The global operational stock of industrial robots surged 9% to a record 5 million units in 2025. This was driven by an 11% jump in annual installations: factories worldwide installed more than 600,000 new units over the year. “Industrial automation is progressing at high speed,” says Jane Heffner, President of the International Federation of Robotics. “The new mark of five million robots operational in factories worldwide is more than double the number seven years ago. The strongest growth is taking place in Asia, followed by the Americas. Europe is moving ahead more slowly.”
This article was first published in the October 15th 2026 issue of Warehouse & Logistics News, subscribe to the magazine by clicking here.
Finnish retailing conglomerate, Kesko is building a new logistics centre in Nurmijärvi, Finland, and has selected KNAPP as its automation partner for the first phase of the facility. The solution being supplied by KNAPP combines automation with manual logistics processes. It includes automated pallet handling, high-bay storage solutions, shuttle-based storage and goods-to-person small-item picking. Detailed planning for the automation solution is beginning now, with installation scheduled to begin in 2028, and the logistics centre is expected to go live in phases during 2029–2030.
Kave Home is set to enhance its supply chain capabilities through a new automated logistics hub in Tordera, Barcelona, developed in partnership with TGW Logistics. The facility will incorporate integrated storage and order-fulfilment technologies, including miniload systems, automated high-bay warehouses, AMRs, and advanced palletising solutions. Once operational, the platform will improve the company’s efficiency in serving e-commerce, retail, and B2B customers.
Generative AI is moving supply chains beyond traditional automation toward intelligent, adaptive, and value-driven operations. Right now, Gen AI can optimise manufacturing processes and transform logistics, with real-time views of global transportation routes. Full end to end transformation cannot be achieved, however, unless organisations bridge these silos and embrace automated loading and unloading, insists Wouter Satijn, Chief Revenue Officer, Joloda Hydraroll.
As parcel volumes continue to rise, courier, express and parcel (CEP) operators are facing mounting pressure from increasingly diverse parcel streams and ongoing labour shortages. These challenges are stretching existing operations and highlighting the need for greater automation across the handling process. In response, BEUMER Group has introduced BEUMER robotpick, a fully autonomous robotic picking and singulation solution designed to transform bulk parcel handling. Capable of automating up to 99.9% of parcel processing, the technology offers a significant step forward in operational efficiency and workforce optimisation.
Advances in artificial intelligence, machine vision and sensing are increasing robot capabilities, while easier programming and system integration are reducing deployment costs and opening automation to new applications and customer groups.
George Simpson
Features Editor
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