IFOY Award nominees announced
IFOY Award nominees announced
A total of 17 products and solutions from 11 companies and six countries have reached the final round of the IFOY Award 2025. In addition, four companies are competing for the IFOY Start-up of the Year Award.
The International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year Award (IFOY Award) organisation has officially announced the nominations for the 2025 IFOY Award. From a total of 49 submitted products, 21 devices and solutions from 15 intralogistics providers across six countries have made it to the final round in Dortmund.
The nominees include entries from aluco, EP Equipment Germany, Exotec, Geekplus Europe, HUBTEX, Interroll, Jungheinrich, Logitrans, PLANCISE, STILL, and Verity.
When it comes to the IFOY Start-up of the Year spin-off award, Blickfeld, ecoro, enabl, and Filics are in contention for the coveted title.
The selection process required six weeks of intensive work by the IFOY organisation, test teams, and the jury. Anita Würmser, chairperson of the IFOY jury, commented: “Never before have there been so many applications, and the selection process has rarely been so demanding. All 21 nominated products and solutions are among the very best in the world of intralogistics. They impress with pioneering technologies, practical application, and outstanding customer benefits. The IFOY audit will show who is ahead.”
Three integrated customer solutions nominated
Once again, the premier class of integrated customer solutions promises to be closely contested. Pioneering automation projects from Jungheinrich and MHP, Geekplus, and Verity – as well as their customers Wildeboer, Dr. Max, and Ingka Group – are in the final.
Dr. Max’s new warehouse in Bergamo, Italy, maximises vertical space and provides room for 16,000 containers across 14,000m2. In the first phase, Geekplus Europe implemented a 1,300-m2 solution that manages 11,000 products for e-commerce and pharmacies in Italy. A total of 50 high-speed P40 picking robots handle storage, retrieval, and transportation to five tote-to-person stations. Some 22 RoboShuttles store bins double deep in the aisles, utilising warehouse space up to five times more efficiently. The system processes an average of over 200 containers per hour per station.
The automation of the internal “last mile” from the new logistics centre to production at Wildeboer Bauteile in Weener, completed in December 2024 – for which Jungheinrich serves as the general contractor – is also a finalist. Six ERC 213a mobile robots transport large load carriers, while the SOTO robot handles small load carriers along the production line. The manufacturer-independent fleet management system, FleetExecuter from MHP, manages control. The solution handles the transportation of over 83 pallets and 22 small load carrier transports per hour. By utilising a VDA 5050-compliant fleet manager, Jungheinrich offers Wildeboer the flexibility to integrate external robot types as needed.
Collaboration Mode is the standout feature of the autonomous inventory system developed by the Swiss company Verity, which has been in use since 2024 by the Ingka Group, IKEA’s largest brand franchisee. This innovation enables 24/7 real-time inventory management without human intervention, saving 800,000 working hours annually across more than 100 locations. The system also ensures continuous, reliable operation near people and equipment – a capability that Verity says is unmatched by any other fully autonomous inventory system.
Three counterbalanced trucks in the running
The nominated electric counterbalanced trucks from EP Equipment, HUBTEX, and Jungheinrich are in fierce competition, both literally and figuratively.
The powerful EFL 10T HV from EP Equipment is a low-maintenance, high-voltage lithium-ion forklift truck equipped with a PMS synchronous motor. It is part of EP’s new heavy-duty forklift series, ranging from four to 25 tonnes, which combines the benefits of electric and combustion engines. The 10-tonne truck reaches travel speeds of up to 30km/h and delivers exceptional performance, particularly in climbing ramps, lifting speed, and energy efficiency.
The HUBTEX FLUX 30, an electric multidirectional counterbalance truck, combines front loader and side loader functionalities. With its 360° HX multidirectional steering, it enables seamless, uninterrupted transitions between longitudinal and transverse travel. Featuring a load capacity of up to three tonnes and a compact design, this versatile two-in-one stacker is especially suited for handling pallets and long loads in confined spaces.
Also nominated for the final is the Jungheinrich EFG 425, an electric forklift truck with a load capacity of up to 3.5 tonnes, designed for heavy-duty indoor and outdoor applications. Key features include a narrow B-pillar design, a powerful two-motor drive, and a comfortable, noise-reduced operator station with a strutless panoramic roof for optimal all-round visibility. A variety of optional components enhance safety and working comfort, making this well-equipped forklift a true quick-change artist.
Two warehouse trucks selected
The nominated warehouse trucks from EP Equipment and Jungheinrich could not be more different, yet they have one thing in common: they make life easier for the operator.
The newly developed EXP15 from EP Equipment’s X MOVER series, with a load capacity of 1,500kg, takes standard pallet trucks to the next level. Equipped with lithium-ion plug-in technology, this pedestrian pallet truck is primarily designed for manual load handling. However, thanks to its touch-and-go solution, it can be operated automatically by any employee for A-to-B transports at the press of a button.
“Cost and energy efficiency redefined” is the motto for Jungheinrich’s ETV 214i reach truck, which was launched in September 2024. This well-equipped 1.5-tonne truck, capable of lifting heights of up to 10.4m, features a lithium-ion battery that supports fast and interim charging. Its compact battery design enhances manoeuvrability and enables a completely new driver’s workplace layout, with a lower entry and exit point, more space, and improved visibility for better ergonomics and safety.
Three mobile robots nominated
Automation drives efficiency and is becoming increasingly vital worldwide for companies to position themselves as modern and ambitious. The diversity of applications is reflected in the nominations. Providers from China, Denmark, and Germany have made it to the final: Geekplus, Logitrans, and STILL.
The RoboShuttle 11 from Geekplus can reach shelves up to 11m high, making it one of the tallest tote-to-person robots available. Equipped with AI algorithms, sensors, and cameras, it can identify various box sizes, obstacles, and objects, even if they are jumbled up. Operating in narrow aisles with extended arms to access additional storage depths, it promises to significantly increase the vertical storage capacity of small and medium-sized warehouses.
The LogiRobot Pallet Mover from Logitrans is a stand-alone, highly robust AMR CoBot designed to boost productivity in in-plant pallet transportation over longer distances. Powered by Mobile Industrial Robot (MiR) technology, the CoBot has a load capacity of 1.2 tonnes and can be operated either automatically or manually. It is ideal for medium and large manufacturing companies seeking to eliminate manual pallet transport and redirect employees to higher-value tasks.
The FM-X iGo from STILL is the company’s first automated reach truck, combining the cost and efficiency benefits of a standard truck with the advantages of automation, making it economically viable even for smaller fleets. Featuring lithium-ion technology and the iGo easy setup software, the FM-X iGo complies with the AGV safety standard ISO 3691-4. Key highlights include its narrow aisle width, a lifting height of 9.8m, and a digital service concept based on a digital twin for each truck.
Two robot warehouse system nominations
Logistics is a key driver of profitability, especially in e-commerce. Exotec from France and Geekplus from China stood out during the nomination phase.
Exotec’s Next Generation AS/RS is a cutting-edge robot-based goods-to-person picking solution powered by Skypod warehouse robots. Its standout feature is the integration of key functions into a compact all-in-one system, offering intermediate order buffering, strict sequencing, and both full-case and each-picking capabilities – without the need for complex subsystems like conveyors or sorting systems. The AS/RS delivers throughput comparable to shuttle systems and promises superior storage density compared to cube storage systems.
The SkyCube from Geekplus is a high-throughput, scalable pallet-to-person picking solution designed to optimise warehouse processes by automating retrieval, storage, and direct picking from pallets, thus eliminating the need for repacking. Its high storage density is particularly appealing for B2B and B2C environments requiring efficient handling of small, medium, and large items. These include 3PL, retail, apparel, manufacturing, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, and cold chain logistics.
Two Specials of the Year in the final
Familiar technology rethought: two game changers from aluco and Interroll are competing in the Special of the Year category.
The aluco STRIX hardware and software solution, provided by aluco, enables freight measurement with automated scheduling for freight forwarders, intralogistics, and air freight.
It uses stereo and 2D/3D cameras to capture packages in motion, optimising logistics processes such as vehicle utilisation and route planning based on this data in real time, while learning through AI. One of the key innovations is integrated data cleansing, while as a backend product, it also simplifies usage for dispatchers.
With MCP PLAY, Swiss company Interroll has made it to the final with an autonomous, decentralised control solution for its modular container and carton conveyor technology platform (Modular Conveyor Platform). This solution eliminates the need for PLC programming, making it easier to configure, install, and more efficiently operate conveyor systems for objects weighing up to 50kg. It promises up to 40% higher throughput, especially for e-commerce retailers and 3PL service providers, while also improving energy efficiency.
Two solutions nominated in the Intralogistics Software category
The true power of software shines through when it makes a difference. The nominations of Geekplus and PLANCISE embody this principle.
G-Plan from Geekplus is a planning tool for sales teams that allows them to quickly understand and evaluate potential solutions through 3D visualisations in the early stages of warehouse projects. Users can thus visualise how a solution will function in their environment. The real-time simulation capabilities also enable users to compare different options in terms of feasibility and efficiency, ensuring that the chosen solution meets performance requirements and expectations before any investment is made.
Workforce Management for Logistics from PLANCISE in Austria fills a gap in intralogistics. This manufacturer-independent software as a service (SaaS) tool is specifically developed for large logistics centres with more than 100 employees. It consolidates all personnel deployment information in real time, showing where workers are currently working or needed – thereby saving massive amounts of time.
Four start-ups in the final
Among the start-ups, innovations from Germany led the way in the race to reach the final. In Blickfeld, ecoro, enabl, and Filics, the jury selected four finalists with disruptive potential in pallet transportation and security to compete for the “IFOY Start-up of the Year” spin-off award.
The nomination of the smart 3D security LiDAR QbProtect from Blickfeld – developed for perimeter security and the protection of critical infrastructure – is highly relevant. It performs impressively in challenging weather and lighting conditions, offering precise, volumetric, and data protection-compliant detection. The system is suitable for intrusion protection; securing buildings, open spaces, factories, and logistics facilities; and for aviation and military applications.
The PX2 inductive transport system from ecoro focuses on efficient material supply. The automated shuttles, operating within a fenced-in lane, can transport up to four pallets or 2.4 tonnes, making them especially suited for high volumes. The combination of a driverless transport system and an electric floor conveyor promises up to 80% cost reduction for milk runs and other constant pallet transport flows within factory premises or industrial estates.
With its Forklift Remote Automation, Karlsruhe-based tech start-up enabl combines remote forklift control with AI-supported automation as a service. Forklifts can either operate autonomously or they can be controlled remotely. The focus is on companies that are seeking flexible, cost-saving alternatives for their internal material handling, or are unable to adopt fully automated solutions. The pay-per-use business model also eliminates the need for upfront investment costs.
The jury also approved Filics Unit, a double skid system consisting of two autonomously moving robots that are virtually connected and can precisely drive underneath Euro pallets or Euro pallet cages. In addition to saving up to 66% in space, the innovation from Munich-based start-up Filics promises to address the driver shortage and automate truck loading and unloading with unprecedented speed and flexibility.
IFOY nominees at Test Camp Intralogistics
The IFOY Award is considered one of the most prestigious innovation awards in intralogistics worldwide. All nominated products and solutions undergo extensive testing, including the scientific Innovation Check to assess quality, functionality, innovative strength, customer benefits, and market relevance in comparison to competitors on the market.
A total of seven testers and 25 jurors from 19 nations will travel to the IFOY audit in Dortmund. Interested parties will be able to test the 21 nominees themselves at the Test Camp Intralogistics on 26 and 27 March: around 100 innovations will be available for testing across 10,000m2 of hall space, with 1,500 participants expected.
The winners will be announced on 3 July at Dortmund’s Phoenix des Lumières, where eight trophies will be awarded.
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