Italy's Vibo Introduces Autonomous Mobile Robots to Optimize Internal Logistics

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Facing the dual pressures of labor shortages and accelerated production rhythms, a number of manufacturers are introducing autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) into factory internal logistics to reduce reliance on traditional forklift operations and alleviate bottlenecks in material transport.

Forklifts have been the primary equipment for industrial material handling since the mid-20th century, supporting the flow of raw materials, components, and finished goods in modern manufacturing environments through palletized transport. However, as product variety increases and throughput pressure rises, the reactive nature of traditional internal logistics is becoming increasingly apparent: material flow interruptions and production delays occur frequently, while manual handling processes remain under sustained strain. Against this backdrop, some companies are beginning to reassess the effectiveness of traditional transport methods.

Autonomous mobile robots can be deployed on factory floors without modifying existing infrastructure, making them a significant option for internal logistics automation. Compared with traditional automation systems, AMRs require shorter downtime during implementation while retaining the flexibility needed for production adjustments. They can handle tasks such as line-side feeding, pallet transport, and work-in-progress movement, reducing dependence on forklifts and improving the consistency of material flow. By taking over repetitive transport tasks, employees are freed to focus on higher-value activities, while vehicle traffic and labor pressure are also reduced.

Fermator has introduced AMRs to automate internal pallet transport and material flow, with the system operating autonomously through intelligent navigation and AI-driven path optimization without requiring changes to the existing layout. As a result, the company has reduced inter-process waiting times, improved production continuity, and raised its internal safety performance from 60% to 90%.

Italian manufacturer Vibo faced a similar challenge at its Trissino assembly plant: operators drove forklifts to move pallets between production and storage areas, with charging cycles and manual handling consuming significant working hours. The plant deployed the MiR1200 Pallet Jack, which works alongside employees in a mixed environment of people and vehicles. The system was also implemented without modifying the layout, leveraging autonomous navigation and AI-based pallet detection to enable continuous transport of various load types throughout the day. Vibo has thereby achieved more stable plant-wide material flow, while operators have been reassigned to higher-value positions, enhancing operational resilience.

These two cases reflect a common approach among manufacturers to addressing internal logistics challenges, which are prevalent in UK factories. As a complement to existing processes, technologies such as AMRs and collaborative industrial robots (cobots) are helping companies prepare for long-term material flow strategies. Forklifts will remain in future factories, but reliance on them is expected to gradually decline. The future of manufacturing will depend equally on the movement of materials and on the production process itself. Amid persistent labor shortages and rising productivity pressures, internal logistics is becoming a key focus for operational improvement, and manufacturers that adopt a more strategic approach to material movement are more likely to enhance productivity, strengthen safety, and build resilience in competitive markets.