and other international markets. Powered by the LocusONE™ platform, Locus Vector enhances warehouse productivity, flexibility, and scalability, empowering businesses to automate complex workflows with unmatched efficiency.

Currently operational at multiple sites, Locus Vector is actively deployed across leading 3PLs and a premier global apparel and footwear retailer in Europe. With this certification, Locus demonstrates its ability to manage complex multi-step processes, accommodate larger payloads, and seamlessly adapt to a wider range of order dimensions, strengthening its position as a leader in flexible and scalable warehouse automation.

Unlimited Throughput

Powered by the LocusONE™ platform, Locus Vector complements existing Locus Origin fleets, allowing customers to seamlessly expand their automation capabilities for workflows requiring higher payloads or specialized handling, such as case picking, replenishment and returns. LocusONE™ enables real-time fleet optimization and visibility, productivity tracking, and integration with third-party systems like WMS and ERP, allowing incremental expansion and unlimited throughput without infrastructure overhauls.

Locus Vector, combined with Locus Origin, highlights Locus’s advantage in flexible automation over traditional systems like AS/RS and G2P, which struggle with heavier items and orders, complex SKUs, and brownfield applications. By picking directly from pallets, both Vector and Origin eliminate decanting and reduce labor costs, making it ideal for dynamic, high-throughput environments.

Driving Customer Success Across Industries

“This CE certification for Locus Vector allows us to bring the benefits of our flexible warehouse automation solution to more customers globally,” said Denis Niezgoda, Chief Commercial Officer, International, at Locus Robotics. “Vector’s exceptional payload capacity, mobility, and seamless integration into LocusONE™ make it the ideal solution for robust automation in industries like 3PL, retail, and healthcare. Customers are already seeing increased flexibility and efficiency by deploying Vector alongside their Locus Origin fleets or standalone.”

Expanding Applications and Value

Locus Vector enables seamless warehouse process automation across operations. For example, a UK-based 3PL uses Vector for wine distribution, automating bottle picking directly onto mobile pallet dollies. Meanwhile, a leading retailer in Czechia uses Locus Vector for large-volume replenishment while Origin robots handle picking tasks. The LocusONE™ platform orchestrates these workflows in real-time, optimizing operations and improving productivity.

With Locus Vector’s CE certification, Locus Robotics continues to advance flexible automation, meeting the growing demand for innovative and high-performing solutions globally.

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