IFOY AWARDS 2023Finalists Selected
*25 Products & Solutions from 23 intralogistics providers from 7 countries nominated
*7 Start-ups in the final for the IFOY audit at Test Camp Intralogistics end of March
The International Forklift & Intralogistics Awards (IFOY) organisation has announced the finalists for the IFOY AWARDs 2023. Among a total of 39 applicants, 23 intralogistics providers from seven countries are shortlisted, including seven start-ups, featuring with 25 products and solutions. They will compete in the IFOY audit at the end of March, which will again take place at Messe Dortmund as part of the Test Camp Intralogistics.
“The audit of the IFOY finalists promises a spectacular setting this year. With their selection, the jury has lined up the best of the best in intralogistics. They show where the journey of intralogistics is heading in the future: classic warehouse technology is becoming increasingly sophisticated, quick commerce, robotics and AI (Artificial Intelligence) are making their way into logistics, and innovative details are making warehouse life more efficient, easier and more productive,” emphasised Anita Würmser, Chairperson of the IFOY jury. She expects a tough discussion in the jury sessions for the seven trophy winners, which will be announced and presented in the summer in Dortmund.
Intralogistics specialists AGILOX, Combilift, Continental, Crown, DS AUTOMOTION, HIKROBOT, IdentPro, Jungheinrich, Kemaro, Libiao Robotics, Mobile Easykey, NIMMSTA, Raymond,
STILL, Volume Lagersysteme, and Youibot Robotics are all vying to be among the prestigious title holders for 2023.
So too are the Start-ups, which include 1MRobotics, Chemovator (Loady), ff Fördersysteme, HUNIC, Predimo, Sentics and sereact.
The innovations of the IFOY finalists will be available for self-testing by visitors at Test Camp Intralogistics on 29 -30 March. The hands-on testing event for innovations and new developments enables decision-makers from industry, trade and the service sector to extensively self-test selected innovations on 10,000 square meters of hall space. In addition to the IFOY finalists, a total of over 50 innovations and 1,000 participants are expected at this year’s Camp.
“Due to its expertise, the IFOY AWARD is considered the definitive innovation award in intralogistics. The selection is preceded by an extensive audit with nomination and test cycles. The equipment and solutions nominated for the final undergo the IFOY test and the scientific innovation check individually at Messe Dortmund. In addition, jurors and their teams of advisors from industry travel to assess the finalists themselves. The coveted trophies will be awarded in the summer. Until then, the results will remain a secret – both for the finalists and for the public,” concluded Anita.
P66 Interview 1 – With Martin McVicar, Combilift
P67 Awards – IFOY 2023 Contenders
P70 Marketplace – Forklifts
P73 Case Study - ORNUA
P74 Interview II - Anita Wuermser IFOY
P76 Supply Chain - Howard Knott
Published by: Fleet Publications, D’Alton Street, Claremorris, Co. Mayo, Ireland F12 E7P2
Editor: Jarlath Sweeney – jarlath@fleet.ie
Contributors: Howard Knott, Johanna Parsons Joe O’Brien
Advertising: Mary Morrissey
Administration: Orla Sweeney
Design & Layout: Crackerjack Design House
Contact Details: Telephone: 00353 94 9372826 Email: handlingnetwork@fleet.ie
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Martin McVicar, Combilift CEO & Co-Founder says that the future is looking bright for the Monaghan forklift and materials handling manufacturer, despite a difficult trading environment.
“While 2022 delivered a number of global challenges, Combilift enjoyed another record-breaking year, in spite of concerns around energy supply, inflation and supply chain security. Already 2023 is off to a strong start and we are confident that we will see another record year.
We took a number of measures to counteract these challenges which will bear fruit in the future. To ensure that we can fulfil our workforce requirements we have partnered with a local educational establishment and offer in-house traineeships and apprenticeships. We have also extended our premises so that we are able to carry a larger amount of buffer stock to cope with any potential supply chain problems.”
New Gree N Products
“As a testament to the tireless R&D department, a number of new products were launched in 2022,“ explained Martin. “These included the Combi-MR4, a 4-wheel electric powered reach truck with extraordinary multidirectional capability thanks to Combilift’s new Dynamic 360° steering. This enables seamless directional change while on the move, allowing forward sideward and crab steer mode for speedy operation.
The Combi-FSE is an electric four wheeled, two directional sideloader with 5,000kg or 6,000kg lift capacity which features a patented traction system and
is ideal for longer travel distances. It offers powerful performance and ease of maintenance, combined with the quiet and emission free electric operation that more and more customers are demanding.
Social responsibility and sustainability were high on the agenda to help customers lower their carbon footprint by reducing emissions. Over 65% of the products coming off the production lines are electric powered. In our own manufacturing facility we are also committed to recycling and reusing materials to conserve natural resources, and 92% of all components used in the truck assembly are fully recyclable.”
w hat 2023 will bri NG
Looking ahead to 2023, Martin sees growth in a number of areas. “As was the case over the past few years, demand for warehouse space will continues to outstrip supply, which is pushing up costs. This will be a driver for growth of our space saving range of warehouse products such as the Aisle Master articulated trucks and the pedestrian stackers. We are also seeing increased demand from the offsite manufacturing and modular build industries. These are experiencing growth as prefabrication in a factory controlled environment ensures consistent build quality and also addresses the skill shortage affecting on-site construction. This has helped to boost sales of our larger multidirectional trucks and the straddle carrier and mobile gantry ranges. We also plan to invest heavily in products that are suitable for the offshore wind energy sector.”
c elebrati NG 25 years of ha N dli NG i NN ovatio N
2023 is a significant year in the history of the business, says Martin. “Combilift reaches another milestone this year when we celebrate our 25th anniversary. We will be marking this with a number of events in various countries throughout the year including the launch of the 75,000th truck to roll off our production lines in the first quarter this year. We will be inviting international dealers and business partners to join us at these events, to enjoy Irish hospitality and our dancing forklift routines. Closer to home we will of course be receiving guests at our factory, and following the success of our Open House in 2018 with more than 3,400 visitors in one day, we will again be welcoming the local community to our global HQ in Monaghan later in the year.
We are looking forward to marking this company milestone with our customers, dealers, sales personnel, representatives from the international trade press and of course our workforce and local community. Their loyalty and support has been pivotal in enabling us to achieve the amazing level of growth and success that we have experienced during the last 25 years. We’re not going to rest on our laurels though. We plan to launch 5 new models in 2023, and you can expect more innovation from us in the next few decades to come!”
To kick-start the new year on a strong positive note, Martin and Combilift have once again been recognised for their engineering excellence with the news that the AM-OPE - an Aisle Master designed for Order Picking - has been shortlisted for an IFOY (International Forklift Truck of the Year) Award. More news on that elsewhere in this edition. With Jarlath Sweeney’
f ive warehouse trucks N omi N ated
Jury members for the IFOY 2023 Awards have selected a total of five manually operated warehouse trucks for final consideration, three in the high-lifter category and two low-lifters.
The Aisle-Master OP from Monaghan-headquartered forklift specialist Combilift, with a lift height of 12.1 meters and a load capacity of two tonnes, combines the advantages of a narrow-aisle forklift and an order picker. The forklift shows its strength in the high-performance segment, as well as in narrow
The jury also gave the green light to the manoeuvrable pedestrian pallet truck EHX 16 from STILL. With a load capacity of 1.6 tonnes, the low-lifter is particularly suitable for truck transport and last-mile applications. Advantageously, the lift truck features a unique tiller head with integrated display for intuitive handling. With an integrated lithium-ion battery, the shorter dimensions mean there is more room.
aisles for rack delivery and bulk order picking. The combi device can also be used as a conventional forklift truck with rubber tyres for indoor and outdoor applications, such as loading and unloading trucks.
The brand new SP 1500 from US supplier Crown received an IFOY nomination even before its official market launch. The completely redesigned order picker with a reach height of 11.2 meters and load capacities of up to 1.25 tonnes has been optimised in terms of all-round visibility, performance and speeds. With its ergonomic operator area and numerous innovative details, it is aimed not only at traditional order picking but above all at the requirements of retail and e-commerce.
Two final places were secured by the Hamburg intralogistics specialist STILL. The further developed PXV vertical order picker from STILL convinced the jury with its gripping height of 14.5 meters. Equipped with numerous safety and comfort features, an operator on the 1.5 tonne high-lifter can reliably pick loads in both wide and narrow aisles thanks to its compact and variable vehicle dimensions.
The final contender in the low-lifter category is US manufacturer Raymond with its 8910 End Rider Pallet Truck. The rugged 3.63-tonne capacity pallet truck was designed with a focus on energy efficiency and can be tailored to a variety of applications, including cold storage, wharves, loading and unloading, or long trips to handling centres. It also promises numerous options for better ergonomics and more productivity.
f our aG vs & amr s
The bandwidth of IFOY applicants in the field of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) is traditionally large and international, with product offerings from a broad range of manufacturers, not just from the intralogistics sector. This time, four suppliers made it to the finals.
The new AGILOX ODM, short for omnidirectional dolly mover, from Austrian supplier AGILOX is an intelligent logistics robot for small load carriers weighing up to 300 kilograms. It does not require any additional infrastructure or navigation aids, can turn while stationary and allows parallel driving. The first vehicle can be programmed and implemented in less than twelve hours, with each additional one taking just 15 minutes. The core target group is the pharmaceutical and electronics industries.
The AMR IL 1200 from Continental Automotive Technologies is designed for use in warehouses or logistics centres as well as production logistics with heavy pallets, such as those found in the automotive and metalworking industries. With its integrated lifting system and various body options, the AMR IL 1200 transports pallets weighing up to 1.2 tonnes at a speed of two meters per second.
The F4-1000C Forklift Mobile Robot from Chinese manufacturer HIKROBOT, with a load capacity of one tonne, is an alternative to conventional warehouse forklifts and, with its positioning accuracy, is particularly suitable for 24/7 use in extremely narrow aisles and for material handling in the automotive, manufacturing and consumer electronics industries. Under the control of the in-house Robotic Control System (RCS), the F4-1000C works in tandem with other vehicles.
Also from China is the Automatic Trolley AT100 of Youibot Robotics, consisting of the brand-new AT100 AMR assistance picking robot and the YOUIFleet fleet management system. The intuitive combination of AMR and batch picking trolley for loads up to 100 kilogrammes manages a speed of 1.5 meters per second and was developed specifically for sorting and picking tasks in existing infrastructures as well as for workflows of retailers and 3PLs.
t hree iN tralo G istics r obots shortlisted
The three automated warehouse systems in the Intralogistics Robot category offer a strong starting field.
The automated, ultra-compact and scalable PowerCube compact warehouse system from Hamburg-based intralogistics company Jungheinrich adapts to almost any infrastructure and container dimensions. It can be used 24/7 across all industries and promises four times the storage density of shelf racking at room heights of up to 12 metres. The powerful lithium-ion shuttles can simultaneously pick up two 50-kilogram containers and load on the fly.
In the Airrob container handling robotic system from Chinese manufacturer Libiao Robotics, the robots can ‘climb’ up the shelves and store, pick, sort and move plastic containers weighing up to 35 kilograms. The simple and cost-effective solution is particularly suitable for micro-fulfilment centres or warehouses on a production line. Airrob focuses on e-commerce, footwear, apparel, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and production parts storage.
Volume DIVE from Volume Lagersysteme is a sophisticated robotics-based storage and picking system for heights up to 14 meters. The robot can pick and deliver totes at any position without a lifter. Standard euro containers are stored as well as
beverage crates, which may also be used outside the system. Although DIVE was developed for quick commerce, it is also an alternative to energy-intensive miniload applications. Throughput can be scaled up to 4,000 containers per hour. In the smallest version, Volume DIVE takes up only 16 square meters.
t hree iN tralo G istics s oftware
P roviders shortlisted
The jury nominated a total of three solutions in the Intralogistics Software category. The Industrial Truck Key Performance Indicator (FFZ-KPI) developed by Mobile Easykey, as a component of the software, enables the determination of a manufacturer-neutral fleet efficiency of the intralogistics fleet with only one key figure and a visual traffic light system. The basis of the FFZ-KPI is the OEE key figure for the overall equipment effectiveness of immobile equipment. The FFZ-KPI adds further calculation parameters to the OEE, making the key figure for moving equipment calculable for the first time.
With the vehicle software ARCOS, the Austrian supplier DS AUTOMOTION enables devices to be used either as Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) or Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR). With the help of so-called ‘plannable autonomy’, the advantages of both technologies are combined. The user can use autonomous functions specifically where they bring advantages and prevent them where the disadvantages predominate.
The Warehouse Execution System from IdentPro promises up to 30 percent higher productivity. It uses IoT sensors on the vehicles to make all warehouse processes visible in the digital twin in real time (RTLS). The digitisation solution, which can be used indoors and outdoors, achieves centimetre-precise localisation (+/-10 cm) of goods and vehicles, collaborative use of autonomous and manned industrial trucks, and smart distribution of driving orders.
t hree sP ecials of the year
Three products are competing in the Special of the Year category. The Light Tags of NIMMSTA are a new pick-by-light approach that promises up to 80 percent more efficiency without integration effort. The intelligence is in the Industrial Smart Watch, which the worker wears on his body. In the NIMMSTA app, a storage location is assigned once to each light tag, to which it is simply attached with an adhesive strip. When the worker approaches, the Smart Watch and Light Tag light up in the same colour and pattern.
The world’s first fully autonomous K900 dry-cleaning robot from Swiss supplier Kemaro can save 70 percent of cleaning costs, which amounts to more than US$37,000 per year in a logistics company covering around 10,000 square meters. The compact robots with integrated dust extraction system navigate with the help of lidar and 3-D sensors and clean even the toughest industrial dirt. Their specialty is large indoor spaces.
Stacking, scanning and transferring results to any WMS ican be done by addedVIEW fork camera with barcode scanning function of Jungheinrich. The digital full HD fork tine camera with integrated image processing software for barcode scanning detects whether the correct or incorrect barcode is located in front of the tine, even at great heights, as it passes by. An acknowledgement button near the steering wheel eliminates the need for hand scanners and makes unnecessary unstacking of incorrect goods a thing of the past.
s eve N start-u P s shortlisted
In the usual broad-based start-up category, the jury sent seven finalists into the final. The Israeli tech company 1MRobotics got the nod for its nano fulfilment centre of the same name for the last mile in omnichannel retailing. The modular robotic dark-stores are delivered worldwide in standard containers and are ready for immediate use. The business model is based on operational costs. Well-known companies are already relying on the technology.
The young German start-up ff Fördersysteme solves a ubiquitous storage problem with its patented 3D conveyor and drive system. The 3D chain adapts to the space and not vice versa. Whether it’s curves, ramps, elevators or inclines, different tasks can be solved in one track, eliminating the need for modular conveyor systems and saving space, but also opening up architectural possibilities. An application would be curved escalators, for example.
A return on investment (ROI) of six months is promised by AI software for autonomous pick-and-place robotics sereact of the supplier sereact. Picking processes that have already been trained in simulation can thus be transferred to new, unknown scenarios and integrated into existing warehouse management systems within one day without robot programming or time-consuming teach-in.
Munich-based startup Sentics enters the final IFOY round with the first optical, AI-based real-time localisation system ORTLS for industrial applications. Infrastructure sensors, which only need to be installed once in the industrial environment, detect and localise objects such as forklifts, people or machines and make this information available to fleet managers, as well as autonomous transport vehicles.
