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IFOY FINALIST FOCUS: robobrain.NEUROS

Posted on by David Priestman

Continuing our product-by-product examination of each of the IFOY Award nominated finalists ahead of the winners announcement at BMW World on 30th June, we look at robobrain.NEUROS, the AI-based robotics operating system from robominds.

IFOY category: Robot

robobrain.NEUROS: running intelligent robotics. The latest coup of the Munich robot company robominds is the neural robot operating system for intelligent robotics and a platform for the next generation of automation.

NEUROS – optimised for robobrain, the industrial PC and as a platform for all robots, grippers and other kinematics – creates an automation environment that is user-centric and easy-to-use: for application scenarios of any industry and company size.

Description

robobrain.NEUROS (= Neural Robotic Operating System) is the industrialised operating system for intelligent robotics. The innovative basic principle is that every feature of the robotic components becomes a skill on the industrialised OS – easily obtainable via the robominds Skill Store, adaptable to individual needs or self-developable thanks to the robominds Skill SDK.

In many ways, robobrain.NEUROS helps its users to improve their economic efficiency and saving in resources. Parameterising and configuring instead of programming: the profitability of this simplified adaptation of own processes and hardware is plain to see. Because the process is at the centre and provides the intelligence itself, it remains flexible and scalable to further installations. This ensures investments and allows responses to changed products and production processes.

Those who want to automate their process, either can reach for the existing skill or optimise it to their own requirements. Alternatively, one can develop a skill entirely on its own – thanks to the numerous integrated assistants and wizards based on a framework that already has many functions. When the new or adapted skills are trained, the patented robominds-process impresses once again with its resource savings: Thanks to the unique physics simulation environment, the most complex AI models can be trained within a few hours – without humans or machines having to be involved in the physical learning process.

CLICK HERE to watch a video of robobrain.NEUROS

IFOY TEST REPORT

The Munich-based robotics company robominds, founded in 2016, has reached the IFOY AWARD final with its neural robot operating system “robobrain.NEUROS”. Different skills can be uploaded to the software platform, for example a palletising application for intralogistics.

One platform, many applications, independent of components – this is how robominds comes to Dortmund. Optimised for the industrial PC robobrain and as a platform for all robots, grippers and other kinematics, NEUROS (Neural Robotic Operating System) creates an automation environment that is user-centric and easy to operate – for scenarios of any industry and company size. On the industrialised operating system, every function of the robotic components becomes a skill. The modular principle applies to both the software and the hardware. One skill, for example, is order picking. Several applications can be shown in the test setup: Palletising, box recognition, etc.

One does not see oneself as a system integrator, but as a problem solver. So the focus is not on the gripper itself, but always on the application. The skills, in turn, are easy to obtain: via the robominds Skill Store, individually adaptable or to develop yourself thanks to the robominds Skill Software Development Kit (SDK). There are vision skills (such as item picking or bin picking), control skills for the simple programming of robots or the fleet management of several robot cells, or driver skills for various robots, grippers, cameras, etc.

In times of shorter product life cycles and production quantities up to batch size 1, flexible processes place ever new demands on production and material flow for all companies. That’s why the processes are always coming to the fore – the process is actually the core of modern production. And this is where robobrain.NEUROS comes into the game: Valuable process knowledge becomes more easily accessible through the robot operating system. At the same time, data security, data integrity and trusted AI are maintained through adherence to European standards, which is essential in the digital world and especially in the production environment.

The transformation towards adaptive processes affects just about all processes in the production of a material or goods flow. In robotics in particular, the potential for flexible applications is being exploited, which are thus becoming increasingly diversified and finding their way into different environments and applications. Especially the new fields of robotics, for example logistics or medicine, are growing the fastest – and so is the market potential for NEUROS. robobrain.NEUROS is already being used by corporations in various industries, especially in the automotive industry, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, and intralogistics.

Flexible systems independent of hardware: This means that standard components can be used and the process adapted over their lifetime. This means that applications can not only be implemented cost-efficiently, but also that investments can be safeguarded for the future. The same advantages also apply to the areas of commissioning and operational capability – uncomplicated, fast and far-reaching thanks to artificial intelligence (AI).

IFOY Test Verdict:

The robobrain.NEUROS neural robot operating system can serve as a platform for the next generation of automation in logistics. It can be used to (create) an automation environment that is easy to use, economical and can save resources.

IFOY INNOVATION CHECK

Market relevance: The manufacturer-neutral neural robot operating system for intelligent robotics NEUROS aims to provide flexible robot processes for material flow and manufacturing as an answer to ever shorter product cycles and small series production. In this context, NEUROS addresses not only a wide variety of logistical processes in the areas of warehousing, pharmaceuticals and food, but also in production intralogistics through to assembly skills. The very high market relevance results from the breadth of applications and supported robot systems and the self-image as a technology supplier for system integrators.

Customer benefit: The user benefits from the process knowledge encapsulated in reusable robot skills, which are purchased instead of developed for individual automation systems in the Skill Store, as well as parameterised and configured instead of programmed. This enables new processes to be set up quickly and existing hardware to be used flexibly for a wide range of tasks in the long term. Due to its manufacturer-independent applicability, the Skill-Store also offers developers an ecosystem for marketing new capabilities.

Novelty: Open robot operating systems with a skill library have been realised in part before (e.g. ROS), but not consistently with the technical quality standards as with NEUROS. The profound support of AI methods should be emphasised as an innovation. Thanks to a physics simulation, new robot skills can be developed and trained in a few hours without real data. At the same time, the operation always remains clear and controllable. Another special feature is the quality assurance of software contributions from external developers and the assurance of Trusted AI according to European standards.

