IFOY AWARD 2025: Acht Unternehmen für Innovationen ausgezeichnet

Ismaning near Munich / Dortmund, July 3, 2025: The winners of the IFOY AWARD 2025 have been announced. Representatives from EP Equipment, Exotec, Geekplus, Interroll, Jungheinrich, PLANCISE and STILL accepted the international intralogistics award from the laudators at the Award Night at the Phoenix des Lumières in Dortmund. The IFOY Start-up of the Year Award went to Filics.

A laudatory speech was given by: Nils Bücker (Managing Director, Rabe Fashion Group), Jan Drömer (Chairman of the Board, VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association), Dr. Heike van Hoorn (Managing Director, Deutsches Verkehrsforum), Sabine Loos (CEO, Westfalenhallen Unternehmensgruppe), Prof. Dr. Markus Mau (President, European Logistics Association), Ronny Sassen (Member of the Board, Rhenus Group), Prof. Dr. Thorsten Schmidt (Professor of Technical Logistics, TU Dresden) and Udo Schmidt (Vice President, Cascade Europe).

The International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year (IFOY) AWARD is one of the largest technology competitions in intralogistics worldwide. 49 products were on the list of applicants, 15 companies with 21 products and solutions made it to the final – only just behind the all-time high in 2023. “The field of finalists shows how much innovative power there is in intralogistics. The jury’s decisions reflect more than ever that volatile markets, increasing cost pressure and an unresolved shortage of skilled workers demand practical and economical solutions rather than detailed improvements. Autonomization is the trend, but simple thinking leads to innovation,” said Anita Würmser, Executive Chairwoman of the IFOY jury in Dortmund.

In a highly competitive field, a powerful yet simple electric pallet truck came out on top thanks to its ease of operation and high performance in automatic mode. Warehouse Truck of the Year is the X Mover EXP15 from EP Equipment. The jury sees the EXP15 as a prime example of successful simplification in the automation of internal transportation. The pallet truck, which can be used manually and autonomously, impresses with its robust design, intuitive operation and the “Record and Run” function, with which routes can be taught without programming knowledge or training. In combination with its outstanding price-performance ratio, the device from the Chinese manufacturer significantly lowers the entry barriers to partial automation – an attractive option for new and replacement purchases as well as for getting started with automated transport tasks.

In the Robot Warehouse System category, the IFOY AWARD 2025 goes to Exotec for the Next Generation Skypod System. The innovative generation of robots from France impresses with its flatter design, greater dynamics and extremely high density. The robot is the only system component to integrate the most important functions in a compact all-in-one system without complex subsystems such as conveyor or sorting systems. Particularly impressive is the flexible sequencing during transportation and the use of space even underneath the shelves. The modular architecture, the well thought-out routing and the closed process combine innovative technology with practical benefits and, according to the jury, make the easily scalable system a future-proof solution for a wide range of industries – with high adaptability and significantly reduced investment risk in uncertain times.

In the top category of Integrated Customer Solution, Geekplus from China came out on top in a very close finish with the automation of the new Dr. Max warehouse in Telgate near Bergamo. The decisive factor for the jury was the overall package of customer benefits, availability and scalability with minimal personnel deployment. In phase one, Geekplus Europe implemented a solution for 11,000 products in the e-commerce and pharmacy business on 1,300 square meters. It uses 22 RoboShuttles for double-deep storage – up to five times more efficient in terms of space utilization – and 50 P40 robots for fast container transport. Pick-to-light workstations enable ergonomic, error-free picking with over 200 bins per hour and station. The jury was particularly impressed by the cleverly positioned conveyor belt above the driving surface – a space-saving solution that has doubled productivity. A prime example of future-proof warehouse automation in the pharmaceutical sector, according to the jury.

After a neck-and-neck race in the Special of the Year category, Interroll from Switzerland wins with MCP PLAY (Modular Conveyor Platform). The control solution for its modular container and carton conveyor technology platform enables the quick and easy implementation of systems for packages weighing up to 50 kilograms and ensures energy savings of up to 30 percent. E-commerce retailers and 3PL service providers in particular benefit from up to 100 percent higher throughputs. The jury speaks of a paradigm shift in conveyor technology. MCP PLAY enables precise package localization, freely scalable zone sizes and the seamless merging of multiple lines. Innovative features include the “Adjust to Gap” function for reduced distances between packages and “Flowing Merge” for continuous merging without stopping. Thanks to the open interface, the system does not require a PLC controller and significantly reduces IT complexity.

