Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

inbound

Finalists announced for International Forklift Truck of the Year (IFOY) award

Eleven products compete for the prestigious international honor.

Finalists announced for International Forklift Truck of the Year (IFOY) award

Awards programs for material handing equipment are not beauty contests; the most important criteria, of course, are innovation and practical application. But many of the 11 finalists for the 2017 International Forklift Truck of the Year (IFOY) awards are nearly works of art, with sleek lines, colorful finishes, and eye-catching designs.

The awards, to be presented by Europe's VDMA Materials Handling and Logistics Systems Sector Association in May, assess products' innovative quality, technology, design, ergonomics, handling, safety, cost effectiveness, and sustainability. Finalists are required to undergo rigorous weeklong competitive testing sessions as well as further evaluation by specialists at two logistics engineering institutes in Germany. The winner in each category will be chosen by an international jury of logistics and material handling journalists.


Here's a quick look at the finalists:

  • Warehouse truck category—the IGo neo CX 20 "intelligent" autonomous pallet truck from Still; the EMD 115i compact walkie stacker from Jungheinrich; and the EPH 125 DTFV guided high-lift order picker
  • Automated guided vehicle (AGV) category—the TORsten low-profile, customizable AGV from Torwegge; and SSI Schaefer's 2Stack + automated driverless delivery (ADD) automated replenishment system
  • Special vehicle category—an electric-powered cargo transport scooter from kickTrike; the Wave work-assist vehicle from Crown; and a tugger "train" with automated loading and unloading capabilities from Still (shown in photo)
  • Special of the year category—Still's Power Plus Life self-cooling battery; the "Indoor Positioning" vehicle location system from Jungheinrich; and UniCarriers' ergonomic dead-man alternative driver-presence sensor

See a slideshow of these futuristic machines and learn what makes them innovative.

The Latest

Artificial Intelligence

AI: Is it the real deal?

More Stories

Logistics economy picked up speed in January

Logistics Managers' Index

Logistics economy picked up speed in January

Economic activity in the logistics industry expanded in January, growing at its fastest clip in more than two years, according to the latest Logistics Managers’ Index (LMI) report, released this week.

The LMI jumped nearly five points from December to a reading of 62, reflecting continued steady growth in the U.S. economy along with faster-than-expected inventory growth across the sector as retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers attempted to manage the uncertainty of tariffs and a changing regulatory environment. The January reading represented the fastest rate of expansion since June 2022, the LMI researchers said.

Keep ReadingShow less

Featured

Disrupting the furniture supply chain: An interview with Jay Rogers

Disrupting the furniture supply chain: An interview with Jay Rogers

As commodities go, furniture presents its share of manufacturing and distribution challenges. For one thing, it's bulky. Second, its main components—wood and cloth—are easily damaged in transit. Third, much of it is manufactured overseas, making for some very long supply chains with all the associated risks. And finally, completed pieces can sit on the showroom floor for weeks or months, tying up inventory dollars and valuable retail space.

In other words, the furniture market is ripe for disruption. And John "Jay" Rogers wants to be the catalyst. In 2022, he cofounded a company that takes a whole new approach to furniture manufacturing—one that leverages the power of 3D printing and robotics. Rogers serves as CEO of that company, Haddy, which essentially aims to transform how furniture—and all elements of the "built environment"—are designed, manufactured, distributed, and, ultimately, recycled.

Keep ReadingShow less
chart of GenAI effect on workforce

Gartner: GenAI tools create anxiety among employees

Generative AI (GenAI) is being deployed by 72% of supply chain organizations, but most are experiencing just middling results for productivity and ROI, according to a survey by Gartner, Inc.

That’s because productivity gains from the use of GenAI for individual, desk-based workers are not translating to greater team-level productivity. Additionally, the deployment of GenAI tools is increasing anxiety among many employees, providing a dampening effect on their productivity, Gartner found.

Keep ReadingShow less
warehouse worker driving forklift between racks

German 3PL Arvato acquires two U.S. logistics firms

The German third party logistics provider (3PL) Arvato this week acquired the U.S.-headquartered companies Carbel LLC and United Customs Services, saying the move would grow its client base, particularly in the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle segments.

According to Arvato, it made the move in order to better serve the U.S. e-commerce sector, which has experienced high growth rates in recent years and is expected to grow year-on-year by 5% within the next five years.

Keep ReadingShow less
photo collage of warehouse tech

Supply chain pros are wary of inflation and labor woes

The top worries that supply chain leaders hope to address with new innovations this year include inflationary concerns (68%) and labor shortages (50%), according to a survey on innovation from the third-party logistics provider (3PL) Kenco.

And many of them will have a budget to do it, since 51% of supply chain professionals with existing innovation budgets saw an increase earmarked for 2025, suggesting an even greater emphasis on investing in new technologies to meet rising demand, Kenco said in its “2025 Supply Chain Innovation” survey.

Keep ReadingShow less