The engineering company Ecoro will be presenting its automated shuttle, the P2X, at IFOY 2025. This shuttle can transport four pallets weighing up to 2.4 tons on a separate track – or even underground. It's a kind of "light" version of the CST (Combined Storage and Transport) system for transporting palletized goods on factory premises and in industrial parks.
A future-oriented transport system comprising four key components – electric shuttles, a dedicated transport infrastructure, control software and automated loading ramps – that can be seamlessly integrated into existing infrastructures.
Photos: klk.
The pallet shuttle can be loaded fully automatically at the point of origin and unloaded automatically at the destination – for example, using a mobile ramp provided by Beumer for the IFOY test camp in Dortmund. Since it is not a highly complex vehicle, but largely consists of automotive components, its price is half that of a compact van, placing it in the lower category of now quite affordable small cars.
The shuttle is track-bound, controlled by a line in the floor. According to its creators, CEO Daniel Daum and CFO Christoph Tullius, a camera at the front, one underneath, and an ultrasonic sensor allow for connections of virtually any length.
So far, it is said that one customer is using a feeder system of 200 m, while another wants to bridge up to 800 m.
In Japan, a project is currently "lurking" that is indeed reminiscent of the Swiss Cargo sous Terrain and is intended to provide information on further possible applications on a larger scale.
Logistics Innovation
Presented in no particular order
the IFOY nominees before
In intralogistics, the "P2X" system is expected to enable cost reductions of up to 80% and score points with process reliability, flexibility, and low investment costs. From a purely technical standpoint, it closes the gap between automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and electric floor conveyors. The separated, fenced-in track offers protection from external influences and allows for significantly higher speeds. Power can be supplied inductively while the vehicle is in motion, which should minimize downtime and ensure continuous transport flows.
Automatic loading and unloading.
The shuttle is loaded and unloaded automatically via dedicated loading terminals. Direct integration with intralogistics systems and automated truck loading systems allows for seamless integration into existing logistics chains. It is designed for compatibility with common WMS and ERP systems, ensuring end-to-end, efficient control of the entire process chain.
Vehicle control is handled by a central control center, ensuring smooth and optimized transport operations. The ecoro Shuttle focuses on automating continuous transport flows for industrial companies and is particularly well-suited for connecting warehouses and factories over short distances. It thus offers a reliable and efficient solution for existing plant connections.
Compared to electric floor conveyors (EBBs), the shuttle offers significantly more flexibility and is easier to scale, enabling versatile applications and lower investment costs. This combination makes the ecoro Shuttle a "best of both" solution, combining the efficiency of EBBs with the flexibility of AGVs.
Unlike conventional AGVs, this system requires less sensor technology and computing power, yet remains fully automated and does not require expensive, heavy batteries. It appears to be a relatively cost-effective solution for consistent transport flows in intralogistics.
According to the testers, who were unable to drive the device inside the hall, the combined system fills a gap in the market by offering a more cost-effective, automated transport solution for high throughput requirements.
Anyone who wins an "Oscar" on July 3rd
Take home the “Intralogistics” module
The decision will be made anonymously.
The Ecoro system also seems particularly attractive in general for applications in geographically limited areas with high transport volumes, such as those found in industrial companies and commercial areas or business clusters – wherever milkrun strategies are regularly used for efficient material supply and disposal.
The European market for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) is estimated at approximately US$1.52 billion in 2024, with projected growth to US$2.61 billion by 2029. The global market for electric monorail systems (EMS) was estimated at US$411.6 million in 2023, with Europe accounting for approximately 25% of the global market. This equates to roughly US$103 million for EMS in Europe, with potential growth to approximately US$130 million by 2030.
In this environment, the system offers an attractive solution for companies that need both the efficiency and speed of an EMS and the flexibility of an AGV – and would therefore be a perfect innovation for a variety of industries with constant material flow and high transport requirements.
https://youtu.be/rA_xRfe_b_8?si=dxeCkCtfWBMAVwhp
IFOY audit
The audit, like all the others, took place at the end of March as part of the Test Camp Intralogistics at the Dortmund trade fair. An international panel of experts, consisting of leading logistics journalists from major media outlets, selects the award winners based on transparent and independent evaluation criteria. The award is sponsored by the Materials Handling and Intralogistics and Robotics + Automation associations within the VDMA (German Engineering Federation). The Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy is the patron.
The winner of the “Oscar of Intralogistics” at the “International Forklift of the Year” (IFOY) award ceremony, held at the Phoenix des Lumières in Dortmund on July 3rd, will be decided anonymously through digital voting.