Counter Balanced Truck of the Year is the EFG 425 from Jungheinrich. The powerful 3.5-tonne electric forklift truck from the Hamburg-based manufacturer for heavy-duty indoor and outdoor applications impressed in the IFOY test with its powerful two-engine drive, high handling capacity of up to 389 pallets per shift and exceptionally good all-round visibility thanks to its glass roof and slim mast. The jury particularly praised the combination of robust design, improved temperature stability when operating attachments and the ergonomic driver’s cab. With its impressive driving and lifting speeds, the EFG 425 is a powerful answer to the growing demand for emission-free forklifts with combustion engine performance, the jury said. It sets new standards in terms of performance, safety and driving comfort.

Intralogistics Software of the Year is Workforce Management for Logistics from PLANCISE in Austria. The SaaS tool, which was specially developed for larger logistics centers with more than 100 employees, digitizes personnel scheduling, which was previously mostly managed manually, and adapts it to fluctuating volumes and seasonal requirements – a key skill in times of a shortage of skilled workers. Thanks to dynamic capacity and daily planning in real time, the cloud software detects understaffing or overstaffing and suggests targeted staff shifts based on throughput forecasts, qualifications and current workload. The jury particularly praised the innovative implementation, which not only raises efficiency potential but also closes a previously neglected gap in intralogistics.

STILL wins the IFOY AWARD 2025 in the Mobile Robot of the Year category with the FM-X iGo. The first series-produced automated Li-ion reach truck from the Hamburg-based manufacturer is a door opener for the integration of autonomous technology into existing warehouse environments. The jury was particularly impressed by the integrated safety technology in accordance with 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. In a market that is increasingly facing a shortage of skilled workers and high efficiency pressure, the FM-X iGo has its finger on the pulse of the times, according to the jury. It also explicitly addresses small and medium-sized companies that have previously shied away from the challenges of complex automation projects.

Four young companies with disruptive potential battled it out for the IFOY Start-up of the Year Award. The Munich-based start-up Filics came out on top with the Filics Unit – a globally unique, CE-certified double skid system consisting of two autonomous robots that can drive in and out synchronously under Euro pallets or Euro pallet cages. The skids offer a payload of up to one ton and enable the automation of hand pallet truck processes in block and line warehouses or in confined production and logistics environments that could not previously be automated economically. The jury particularly emphasized the high-quality in-house developments in lifting and travel modules, the flexible usability in brownfield applications and the potential for automated truck loading and unloading. The space savings of up to 66 percent were also particularly impressive.

The IFOY AWARD
The IFOY AWARD recognizes the most innovative intralogistics products and solutions of the year. It has established itself as an indicator of cost-effectiveness and innovation and is considered one of the most important international innovation awards in intralogistics due to its technical expertise. The decision is based on the three-stage audit – consisting of the IFOY test protocol comprising around 80 criteria, the scientific IFOY Innovation Check and the jury test. The decisive factor is that the nominees are not compared with each other, but with their competitors on the market.

Gewählt werden die Gewinner des IFOY AWARD jährlich von einer internationalen Fachjournalisten-Jury. The sponsors of the IFOY AWARD are the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Sector Association and the VDMA Robotics + Automation Sector Association. IFOY partners are Messe Dortmund and the world´s leading forklift attachment manufacturer Cascade. The IFOY logistics partner is LTG. IFOY Eventpartner ist Phoenix des Lumières. . The headquarter of the IFOY organisation is in Ismaning near Munich. The IFOY 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.

IFOY AWARD: All 2025 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

IFOY Start-up of the Year 2025: Filics: Filics Unit

Press photos for download

The IFOY test reports and IFOY Innovation Checks of all 2025 nominees are available for free use at: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/1mni8bn9rpemn20x8oggt/AEndErewcwPcz22BadEF0l4?rlkey=g98frcc9z40zbikkpdec824jp&dl=0

Video footage of all 2025 nominees: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/nt6l0k6s3vjla3xvjlxzi/AF0_csprbjX3oarUDD8Xxx0?rlkey=0ba2bbwiynop9lx0zdwpduwy8&dl=0