This month our Logistics team attended IMHX conference at Birmingham’s NEC. IMHX brings together suppliers essential to optimising, integrating, automating, and managing logistics with thousands of professionals from across the UK’s extensive supply chain network.
The event is the UK’s largest and most comprehensive showcase of materials handling equipment, services and software, providing a valuable opportunity for knowledge sharing and automation strategy planning
Here are our key takeaways from the conference:
AMRs stole the show: Autonomous mobile robots (AMR) are becoming increasingly versatile. They are designed for rapid deployment, a significant advantage for the business case (as well as exhibitor set-up time and cost). It’s clear to see that their ability to ‘roam’ is increasing. We are witnessing the second or third generation of robots increasingly able to climb, reach, and/or travel under the storage structures, rivalling conventional shuttles for density and throughput across a range of handling media (totes, trays and pallets). AMRs are increasingly part of larger automation installations, made possible via modular design.
Multi-media exhibits: In contrast, the large automation vendors have scaled back on the amount of hardware and automation equipment on show, opting instead for multi-media presentations, partnership, and good quality coffee. Afterall, automation equipment is only part of the story, and arguably the easier part. Integration is what makes or breaks the solution.
Modularisation was a recurring theme: From major vendors partnering with specialist equipment providers, to innovations designed to substitute a manual task in situ, there as a major shift away from bespoke solutions. This is a major win for customers. It de-risks the integration, removes months from the programme, and enables futureproofing.
Networking: Reflecting on the event, it is people that make it most memorable. Whether giving clients a guided tour, catching up with vendor contacts, bumping into former colleagues, or random encounters with famous darts players, the world of warehouse automation is reassuringly small.
While innovation continues to accelerate, the fundamentals of warehouse design, implementation, and the people who make it all work remain as essential as ever.
Share:
