Part of stow Group, which has been producing storage solutions for 45 years, Movu Robotics was launched in 2023 to bring easier automation to the world’s warehouses. Headquartered in Lokeren in Belgium, Movu designs, manufactures and implements advanced plug and play robotic and automated systems that ensure no warehouse is left behind.
Karel Boone, Commercial Director for Movu Northwest Europe, including UK at Movu Robotics speaks to Warehouse & Logistics News.
What are your best-known products/solutions/services?
Movu’s portfolio of automated technologies include atlas, the efficient 4-way pallet shuttle for automated multiple deep storage; ifollow, an Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) for collaborative picking or transport of pallets; and the escala robotised 3D bin storage and fulfilment system, which has the option of integrating the new eligo picking robot arm. All Movu systems are controlled and managed via their own warehouse execution software (WES).
Which industry sectors are your customers in and which ones are growing fastest?
Our customers operate in Wholesale, Pharmaceutical, Cold Storage, Manufacturing, Automotive, Food and Beverage and Third Party Logistics (3PL). We are seeing a lot of interest from 3PLs. The development of flexible robotics technologies, such as Movu’s atlas, allows 3PLs to harvest the advantages from automation. It can house multiple clients, has the scaleability to increase or decrease throughput to meet changing needs and investment can be split over multiple short-term contracts.
What are your most recent product innovations?
The integrated picking robot arm eligo combines advanced software with intelligent grippers and machine learning for reliable and high-performing throughput, while reducing the number of manual ‘touches’ required for order fulfilment or replenishment. Being completely product agnostic, it can handle changing product mixes.
What are the major trends and developments affecting your category and your customers, and how are you responding?
Automation and robotics solutions need to be accessible so that no warehouse is left behind in meeting intralogistics challenges. These include the need for greater efficiency, flexibility and productivity, while overcoming skills shortages to fulfil growing volumes across multiple channels. They must also handle regular peaks occurring in demand. Movu’s low-capex modular, plug and play robotic automation solutions offer flexibility, scaleability, reliability and sustainability and provide easier and future-proof automation to any warehouse.
Can you tell us about any recent customer contracts and how you helped the customer meet their challenges?
Movu has supplied several atlas systems to 3PLs recently. For example, in KDL’s new 10,000 sq m distribution centre in Belgium, atlas shuttles carry up to 1,000 SKUs from raw ingredients to finished goods. The DC serves 11 customers, primarily in the chocolate industry.
A groundbreaking project for Dematra, which specialises in the fast and accurate distribution of various goods within Benelux, features a 46-metre-tall stow silo housing nearly 80,000 pallets. 12,000 pallet movements a day are effortlessly handled by atlas shuttles.
How does business in 2024 compare to previous years? What’s your strategy for succeeding in the current climate?
Movu is growing at a tremendous pace, and continues to do so using a dual go-to market strategy. Movu’s network of sales offices in main territories provide a direct channel for end users globally, and we can also supply a fully functional sub-system from our portfolio to a systems integrator as part of a complete project.
What’s the latest news from your company?
In the recent month, we have not only agreed new exciting projects with new customers, but we have also successfully handed over various projects to customers in all industries. A great example of how we have brought easier automation to our customers is our atlas solution for cold storage at Westhof BIO, Germany’s only purely organic vegetable freezer.
Can you tell us about any areas where you’re currently making technical advances e.g. safety, sustainability, environment?
With warehouses seeking to become more energy efficient, a 300 kilogram pallet shuttle provides a substantial saving in energy for moving a 1 tonne pallet compared to a stacker crane weighing more than 15 tonnes. Able to work in temperatures as low as minus 25 degrees centigrade, it also facilitates high density and efficient cold storage.
Are you investing in staff training and skills development?
Our business culture allows us to attract talent to support our know-how, and we continuously invest in training and development. Our new Technology and Experience Centre at Movu headquarters offers the best conditions for this. Not only do we develop and build our robots there, but we can also use all permanently installed systems on site for training and development purposes Movu certainly is one of the most exciting companies to work for at this time.
Are you taking part in any major trade shows? Can you tell us what you’ll be exhibiting there?
Movu recently exhibited our portfolio of plug and play robotics technologies at Transport and Logistics in Ghent in Belgium and the World ColdChain Expo in Dubai in September followed by the Logistics Summit in Düsseldorf in October. Events to come include Logistica Next in Utrecht, Supply Chain Event in Paris as well as Logistics & Transport in Gothenburg and Logistics & Automation in Madrid during November.
Movu Robotics
t: +49 (0)160-302 4575
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