ComputerMyoGraphie by Predimo is a final contestant for evaluating workplaces in terms of ergonomics and process efficiency. With the help of cloud-based software and 17 IoT sensors over clothing, a digital human twin can be used to visualise which muscles and joints are actually under strain at work. This makes it possible to indicate physical overload as a key performance indicator and determine an ROI for ergonomics.
With its software-as-a-service solution Loady, the start-up Chemovator (Loady) is also entering the race for an IFOY AWARD. Loady provides standardised requirements for loading and unloading at industrial sites and serves as a central pre-product database. Equipment to be brought along, documents or processes on site are managed in a structured data model and serve as a source for all logistics partners. Free text fields or Excel files for logistics tenders, cleaning requirements and pre-products are no longer necessary.
An IFOY nomination also goes to the passive exoskeleton
SoftExo Lift from HUNIC. The extremely lightweight yet effective body-mounted lifting and carrying aid uses a spring principle to support the leg and back muscles when lifting and carrying loads by up to 21 percent, relieving the body of up to 50 percent of the load and positively influencing ergonomic posture.
Text: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie
The anticipated ‘bounce-back’ following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions in the early part of 2022 was significantly impacted by a series of other challenges. The geopolitical environment resulting from the invasion of Ukraine, combined with inflationary pressures, created volatility which is likely to remain well into 2023. In addition, higher oil prices, supply chain disruptions, workforce constraints, and the challenge of matching capacity to volatile consumer demands are ongoing issues. The projected economic slowdown in Europe as well as China-Taiwan tensions could potentially exacerbate the uncertainty in 2023.
educational establishment to offer in-house traineeships and apprenticeships. Additionally the premises has been extended to carry a larger amount of buffer stock to cope with any potential supply chain problems.
As a testament to the tireless R&D department, several new Combilift products were launched in 2022. They included the Combi-MR4, a 4-wheel electric powered reach truck with extraordinary multidirectional capability thanks to Combilift’s new Dynamic 360° steering. This enables seamless directional change while on the move, allowing forward, sideward and crab steer mode for speedy operation.
2023 will mark the 25th anniversary of the company and the celebrations will include the launch of the 75,000th truck - set to roll off the production line, during the first quarter of the year. Combilft plans to launch 5 new models during 2023 and has just announced that the AM-OPE Aisle Master truck, designed for Order Picking, has been shortlisted for an IFOY (International Forklift Truck of the Year) Award.
David Goss, Technical Director of UK Materials Handling Association (UKMHA), highlighted the impact of geopolitical developments in 2022: “The economic outlook at the beginning of the year was extremely positive with a strong recovery expected. This was unfortunately disrupted by supply chain constraints, the war in Ukraine, political upheaval in the UK and rising inflation which combined to make market conditions unexpectedly challenging.”
o rder i N come
According to the Industrial Truck Association, global equipment sales fell in 2022 to 2.25 million units compared to 2.34 million in 2021. However, many of the main manufacturers reported increased orders and revenues during 2022. The KION group, which includes Linde and Still forklifts, revealed order intake increasing by 2% from the previous year, and revenue rising by 9.4%.
Hiab has received significant orders in the USA for its Dundalk-manufactured Moffett M8 55 NX truck-mounted forklifts. Repeat orders worth €24.5 and 16.8 million respectively were placed by one of the country’s largest building materials supply companies. In addition, a record European order valued at €21.7 million for Moffett truck mounted forklifts was secured from Polish company Eko-Okna, one of the leading manufacturers of windows and doors in Europe. The company also extended its equipment portfolio, and showcased the latest additions to its all-wheel drive electric range at the IAA exhibition in Hannover.
Monaghan based Combilift reported another record-breaking year in terms of sales volumes and have implemented plans to mitigate the current challenges. To ensure workforce requirements are met, the company has partnered with a local
Jungheinrich reported a “solid third-quarter ”, with orders up 23% compared to the same period in 2021. The company celebrated its 20-year anniversary in Ireland offering over 600 different types of forklift trucks, warehouse automation solutions, warehouse design, pallet racking as well as used equipment options, short-term forklift rental, driver training and in-house finance options. Jungheinrich Ireland also supported Nolan Transport in the design and installation of a €12m investment at its recently opened new warehouse in Wexford, supplying an end-to-end solution including an extensive warehouse racking solution, wire guidance and a fleet of electric trucks.
Materials Handling industry reacts positively to challenging 2022combilift moffett
Another milestone during the year was the production of Jungheinrich’s 100,000th Li-ion truck. The ETV 216i reach truck was delivered to the Amazon warehouse in Leipzig. Key objectives in 2023 for Jungheinrich will include a continued focus on Electrification, Automation and Digitalisation.
Hyster-Yale also reported third-quarter growth in 2022, with revenues increasing by 13.1% from the same time last year. Both brands introduced several new products and trialled alternative fuels during the past year.
In May 2022, Yale launched the Series N truck range, enabling operators to customise their truck specification, to meet the demands of individual applications and driver requirements.
In November, the company introduced the MS20XD Platform Double Stacker which can be used in a wide a range of warehouse applications. The multifunc-
tional capability of the pallet truck enables it to transport goods directly from trailer to the first levels of racking, while the low lift function helps the operator to stack shelves or feed production lines without excessive bending.
a lter N ative fuel sources
Sustainability and alternative fuel sources were very much to the fore in 2022 and this will undoubtedly continue to be the case in 2023.
Hyster announced testing of a Laden Container Handler powered by hydrogen fuel cells (HFC) at Fenix Marine Services in the Port of Los Angeles. The truck is powered by two 45kw hydrogen fuel cells and is designed to provide the zero emissions benefits of a battery electric option, with enough capacity to avoid the need to stop in the middle of a shift to refuel or recharge. The hydrogen fuel cell works in tandem with an onboard lithium-ion battery to either power the equipment directly or charge the onboard battery.
Meanwhile, Toyota Material Handling UK’s Sales Training & Product Development Manager, Sam Gray, has been promoting the benefits of HVO Fuel (Hydrotreated vegetable oil) - an alternative to fossil diesel, which can cut the CO2 emissions of engine-powered forklifts by up to 90 percent. Endorsed by a wide range of original engine manufacturers, HVO is synthetically produced using a complex refinery process that removes oxygen from vegetable oil and waste animal fat molecules,
creating hydrocarbons very similar to regular diesel. However, it is fundamentally different to bio-diesel and therefore doesn’t suffer any of the associated negative issues. One advantage of HVO is the fact that customers do not need to modify their diesel-powered forklifts to use it. Nearly all Toyota industrial IC engines will run perfectly with HVO fuel, with no changes required to the daily running or servicing regimes of the diesel engines.
m er G ers a N d acquisitio N s
The cancellation of the planned merger between Cargotec and Konecranes was one of biggest mergers and acquisition stories of 2022. The proposed deal failed to get regulatory approval, with the UK Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) finally blocking the proposed deal.
Closer to home, Briggs was on an acquisition trail, which included Aerial Platform Hire Limited, one of Ireland’s leading powered access hire companies, and Galway Plant & Tool Hire (GPT), which specialises in plant, commercial vehicle, and tool hire. The company ended the year by acquiring Blulift - yet
sed equi Pme N t
Component supply resulting in exceptionally long lead times were particularly challenging throughout the year and brought about an increase in demand for refurbished machines.
Toyota Material Handling UK noted that demand for its pre-owned forklifts was at an all-time high as companies looked to second- or third-hand machines to supplement their fleets, according to Stuart Reilly, TMHUK rental and used director.
In January, Jungheinrich opened its second used equipment refurbishing plant in Ploiesti, Romania, to help meet the growing demand for second-hand materials handling equipment and create capacity for further growth.