Functionality / type of implementation: The test robots reliably demonstrated a wide variety of logistical tasks such as model-free product separation, palletising of packages or sorting of test tubes. The special focus on stability, function and safety of the overall system is also reflected in the use of the specially developed AI industrial PC robobrain. In addition, NEUROS implements the specifics of AI-based solutions in an expedient, market-oriented and application-oriented manner, including simulation-based training methods, useful software tools, generic basic functions and the inclusion of hardware design. The system is modular and open to new technologies.

Verdict: The market relevance of a manufacturer-neutral and reliable robotics operating system with native support for AI-based processes can be classified as very high. Reusable robot skills, the possibility of using data and experience across manufacturer boundaries, and Trusted AI from Germany offer customers innovative added value. Even if not all ideas are entirely new, their high-quality implementation in NEUROS represents a new quality.

market relevance ++
customer benefit ++
novelty +
functionality / type of implementation ++
[++ very good / + good / Ø balanced / – less / – – not available]

For an overview of all the finalists, visit www.ifoy.org

CLICK HERE to find out more about robobrain.NEUROS.

 

 

IFOY FINALIST FOCUS: Locus Robotics’ AMR Solution

Posted on by David Priestman

Continuing with our run-through of each of the IFOY Award nominated finalists ahead of the winners announcement on 30th June at BMW World, we look at Locus Robotics’ AMR Solution, the first of two entries in the Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV/AMR) category.

IFOY category: Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV/AMR)

Locus Robotics is a leading provider of intelligent autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that operate collaboratively with human workers to improve productivity and throughput within the warehouse and manufacturing facilities. The solution helps retailers, 3PLs, specialty warehouses, and manufacturers meet and exceed increasingly complex and demanding requirements, integrating into existing infrastructures without disrupting workflows, and enabling customers full ROI within six to eight months.

The solution consists of an integrated execution platform that uses proprietary optimization algorithms and real-time operational performance data to coordinate labor and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to deliver two to three times more productivity and throughput. In addition, Locus provides a variety of AMR form factors to apply the right robot to the right job, at the right time. A purpose-built, integrated robotics solution designed to automate all material flow within the warehouse and manufacturing facilities.

Description

Locus’s strength lies in the maturity and optionality of our execution platform which provides real-time optimization of all tasks to be completed within the four walls and across multiple levels in warehousing and manufacturing environments. The software acts as a fleet manager, managing complex workflows that support a variety of use cases and clustering work to build optimal robot missions.

The unique multi-bot approach decouples workers from orders and tasks, minimizing unproductive associate time and assigning the right robot form factor to meet the right human at the right time to collaboratively perform the next most efficient task. Proven at scale, the system can seamlessly add robots to add capacity to any operation within minutes.

Locus also improves the overall workplace quality and ergonomics. Workers no longer need to push heavy carts and walk long distances to keep up with growing order fulfilment demands. Workers stay in zones while the bots bring the work to them. This significantly lowers worker fatigue, and improves workplace safety to deliver higher productivity and lower overall labour costs for recruitment, training, and retention. Locus customers are seeing documented double or triple increases in their fulfilment productivity and fulfilment cycle times, while significantly lowering labour recruitment, training, and retention costs for  both full time and seasonal positions.

CLICK HERE to watch three case studies.

IFOY TEST REPORT

The US provider Locus Robotics offers its autonomous robots, which work collaboratively with warehouse staff, exclusively in a packaged rental model. After the set-up with a one-time “start-up fee”, a “core fleet” is available to the customer for his tasks. This is an average of between 45 and 50 vehicles per customer, with fluctuations (rather) upwards and less downwards not excluded, of course. The robot manufacturer from Wilmington in the Greater Boston metropolitan region (Massachusetts/USA) has been active in Europe since 2019.

At the moment, Locus serves around 80 customers in about 200 warehouses with its picking system. The customers come not only from retail, but also from pharmaceuticals and industry (ABB). Picking into the 45-kilogram moving robot is extremely easy: the type and quantity of the products to be picked at the location and placed into the small load carrier on the Locus robot are very clearly displayed on the clear touchscreen. Picked, confirmed, and the fast journey continues. The tester has never found this so easy, intuitive and without a single second of “learning the ropes”.

The peak season for Locus is November/December, because the Christmas business easily burdens retailers with four to five times as much picking work as during the year. According to a survey by Material Handling Industry (MHI) and Deloitte, 56% of respondents have “extreme problems” finding suitable staff. No wonder: up to now, about 40 to 60% in the warehouse are determined by walking, with an average age in Germany of 40 to 55 years.

Locus solves this problem pragmatically and effectively by separating the employees from the picking trolleys: the work comes to the pickers, i.e. a classic goods-to-person principle. However, not stoically standing only at a fixed workstation, but “flowing” in a certain area, which normally, however, does not go beyond the warehouse aisle. This not only saves a lot of energy, but also makes the work far more effective and productive than picking along. Locus does not replace the customer’s inventory management system, but obtains its information about the product and the number of units to be picked from it. The Locus software clusters the orders for the optimal picking route – of the roving units, mind you, not of the individual pickers – and which orders are connected on a container. In the field, the system works with high-quality Lidar sensors (“Light Detection and Ranging”). Irrespective of the time saved by short distances for the pickers: the picking system also increases productivity by the fact that the human at a single picking position, for example, spends only 8 instead of 12 seconds – that adds up. When picking, both hands are free for the products to be picked.

If necessary, a seasonal fleet can easily be added to the core fleet mentioned at the beginning, for example for two to three months for the Christmas business. The robots themselves are produced between May and November and are maintained quickly and leanly. A total of around 8,000 of these robots are currently in use, 2,000 of them in Europe. When the going gets tough, 100 to 500 f the robots can easily be produced – per week. The “package” also mentioned above consists of the uncomplaining replacement of the robots during maintenance; in the event of malfunctions, the customer does not incur any additional costs. Every three months, the so-called “field service” comes to the customer’s premises to check on things. It also takes three months for the customer to implement such a system.

IFOY Test Verdict

With collaborative AMR, retailers, 3PLs, but also operators of special warehouses or manufacturers can greatly improve their effectiveness with an ROI of six to eight months. In doing so, an integrated execution platform uses proprietary optimisation algorithms and operational performance data to coordinate “man and machine”. On the subject of innovation, Locus has 33 patents in the US and seven in Europe. An additional 23 patents have been filed in Europe.

IFOY INNOVATION CHECK

Market relevance: In terms of market relevance, Locus’ AMR Solution hits the head. The massive increase in e-commerce requires cost-effective solutions to increase throughput, which has been impressively realised with Locus’ all-in-one solution. The business concept makes the solution affordable also for smaller companies. Therefore, the market relevance is considered to be very high. In addition, the sustainable handling of the equipment through reuse and refurbishment meets the demand of today’s trend, which makes the solution even more interesting.

Customer benefit: Customers benefit in many ways and to a great extent from the AMR Solution. An enormous increase in productivity can be expected with a simultaneous reduction in the workload of the employees. In addition, customers enjoy a full service if required, can monitor internal performance data and use the software system to optimise workflow. The presentation based on reference projects is fully convincing and shows the benefits for the current boom in e-commerce. Enormous customer interest is also seen in the flexibility. An uncomplicated expansion or reduction of the machinery fleet in the case of fluctuating seasonal business is possible without financial risk and thus meets the modern requirements in this area.

Novelty: The overall system impresses in many ways and can be considered highly innovative. Without complex technology, the robots are used efficiently to increase productivity and can also be operated intuitively. The human-machine interaction is limited to the essentials for a practical application and has been implemented very well. This is where innovation meets real practical benefit. An innovative convenience is working with individual personal tags, which, for example, immediately adapts the user interface to the correct language of the employee.

Functionality / type of implementation: Due to a professional presentation of all aspects, the AMR solution from Locus could be comprehended very well. The handling of the devices during order picking is very easy and the flexible reaction to obstacles is done without any problems. The devices themselves are limited to the most essential things and make it clear that an efficient use of hardware and software can have a huge effect.

Verdict: Locus’ extraordinary AMR solution is an excellent response to current market demands.

market relevance ++
customer benefit ++
novelty ++
functionality / type of implementation +
[++ very good / + good / Ø balanced / – less / – – not available]

For an overview of all the finalists, visit www.ifoy.org

CLICK HERE to find out more about Locus Robotics’ AMR Solution.

 

 

IFOY FINALIST FOCUS: Jungheinrich ERD 220i

Posted on by David Priestman

In the second of our deep-dives looking at each of the IFOY Award nominated finalists ahead of the winners are announced at BMW World on 30th June, we look at the Jungheinrich ERD 220i Ride-on Electric Pallet Stacker, the second of two entries in the Special Vehicle / Warehouse Truck category.

IFOY category: Special Vehicle / Warehouse Truck

Instead of installing a large, heavy battery between the operator’s platform and the mast, as it was done previously, the ERD 220i uses two compact battery modules of 130 Ah each, which are positioned inside the vehicle chassis. The omission of the bulky battery tray offers significant advantages in the vehicle design. The truck has an L2 dimension of just 1,065 millimetres, making it the most compact vehicle in its class. Compared to its predecessor model, the ERD 220i is more than 300 millimetres shorter thanks to its new lithium-ion battery concept. The no longer required battery tray also means that the vehicle can be offered in two spacious, ergonomically designed platform variants without making any sacrifices in terms of compactness. Both platforms have fixed side guards on three sides, guaranteeing safe driving and comfortable standing.

The ERD 220i fully plays its advantages in the core area of application, lorry loading and unloading in goods handling. While the radically reduced dimensions create more space and freedom of movement in the space-intensive block storage system, the solid steel side walls provide protection on three sides when the traffic gets busy in front of the loading ramp during rush hour. On its transport journeys to the adjoining warehouse, the ERD 220i scores with its spacious driver’s workplace: comfortable driving and standing position and special support thanks to the “third side” of the platform.

Description

The Jungheinrich ERD 220i stands for uncompromising quality in every dimension. Thanks to the new lithium-ion battery concept, the dimensions of the truck are ultra-compact, while at the same time the fixed platform offers high side protection on three sides and maximum space in the generous operator workplace. This triad, combined in just one vehicle, makes our double-deck stacker the most perfect in its class.

CLICK HERE to watch a video of the ERD 220i

IFOY TEST REPORT

Until recently, you had to make a choice when it came to ride-on pallet trucks: Either go for compact or go for safe or go in the ergonomic direction. With the new ERD 220i, Jungheinrich puts an end to the dilemma of compromise.

Thanks to the integration of the lithium-ion batteries, optionally one or two units with 130 Ah each, the need for a separate battery box is eliminated. This results in a space gain of 300 millimetres, which is entirely due to the very compact dimensions, optimum operator protection and improved ergonomics.

The suspension of the standing platform can be easily adjusted to the operator’s body weight via six switches. The adjustable suspension works noticeably more comfortably. The working position is comfortable and the operator feels much better protected than with a classic pallet truck with a folding platform. Comfort is also excellent, with the possibility to lean against the side wall on both sides. The handles provide a good grip and control in any position.

Another innovation of the lift truck is the smartPILOT tiller steering. The electric steering is very intuitive and has a convenient automatic centre position for straight-line travel. The height is adjustable in four positions and the fork and lift mast are also easy to operate with one hand. The new charging interface connects the truck quickly and easily to an external fast charger (up to 300A). An integrated charger (25A) is available as an option, offering flexibility at any 230V socket.

A pallet truck with double-deck function has made its debut in the IFOY test. So there is no comparison material, but the ERD 220i moves all loads that are also used in regular pallet truck tests easily and smoothly.

The IFOY test truck is an ERD 220i in the drivePLUS version, and in its most powerful mode (P3) it achieves 11.2% higher productivity than the test average in its class for single handling – the second highest value ever. Test consumption at 100 pallets is 35% below the market average. With the maximum battery capacity of 260Ah, a practical operating time of over eight hours is possible. Longer working times are possible thanks to the possibility of easy recharging. In P2 and P1 working modes, productivity remains high and consumption drops even further.

Looking through the optional, extra-reinforced grey protective grille in the mast sometimes makes it difficult to see the fork tips, which are also grey, properly. A contrasting colour may be less beautiful, but is perhaps more practical, says the test team. By the way, the ERD 220i is equipped with a transparent plastic screen as standard.

The operationCONTROL assistance system monitors the combination of load weight and lift height at a self-selectable load centre of gravity at 500, 600 or 700mm. The funktion positionCONTROL offers various options for lift height preselection. Both digital assistance systems prove useful in the double stick test. In this test, a productivity increase of 31 percent was found compared to the transport of a single pallet. Due to the much more efficient transport, the energy consumption per 100 pallets is also lower. The practical operating time in the most powerful mode (P3) is thus up to eight hours and 36 minutes.

IFOY Test Verdict:

Working with pallet trucks is no longer a compromise between safety, compactness and ergonomics. With the new ERD 220i, Jungheinrich sets new standards for a safe, optimally protected and yet super-compact electric pallet truck. The performance is first class and challenges the competition.

IFOY INNOVATION CHECK

Market relevance: Intensive handling of goods via trucks and pallets as well as internal transport operations are the strength of the ERD 220i from Jungheinrich. The pallet stacker meets the increasing demands in terms of safety and space requirements in this area with flying colours. It is therefore seen to have a very high market relevance. The clear advantages of the truck mean that existing products are being replaced or are no longer attractive for the flexible tasks required.

Customer benefit: The ERD 220i gives the user more flexibility and safety. The compactness, which is unique in this class, increases manoeuvrability while maximising safety for the operator. The side and rear protection around the stand-on platform are only found on comparable machines with a greater overall length of 20 centimetres or more. In view of the tight space conditions when loading and unloading trucks, these are decisive advantages for the customer. In addition, the employees are supported by intelligent functions, thus meeting the requirements for ergonomics.

Novelty: The combination of compactness, safety and ergonomics is without doubt new in this class. The integrated solution for Li-Ion batteries, which has already been implemented in other types of equipment, has been implemented for the first time in the ERD 220i and leads to clear advantages. Innovative functions such as an ultrasonic sensor for speed reduction and lighting when driving over trucks underline the innovative character of the device.

Functionality / type of implementation: The ERD 220i is exemplary in its implementation. The batteries, manufactured in-house by Jungheinrich, are integrated into the vehicle chassis, which has contributed to the significant reduction in overall length. However, every additional centimetre has been extracted. A modified mast with an internal fork carriage, for example, resulted in further length savings. The new design results in a very low centre of gravity, which noticeably improves stability when driving. Operation is intuitively simple and can be further simplified by small additional features such as saveable lifting heights.

Conclusion: The ERD 220i convinces all down the line and is seen as the favourite in its category.

market relevance ++
customer benefit ++
novelty +
functionality / type of implementation ++
[++ very good / + good / Ø balanced / – less / – – not available]

For an overview of all the finalists, visit www.ifoy.org

CLICK HERE to find out more about the Jungheinrich ERD220i.

 

IFOY FINALIST FOCUS: MOFFETT E5 25.4 NX

Posted on by David Priestman

In the first of our deep-dives looking at each of the IFOY Award nominated finalists ahead of the winners are announced at BMW World on 30th June, we look at the MOFFETT E5 24.4 NX truck-mounted electric multidirectional forklift from HIAB, a part of Cargotec Corporation.

IFOY category: Special Vehicle / Warehouse Truck

The MOFFETT ‘E5 25.4 NX’ is the latest addition to the all-electric truck mounted forklift range and part of the second generation of the world’s first all-electric truck mounted forklift. The machine now also comes with 4-way steering (Multi-Directional) and the first moving mast machine offering zero-emission, noiseless deliveries and health and safety benefits for drivers. They have not been seen before in this type of application.

Description

The MOFFETT E5-NX e-Series Electric Truck Mounted Forklift is the world’s first all-electric 4-Way Truck Mounted Truck (Multi-Directional) with a moveable mast. Within the dimensions of an existing M5 machine, the manufacturer was able to install batteries, motors, controls, etc. to fully electrify the forklift. The M5 is known for its off-road capabilities, which are now no problem even fully electric.

Typically, truck mounted forklifts are used in many applications around the world such as handling construction materials, lumber, gas, beverage/food/last mile deliveries, agricultural products (turf, animal feed) and many more. There is an increasing demand for lower-emission or zero-emission and noise-free (i.e.: morning or night) deliveries, which poses a challenge for current diesel-powered forklifts. With the new e-series, it is now possible to make zero-emission, noiseless deliveries directly from the delivery truck, even in warehouses. With a truck-mounted forklift, no additional staff is needed, which is an advantage in Europe and countries struggling with driver shortages, and also in compliance with safety regulations due to Covid-19.

CLICK HERE to watch a video of the E5

IFOY TEST REPORT

The MOFFETT E5-NX is the world’s first all-electric 4-way truck-mounted forklift. It is the bigger brother of last year’s IFOY winner. It is also the first all-electric truck with what the manufacturer calls a “moving mast”.

The unique mast can be extended, making it easier to load and unload trucks from one side. In addition, this design makes it extremely light. Extending the mast is much faster than with comparable vehicles with pantograph masts. Also, the speed at which the mast is extended is adjustable by the manufacturer. Nevertheless, this vehicle also has a pantograph, namely on the fork carriage. After the mast is extended, this pantograph brings the fork carriage forward.

For loading and unloading loads at the far end of the loading area, the test vehicle is also equipped with the optional Lift Assist. This patented system tilts two armrests against the side of the load floor. Especially when the load’s centre of gravity is further away from the truck, Lift Assist helps prevent tipping. Loads can be set down and picked up more easily and safely at the far end of the load floor. The reach is exactly the same as the loading area of a truck. When handling loads at this maximum distance of about 2.2 metres, the residual capacity of the truck – thanks to the special design – remains at 2.5 tonnes.

As there is no IFOY test protocol for this type of truck, this test report only describes the testers’ impressions. In short: the testers are impressed by the nomination. The E5-NX makes a robust and solid impression, although the legroom and the position of the pedals deserve extra attention according to the testers. When working, the advantages of an all-electric truck quickly become clear. The lack of a brake pedal (the vehicle brakes exclusively via the motor) is not a problem at all, as the brakes work as expected. The braking force is even dependent on the driving speed so that the driver does not experience any surprises.

Two other advantages stand out in the impression: the all-electric truck-mounted forklift guarantees quiet and emission-free operation. This means that the forklift can also be used indoors without any problems, so that deliveries from outdoors to indoors are also possible.

Thanks to its quiet operation, it can also be used in the early morning hours or at night without disturbing the surroundings. In addition, the operator does not need to wear hearing protection. A low noise level also means that the operator is generally more aware of his surroundings. For added safety, the steering speed can also be adjusted.

The 4-way concept in itself is not new and enables smooth driving, even with long loads and narrow passages. However, the system has been further improved on this truck. For example, the wheels are automatically and electronically controlled into the correct position. When driving sideways, the reverse warning can also be heard, which the testers found annoying.

The lithium-ion battery can be easily recharged if necessary while driving to the next delivery address. In many cases, however, the minimum operating time of six to eight hours is more than sufficient.

IFOY Test Verdict:

Following the introduction of the first all-electric, IFOY AWARD winning MOFFETT E4-25.3 NX, Hiab-Cargotec Engineering Ireland takes a logical next step towards a zero-emission and quieter future for 4-way forklifts too with the MOFFETT E5 25.4 NX. Intelligent features such as the movable mast and the patented Lift Assist make work safer and more pleasant for the operator.

IFOY INNOVATION CHECK

Market relevance: With the E5-25.4 NX, MOFFETT continues to respond to demands for individual delivery of goods at modern requirements. The environmentally friendly version of the truck-mounted forklift reaches a new performance range and is now on a par with comparable diesel-powered vehicles. The circle of interested parties will thus continue to increase, which is seen as having a high market relevance.

Customer benefit: Thanks to the emission-free operation, the user can move a wide variety of goods in load ranges up to 2.5 t very flexibly in confined spaces outdoors and indoors. The electric drive eliminates the usual restrictions when driving indoors. A further developed manoeuvrability with 4-way steering as well as the increased performance now allow easy traction on different surfaces even on steep inclines. The significantly lower noise emission of the truck offers a high increase in the daytime flexibility of deliveries. In addition, the lower operating costs lead to a positive cost-benefit balance after a manageable operating time.

Novelty: Compared to the previous model, further technical details have been added that continue to make the E5-25.4 NX appear innovative. The increased performance means that the machine has no disadvantages in a direct comparison with the diesel-powered M5-NX. A multidirectional drive solution for long goods and further options for integrating flexible lift masts are examples of innovative additions to the MOFFETT E-Series.

Functionality / type of implementation: As expected, the E5-25.4 NX features a solid yet high-quality design that is fully up to the high demands placed on truck-mounted forklifts. The all-electric version can be compared with other already electrified in-plant industrial trucks in terms of operating comfort and control sensitivity. The functions have been expanded and offer more flexibility, e.g. for long goods on various terrains.

Conclusion: MOFFETT shows that technical progress does not remain stagnant and once again delivers a convincing candidate for the IFOY AWARD.

market relevance +
customer benefit ++
novelty +
functionality / type of implementation ++
[++ very good / + good / Ø balanced / – less / – – not available]

For an overview of all the finalists, visit www.ifoy.org

CLICK HERE to find out more about the MOFFATT E5.

BMW to host IFOY awards ceremony

Posted on by Keith McKinley

This year, the IFOY AWARD Night will be hosted by the BMW Group. The awards ceremony will take place on 30th June at BMW Welt in Munich. The trophies of the IFOY AWARD 2022 (International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year) will be ceremoniously presented to the winners of the intralogistics competition in the almost 1,000 sq m auditorium of the futuristic delivery and event venue. The IFOY organisation expects more than 200 international guests from business, science and the media to attend the evening.

It is not the first time that BMW Welt has provided a spectacular backdrop for the awards ceremony. The trophies, also known as the “Oscars of intralogistics”, were presented to the winners for the first time in 2017 at BMW Welt – at that time in the so-called double cone.

“The BMW Group is one of the biggest users of new, innovative logistics solutions in the automotive industry worldwide. We are therefore very pleased to be guests at BMW Welt with the world’s largest intralogistics competition,” emphasises Anita Würmser, chairwoman of the jury.

“The BMW Group has traditionally invested for a long time not only in the development of innovative and sustainable vehicles and mobility solutions, but also in efficient, sustainable and forward-looking solutions in the production and logistics network – LEAN. GREEN. DIGITAL,” emphasises Dr Michael Nikolaides, Senior Vice President BMW Group Production Network, Logistics. “We are very pleased to have the opportunity to set the stage for the IFOY AWARD 2022.”

This year, 14 devices and solutions from 12 manufacturers made it to the final round of the 10th staging of the competition. The finalists cover the entire spectrum of in-plant logistics – from forklifts to autonomous mobile robots (AMR) and software to holistic automation projects for high-performance warehouses. All finalists went through the three-stage IFOY audit in March during the IFOY TEST DAYS at Messe Dortmund before the 25 jury members from 19 countries – with the UK exclusively represented by Logistics Business News Editor Peter MacLeod – cast their votes. The result, however, remains secret – for the public and the manufacturers – until the award ceremony in the BMW Welt.

 

TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS concludes successfully

Posted on by David Priestman

Fifty-one innovations, 950 participants over six days, daily highlight tours and a top-class congress programme with panel discussions – the IFOY TEST DAYS and the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS came to a successful end on Wednesday evening in Dortmund.

Fourteen products and solutions from 12 companies nominated for an International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year Award (IFOY AWARD) underwent six days of multi-level testing. Among them were new developments from Cargotec Engineering, Jungheinrich, Locus Robotics, Magment, NAiSE, Noyes Technologies, robominds, SICK, SSI SCHÄFER, STILL, stow robotics and SYNAOS.

These and numerous other companies took the opportunity to present their total of 51 innovations to potential customers at the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS from March 21 to 23. The B2B visitors – most of them in management positions in logistics, industry and trade – travelled to the Ruhr metropolis for hands-on testing as well as intensive networking discussions without the hustle and bustle of the trade fair in the more than 10,000 square metre hall of IFOY partner Messe Dortmund. From forklift trucks and warehouse technology equipment to AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles), software, specials and robotic solutions, numerous devices and solutions were available in the test arena.

The talks revolved primarily around the topics of innovation and sustainability. The IFOY organisation also made sustainability a principle and took a number of measures to effectively conserve resources. The focus was on reusability and recycling, the use of regenerative energies and, above all, the fundamental renunciation of equipment that was not absolutely necessary. The declared aim was to launch a new, sustainable event format in logistics.

The congress programme celebrated its premiere this year with prominent panel discussions on the trend topics of innovation management, Intralogistics 4.0 and VDA 5050. The keynote on the opening day was given by the internationally renowned logistics researcher Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael ten Hompel (Fraunhofer IML) on the topic of “How innovations change logistics”.

From March 18 to 23, the nominees in the 10th round of the competition were critically analysed by an official tester, a team of researchers and the international IFOY jury. On Tuesday, representatives of the total of 12 manufacturers received the “Best in Intralogistics” certificates from the hands of Steffen Bersch, the new Chairman of the Board of the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association.

The IFOY audit for the nominees again consisted of three parts again this year. First, all the trucks underwent the IFOY test conducted by Dutch intralogistics expert Theo Egberts. In this process, the finalists in each category are not compared with each other, but with the relevant equipment in the competition. The industrial trucks underwent standardised driving and functional tests, including the IFOY test protocol comprising more than 80 criteria, which takes into account factors such as sustainability, cost-effectiveness, safety and ergonomics of the nominees.

In the second part of the audit, researchers conducted the IFOY Innovation Check. Scientists from the Dortmund Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML), the Chair of Technical Logistics at the University of Dresden, the Chair of Materials Handling Material Flow Logistics at the Technical University of Munich and the Stuttgart Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA assessed the nominees in terms of market relevance, customer benefits, type of design and degree of innovation. The audit was concluded by the assessment of the 25 jurors and their approved advisors. The jury members – trade journalists from all continents, with the UK represented by Logistics Business News Editor Peter MacLeod –  were handed all the results of the IFOY test as well as the IFOY Innovation Check for the voting.

The TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS also included a revival of the AGV Mesh-Up initiated by the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association and its member companies. Following the world premiere of the first live test of the VDA 5050 communication interface in the previous year, the 2022 test scenario was relaunched and once again gave B2B visitors the opportunity to observe the functions of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) for themselves and to exchange ideas with developers and scientists. This year, not only some new manufacturers participated in the AGV Mesh-Up, but also extended functionalities of the communication interface were presented. Participants in the AGV Mesh-Up were the companies DS AUTOMOTION, ek robotics, Fraunhofer IML, incubed IT, Omron Electronics, SAFELOG, Siemens and SYNAOS.

Neither the participants of the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS nor the nominees will be told who has won an IFOY AWARD during the IFOY TEST DAYS. They will have to wait until the IFOY AWARD Night on June 30, 2022, which will take place this year in Munich.

 

IFOY awards “Best in Intralogistics” certificates

Posted on by David Priestman

At the end of the IFOY TEST DAYS (March 18 to 23) on the grounds of Messe Dortmund, the award organisation again presented the “Best in Intralogistics” certificates of the year 2022.

Representatives of a total of 12 companies got the certificates in Hall 3. Cargotec Engineering, Jungheinrich, Locus Robotics, Magment, NAiSE, Noyes Technologies, robominds, SICK, SSI SCHÄFER, STILL, stow robotics and SYNAOS are allowed to present the coveted seal. This year, the certificates were presented by Steffen Bersch, the new Chairman of the Board of the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association.

