IFOY Audit
Finalists undergo the three-stage IFOY Audit as part of the IFOY Audit, which takes place during the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS. This consists of the scientific IFOY Innovation Check, the IFOY Test and the jury test.
Destuff-it container unloading system
Wiltsche Fördersysteme
The Destuff-it is a container unloading system. With its mobile conveyor, employees can load and unload containers and trucks with minimal effort. In most cases, manual lifting of cartons is no longer required. The solution has been shown to reduce unloading costs by 30 to 50 percent.
- Proven product: Used by major companies such as Amazon.
- Built to last: Robust design, easy and low-cost maintenance.
- Safety first: It offers the most comprehensive safety features on the market.
- Smart controls: One-hand adjustments, no stops, high productivity.
- Ergonomic excellence: Fully pivoting belt for safe and efficient unloading.
Product name and company
Destuff-it container unloading system – Wiltsche Fördersysteme
Category
Special of the Year
Description
The Destuff-it system is an advanced unloading solution that significantly increases efficiency when unloading containers and trucks. Its ergonomic design improves safety and comfort by allowing operators to easily place boxes – whether on the floor or stacked high – onto the belt positioned at the same height, without the need for bending or twisting.
The innovation lies in the flexible belt inside the container and the high manoeuvrability of the unit both inside the container and on the warehouse floor. The system can be moved easily from dock to dock. This mobile ergonomic conveyor system helps workers unload containers faster and more safely. It supports handling of boxes up to 74 kg and enables higher throughput and efficiency with less fatigue and strain thanks to its optimal ergonomic positioning.
The Destuff-it unit can be used at both inbound and outbound docks and features a modular, bi-directional belt. Its flexibility improves health and safety while increasing productivity and reducing fatigue, muscle strain, and risk of injury.
Innovations
There are many ways to unload a container. The Destuff-it is focused on companies unloading two or more containers per day. Traditional manual unloading using forklifts and labourers is responsible for about 30% of all musculoskeletal injuries in logistics. Other systems, such as flexible or telescopic conveyors with integrated platforms, offer partial solutions. However, these platforms are positioned in front of the unit, requiring operators to lift, rotate (up to 30 kg or more), and place boxes onto the conveyor behind them.
The Destuff-it unit is unique:
- Its conveyor is positioned next to the operator, who can simply move the belt toward the box and pull it on – without lifting or twisting.
- This system is a cost-effective step before full automation, suitable for all carton types regardless of condition.
- Being battery-powered and fully mobile, one unit can serve multiple dock doors within a warehouse.
- It is the only solution on the market that brings the belt so close to the carton wall, eliminating the need for lifting or lifting aids.
- It also features the most comprehensive safety measures available in its product category.
- The intuitive one-hand controls (left, right, up, down) enhance productivity by allowing continuous operation without interruptions.
Market relevance
The EU market in this segment is growing rapidly, with safety and ergonomic regulations becoming increasingly important. Recently, the German government announced a reduction of the maximum parcel weight to 20 kg. Many countries face labour shortages for physically demanding warehouse tasks that cannot be fully automated.
Common productivity challenges include:
- Insufficient labour availability
- High employee turnover
- Rising labour costs
- Increasing pressure from Health & Safety authorities and labour unions
- Limited warehouse space
- Workplace accidents and injuries
- High absenteeism
- Sustainability and inclusive employment of both genders and older workers also play an important role.
Over the past ten years, around 3,500 machines have been installed in North America – approximately 85% of them since 2020. The system is therefore well-proven, but still new to the European market, which is considered to offer comparable potential. According to Statista, the European market for e-commerce, logistics and warehouse automation is growing rapidly, with expected increases of 30 to 100% over the next few years.
Key target groups include 3PL providers, postal and parcel service operators, as well as large shippers handling multiple containers per day. The market potential is accordingly significant.
Customer benefits
- Productivity improvements of up to 100%.
- Elimination of most ergonomic risks during unloading – no lifting, carrying, overreaching, or twisting required.
Data collected in early 2023 from 13 sites with 45 machines:
87% overall reduction in injuries
100% reduction in acute injuries - Full mobility within the warehouse and container environment
IFOY Innovation Check
Functionality / Type of implementation
Destuff-it by Wiltsche Fördersysteme is a mechanized support solution for loading and unloading containers. It is particularly designed for the handling of cartons and uses conveyor technology to establish the material flow between the stacking area inside the container and the user’s intralogistics system. The functionality is essentially based on a mechanical approach in which heavy lifting operations are replaced by pulling and pushing movements. The overall impression is balanced, with the machine presenting a robust, field-proven appearance that is fundamentally suitable for the intended use case. Particularly noteworthy is the solid construction, which is designed for durability in industrial environments. In terms of efficiency, the solution can support material handling and reduce physically demanding tasks.
Novelty / Innovation
The Destuff-it solution is to be understood as a further development of an established mechanical principle that has already been successfully used for many years, particularly in the North American market. The degree of innovation is good, as the solution addresses a specific problem – manual container unloading – in a pragmatic and technically simple way. It is less a disruptive innovation and more a proven and purposefully optimized application of existing technologies. Within the competitive environment, the solution stands out through its robust yet functionally reduced design, which deliberately avoids complexity. This form of „simple innovation“ is particularly relevant in applications with high demands for reliability and low maintenance. The further development lies above all in the consistent focus on the specific use case, resulting in a practical and economically sensible solution.
Customer benefit
The solution is primarily aimed at companies in logistics, trade, and distribution where large numbers of containers are regularly loaded and unloaded manually. Customer benefit is good, as the machine particularly reduces the physical strain caused by lifting heavy cartons and therefore contributes to relieving employees. This can have a positive impact on occupational safety, health, and, in the long term, productivity. In addition, the solution offers potential for time savings and the standardization of work processes. The return on investment (ROI) results primarily from reduced downtime, lower physical strain, and more stable process quality. At the same time, there is room for improvement in the overall ergonomic concept, as certain strains – for example on hands and wrists – still remain. Further optimization in this area could increase customer benefit even more.
Market relevance
The Destuff-it solution addresses a central and widespread application in intralogistics: the loading and unloading of containers. Market relevance is very good, as manual container unloading is a significant issue worldwide and there is strong demand for supportive solutions. In the context of the current state of the art, the solution positions itself as a robust and economical alternative to more complex automation systems. Particularly in markets or applications where full automation is not economically or technically viable, the solution demonstrates high relevance. The clear focus on a specific use case as well as its proven operating history further strengthen its market position. Overall, the solution provides a convincing response to a practical challenge and is of high importance for the target group addressed.
IFOY verdict
The Destuff-it solution by Wiltsche Fördersysteme impresses through its very high market relevance in a globally widespread field of application, as well as through solid customer benefit, particularly in the noticeable relief of manual tasks. Its strength lies in its robust and practical implementation with a good level of innovation, even though the functionality still offers further development potential, especially in the area of ergonomics.
| Functionality / type of implementation | Ø |
| Novelty / Innovation | + |
| Customer benefits | + |
| Market relevance | ++ |
| ++ very good / + good / Ø balanced / – less / — not available | |
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Image/video credits: Wiltsche Fördersysteme
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Statutes
In den Statuten sind die Grundwerte und die Standards des IFOY AWARD festgelegt, nach denen die Organisation handelt. Dazu gehören unter anderem Gremien, Wahlomodus, Bewertungskriterien sowie der Code of Conduct.
Committees
The International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year has three bodies: Jury, sponsors, and advisory board.