This year's IFOY Award was a real feat, with 21 nominees across eight categories. Representatives from Exotec, EP Equipment, Geekplus, Interroll, Jungheinrich, Plancise, and Still accepted their awards at the award night held at the Phoenix des Lumières in Dortmund. Start-up of the Year: Filics. 

In times when significant developments are pointing towards automation, and especially the use of artificial intelligence, the insights of the auditors and check teams proved remarkably decisive in the field of the best intralogistics designs. "The trend is towards automation, but simplicity (in application) leads to success," said Anita Würmser, Managing Chair of the IFOY Jury.

 Presenters, moderated by Thilo Jörgl, crowned the awards ceremony with guests from business, science, and politics. Prominent guests such as Heike van Hoorn (Managing Director of the German Transport Forum), Markus Mau (President of the European Logistics Association), Thorsten Schmidt (Professor of Technical Logistics, TU Dresden), and Ronny Sassen (CEO of Rhenus Contract Logistics) praised the industry's progressive spirit. Jan Drömer, board member of the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association, acknowledged the fact that the IFOY is no longer solely a competition between the industry's "big players," but also includes numerous smaller companies and startups.

Special of the Year for Interroll's MCP PLAY

“The field of finalists demonstrates the immense innovative potential of intralogistics. The jury's decisions reflect more than ever the fact that volatile markets, increasing cost pressures, and an unresolved shortage of skilled workers demand practical and economical solutions rather than mere improvements,” said IFOY Managing Director Anita Würmser. 

“Warehouse Truck of the Year”

In a highly competitive environment, a powerful yet simple electric pallet truck managed to reach the top, impressing with its ease of use and high performance in automatic operation: The X Mover EXP15 from EP Equipment won in the "Warehouse Truck of the Year" category.

The winners: Praise for the industry's innovative strength.

A prime example of successful simplification in the automation of internal transport. The pallet truck, usable both manually and autonomously, impressed with its robust construction, intuitive operation, and the "Record and Run" function, which allows routes to be programmed without any programming knowledge or training. 

Robot Warehouse Systems

In the "Robot Warehouse Systems" category, the IFOY Award 2025 went to Exotec for its Next Generation Skypod System. This innovative generation of robots from France impressed with its flatter design, increased dynamics, and extremely high density. As the sole system component, the robot integrates all essential functions into a compact, all-in-one system without complex subsystems such as conveyors or sorting systems. The flexible sequencing during transport and the efficient use of space, even beneath the shelves, were particularly impressive.

“Integrated Customer Solutions”

In the top category, "Integrated Customer Solutions," Geekplus from China emerged victorious in an incredibly close finish with the automation of the new "Dr. Max" warehouse in Telgate near Bergamo. The jury's decision was based on the overall package of customer benefits, availability, and scalability with minimal staffing.

A brilliant production. Photos: klk.

In phase one, Geekplus Europe implemented a solution for 11,000 products in e-commerce and pharmacy operations across 1,300 square meters. The system utilizes 22 RoboShuttles for double-deep storage – up to five times more efficient in space utilization – as well as 50 P40 robots for rapid container transport.

«Special of the Year»

After a close competition in the "Special of the Year" category, Interroll from Switzerland won with MCP PLAY (Modular Conveyor Platform). The control solution for their modular container and carton conveyor platform enables the simple and rapid implementation of systems for packages up to 50 kg and ensures energy savings of up to 30 percent. E-commerce retailers and 3PL service providers, in particular, benefit from throughput increases of up to 100 percent. The jury described it as a paradigm shift in conveyor technology. 

“Counter Balanced Truck of the Year”

The Jungheinrich EFG 425 was named "Counter Balanced Truck of the Year". The high-performance 3.5-tonne electric forklift from the Hamburg-based manufacturer, designed for heavy-duty indoor and outdoor applications, impressed in the IFOY test with its powerful twin-motor drive and high throughput of up to 389 pallets per shift.

View of the director's desk

The jury particularly praised the combination of robust construction, improved temperature stability during attachment operation, and the ergonomic driver's cab.

“Intralogistics Software of the Year”

The "Intralogistics Software of the Year" award goes to "Workforce Management for Logistics" from Plancise in Austria. This SaaS tool, specifically designed for larger logistics centers with more than 100 employees, digitizes the previously mostly manual workforce planning process and adapts it to fluctuating volumes and seasonal demands – a key competency in times of skilled labor shortages. Through dynamic, real-time capacity and daily planning, the cloud-based software identifies understaffing or overstaffing and suggests targeted personnel adjustments based on throughput forecasts, qualifications, and current workload. 

"Mobile Robot of the Year"

 Still won the "Mobile Robot of the Year" award with its FM-X iGo. The Hamburg-based manufacturer's first series-produced automated Li-Ion reach truck is considered a game-changer for integrating autonomous technology into existing warehouse environments.

Also returning: Still's  FM-X iGo

The jury was particularly impressed by the integrated safety technology according to ISO 3691-4, its narrow aisle width, the digital service concept based on a digital twin for each vehicle, and the intuitive commissioning via iGo easy software. It explicitly targets small and medium-sized enterprises that have previously shied away from the challenges of complex automation projects.

Start-up of the Year

 Four young companies with disruptive potential competed for the "Start-up of the Year Award." The Munich-based start-up Filics emerged victorious with its Filics Unit – a CE-certified double-skid system consisting of two autonomous robots that can synchronously enter and exit under Euro pallets or Euro mesh boxes.

Filics' double skids.

The jury particularly highlighted the high-quality in-house developments in lifting and driving modules, the flexible usability in brownfield areas, and the potential for automated truck loading and unloading.

www.ifoy.org

The winners at a glance

• - EP Equipment: X MOVER EXP15
• - Exotec: Skypod System
• - Geekplus: RoboShuttle + P40 Tote-to-Person Solution with Dr. Max Italy
• - Interroll: MCP PLAY
• - Jungheinrich: EFG 425
• - PLANCISE: Workforce Management for Logistics
• - STILL: FM-X iGo

The IFOY Award 

The IFOY Award has established itself as an indicator of efficiency and innovation and, due to its expert evaluation, is considered one of the most important international innovation prizes in intralogistics. The decision is based on a three-stage audit – consisting of the IFOY test protocol, comprising approximately 80 criteria, the scientific IFOY Innovation Check, and the jury test. The IFOY winners are selected annually by an international jury of trade journalists. The IFOY Award is sponsored by the German Association for Materials Handling and Intralogistics (VGM) and the German Association for Robotics and Automation (VDMA). Partners include Messe Dortmund and Cascade, the world's leading manufacturer of forklift attachments. The logistics partner is LTG. The IFOY event partner is Phoenix des Lumières, headquartered in Ismaning near Munich. The award is under the patronage of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. 

The application phase for the IFOY Award 2026 starts on August 1, 2025.