The well-known “Best in Intralogistics” seal was introduced four years ago and is intended to document visibly to the outside world the high degree of innovation of the devices and solutions nominated for an IFOY AWARD that have successfully passed the IFOY test.

“Once again in 2022, only innovations with this certificate have successfully passed the three-part IFOY audit with our hard, independent intralogistics test,” emphasises Executive Jury Chairwoman Anita Würmser.

The IFOY Audit 2022, which was conducted for the second time this year on the premises of the IFOY partner Messe Dortmund, lasts a total of six days. It includes various test series, whose results support the total of 25 jury members – renowned logistics trade journalists from all over the world – in their decision on the winners. In the IFOY Award, the nominees in a category are never compared with each other, but always with currently comparable products and solutions on the market. This ensures that the performance values and the innovation gap can be assessed objectively.

The first part of the IFOY audit is the scientific IFOY Innovation Check, which is carried out by the Dortmund Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML), the Chair of Technical Logistics at the University of Dresden, the Chair of Materials Handling Material Flow Logistics at the Technical University of Munich and the Stuttgart Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA. The experts give assessments of the finalists in terms of market relevance, customer benefits, type of execution, and degree of innovation. In addition, the scientists verify the innovations stated by the manufacturers in the test hall and evaluate in an extensive technology comparison whether they are innovative further developments, new compositions or genuine innovations.

The second part of the IFOY audit is the practice-oriented IFOY test by Dutch trade journalist Theo Egberts. He measures the hard facts and compares them with the relevant competitor units. The appliances undergo individually tailored driving or functional tests, including the IFOY test protocol, which comprises around 80 criteria and determines, among other things, the appliances’ economy and energy efficiency, sustainability, safety and ergonomics. To avoid falsification of the test results by external influences such as lighting, weather conditions or aisle widths, the on-site test hall creates identical environmental conditions for all candidates.

The third part of the audit is the assessment of the finalists by the jurors and their approved advisors. The jury members form an opinion from the IFOY Innovation Check, the IFOY test results and their own test experiences and then vote.

Who will be the winner in 2022 will remain a well-kept secret for a few weeks – even for the manufacturers. It will only be revealed during the festive IFOY AWARD ceremony, which will take place on June 30, 2022, in Munich.

 

SSI Schaefer’s IKEA picking solution nominated for IFOY Award

Posted on by David Priestman

Flat Pack Picking is a unique, automated turnkey system solution, from a single source. The concept, developed by SSI Schaefer in partnership with Inter IKEA Intralogistics, IKEA Purchasing Services GmbH, has been successfully trailed in Germany and is now nominated for this year´s IFOY (International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year) Award.

The unique automated turnkey system solution has been developed to ensure safe, efficient, and volume-optimized palletizing of heavy and bulky items, typical for the furniture sector. The picking module with gantry robots can facilitate efficient handling of an extremely diverse range of items, freeing employees from non-ergonomic tasks and features a high degree of scalability.

“The development of the Flat Pack Picking solution, designed specifically for the furniture industry, is an example of how we at SSI Schaefer continuously innovate to support companies within various markets. We strive to address industry issues and to increase efficiency while improving the working conditions of warehouse personnel”, explains Notker Steigerwald, Head of Business Unit Logistics Solutions at SSI Schaefer.

“Innovating for increased efficiency, accuracy and sustainability is at the core of our mission at IKEA Intralogistics. The development and successful implementation of the Flat Pack Picking solution in Dortmund is a great example of how technology can support these ambitions, for instance by enabling a shift from manual to more value-added tasks for our co-workers”, says Julien Weiß, Automation & Design Leader, Inter IKEA Intralogistics at IKEA Purchasing Services GmbH.

The concept has been nominated for the IFOY Award 2022 and will undergo the three-stage IFOY audit during the IFOY Test Days on March 18–23, 2022.

The Flat Pack Picking solution

The solution is at the forefront of technology and IKEA is the first furniture retailer to automate the picking of large products in the field of customer distribution. By installing the Flat Pack Picking solution it will be possible to create a more ergonomic work environment for co-workers and increase the overall productivity of customer distribution units.

Four automatically replenished picking robots will pick for the customer distribution operations. The solution will serve as a pre-pick function to bring heavy products to co-workers. One of the biggest benefits is the modularity of the system. This enables an easy implementation. It is a combination of proven industrial solutions in the market that are customized to IKEAs needs.

 

TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS: Sustainability as a principle

Posted on by David Priestman

TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS is breaking new ground in the event business. When the testing event, which takes place from March 21 to 23 as part of the TEST DAYS of the IFOY AWARD at Messe Dortmund, opens its doors for the third time, it is no longer just about hands-on testing of the best intralogistics innovations. A highlight of TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS is likely to be a panel debate entitled Intralogistics 4.0, featuring top-drawer industry experts and moderated by Logistics Business’s News Editor Peter MacLeod.

The organiser has made sustainability a principle and taken a series of measures to effectively conserve resources. The focus is on reusability and recycling, the use of regenerative energies and, above all, the fundamental renunciation of equipment that is not absolutely necessary. The aim is to launch a new, sustainable event format in logistics.

“Everyone knows that the material battles of the past no longer fit the times,” emphasises Anita Würmser, Chairwoman of the IFOY AWARD jury, adding: “We don’t want to continue building for the bin, but create awareness that things can be done differently. That’s why we are consistently moving in the direction of environmental sustainability and want to add a new, sustainable format to the event landscape.

“The focus of TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS is on innovation, not decoration. I am convinced that with our focus on innovation and sustainability we are preaching to the logistics industry. Both visitors and the exhibiting companies and service providers will benefit from our measures: they will improve their own environmental balance sheet and that of their companies.”

In the area of reusability and recycling, the organiser relies, among other things, on a modular reusable booth concept. Individual booth construction is not permitted and only technically necessary equipment is located on the test areas. Only reusable aluminium trusses are used for the standardised company boxes. The modular booth system and its entire equipment, including LED lighting, company branding and rental furniture, is standardised and can be used as often as desired.

Sturdy grids are used to demarcate the driving areas, and reusable Chep pallets and containers are available for test drives. The event carpet is completely granulated after use and then reused as a secondary raw material. Trusses are also used on the main area in the congress area, and the trailer stage of the IFOY AWARD was planned on a trailer from the manufacturer Fliegl.

The organisation of event logistics from a single source ensures short distances and efficient transport, minimum water consumption and maximum conservation of resources. The central control of the material logistics for the assembly of the test areas and boxes shortens the assembly in the 10,000 sq m hall, which is fully booked, to one and a half days, and the dismantling is completed in only four hours.

The catering is also centrally organised. Exhibitors and guests use the hall restaurant for catering. Individual catering in the booth and disposable crockery are prohibited.

A big plus is the accessibility of the location. The official event hotel Mercure on the exhibition grounds is within walking distance of the hall, as is the Westfalenhallen underground station. The hotel also participates in the Planet 21 sustainability programme. Furthermore, 100 percent of the energy for the TEST CAMP comes from green electricity.

The choice of the 2021 venue already paid off in terms of the IFOY organisation’s environmental goals. As early as 2006, the Westfalenhallen was certified as an environmentally friendly eco-profit company. They have also supported the sustainability code “fairpflichtet” of the German event industry since 2014.

Four exhibition halls, including Hall 3 used by the TEST CAMP, are equipped with a photovoltaic system. Eurosolar awarded the Westfallenhallen the “European Solar Award” in 2005 in the category “owner or operator of photovoltaic systems”.

In recent years, the Westfalenhallen group of companies has implemented numerous individual measures to use energy sparingly. These include: the installation of block-type thermal power stations, the installation and use of heat recovery systems, a roof renewal with thermal insulation as well as the conversion of the ventilation control in all halls to carbon dioxide sensor technology.

The TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS takes place as part of the IFOY TEST DAYS of the International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year (IFOY) AWARD. It enables intralogistics decision-makers to experience innovations live and test them themselves. In addition to the 14 products and solutions of the IFOY finalists, a limited number of third-party exhibitors with innovations will be admitted for the first time. The exhibitors cover the entire spectrum of material handling – from forklifts to autonomous mobile robots (AMR) and software to holistic automation projects for high-performance warehouses.

New this year is a conference programme with panel discussions on the trend topics of innovation management, Intralogistics 4.0 and VDA 5050. A new edition of the live test of the VDA 5050 communication interface as part of the VDMA AGV Mesh-Up is also in preparation.

For the key note on the opening day, the organisers are able to welcome the internationally renowned logistics researcher Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael ten Hompel (Fraunhofer IML). National and international experts have agreed to take part in the daily panel discussions:

Panel Discussion on March 21: Without bankruptcies, bad luck and breakdowns: How companies successfully introduce intralogistics innovations. Participants: André Kranke

(Dachser), Prof. Dr. Thorsten Schmidt (TU Dresden, IFOY Innovation Check), Marco Prüglmeier (Noyes Technologies) and Dr. Jana Jost (Fraunhofer IML, moderator).

Panel Discussion on March 22: Intralogistics 4.0. Participants: Steffen Bersch (SSI Schäfer/VDMA), Jos de Vuyst (stow Group/FEM), Thomas Vortkamp (DB Schenker) Wolfgang Hillinger (DS Automotion) and Peter MacLeod (Logistics Business News Editor, IFOY juror, moderator).

VDMA Panel Discussion on March 23: VDA 5050 – status quo and future of the communication interface. Participants: Dr. Wolfgang Hackenberg (SYNAOS), Mathias Behounek, (SAFELOG), Alexander Balandin (Robert Bosch), Dr. Christian Reinema (Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles), Jan Drömer (ek robotics/VDMA, moderator).

 

Russian judges excluded from IFOY jury

Posted on by David Priestman

In light of the actions taking place in eastern Europe, the IFOY organisation is showing unity with Ukraine by excluding Russia from participation in the IFOY AWARD.

Representatives of Russia on the jury and advisory board will be relieved of their duties until further notice, which means that Anton Mizunov (editor-in-chief of Skladskoj Komplex) and Vladimir Antonov (Editor-in-Chief of Sklad i Technika), both active and well-respected journalists within the IFOY community, have been suspended from the advisory team.

The IFOY organisation issued the following statement:

Russian jurors will no longer be able to vote on winners or participate in IFOY AWARD events. This will initially affect the IFOY TEST DAYS with the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS from March 21 – 23, 2022 in Dortmund, as well as the award ceremony on June 30, 2022, in Munich. Visitors and exhibitors from Russia will also be excluded from attending.

We will decide on the exclusion of Russian manufacturers from the IFOY AWARD 2023 in good time before the application phase begins in August 2022.

This decision has not been easy for us, yet we consider it to be of no alternative to send a signal against this unprecedented war of aggression against Ukraine. We explicitly emphasise at this point that this step does not change the respect for the jurors, media, applicants, and visitors who have represented Russia in the IFOY AWARD committees. We have highly appreciated their competence and cooperation in the IFOY network. We personally ask them for their understanding and hope that we will meet again soon in peace.

The IFOY (International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year) AWARD is the largest independent, international intralogistics competition. The jury now includes twenty-five judges from 19 countries on all continents.

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