The finalists for this year’s “Ifoy Award” (International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year) have been determined. In the ninth round of the competition, which is also known as the “Oscar of intralogistics”, the jury has selected 17 devices and solutions from 14 manufacturers from the field of 36 applicants to compete for the best intralogistics products and solutions of the year. “This year, the jury concentrated on a few top models in classic forklifts and warehouse technology, and focused very much on the warehouse of the not-so-distant future in the nominations. This is a clear statement of where the journey in intralogistics is heading; autonomization, technology, software and holistic solutions are more important than ever right now. The final will be highly exciting,” says Anita Würmser, chairwoman of the “Ifoy” jury.

The finalists include Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV), robots, special vehicles, software and complex warehouse solutions. The companies Arculus, Cargotec Engineering, Hai Robotics, Hänel, H+E Produktentwicklung, HHLA Sky, BMW subsidiary Idealworks, Interroll Group, Nimmsta, Oppidum Tic, Still, Synaos, Volume Lagersysteme and Waku Robotics all want to win a trophy.

All finalists will undergo the three-stage “Ifoy” audit at the international “Ifoy Test Days” from March 22 to 26 – for the first time in 2021 at the Messe Dortmund exhibition center. In the “Ifoy” Test, experts measure the key figures of the finalists in a standardized procedure. In the “Ifoy” Innovation Check, scientists assess the innovative value of the nominated products and solutions. The Innovation Check is conducted by specialists from the Dortmund Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML), the Chair of Technical Logistics at the University of Dresden and the Chair of Materials Handling, Material Flow and Logistics (fml) at the Technical University of Munich. At the end of the “Ifoy Test Days”, jurors from Europe, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa will travel to the Ruhr area to inspect the nominated equipment and test it themselves.

The jury consists of trade journalists from leading logistics media from 21 countries. The criteria assessed include innovation value, technology, ergonomics and handling, safety, marketability, design and customer benefits, as well as cost-effectiveness and sustainability. Important to know: Finalists are not compared with each other in their respective categories, but with their competitive devices on the market. “Only those who outperform their direct competitors in terms of innovation have a chance of winning,” Würmser emphasizes.

The coveted trophies will be awarded on May 21 at the Hofburg in Vienna. In cooperation with Logistik.Kurier and the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, the award ceremony will take place as part of the Austrian Hermes Verkehrs.Logistik.Preis gala. Several hundred international guests are expected in the tradition-steeped Great Ballroom of the Hofburg, including the top names in transport, logistics and intralogistics. Until then, the result will remain a secret – both for the finalists and for the public.

Under the motto “Ifoy meets Business”, B2B trade visitors from logistics will again be admitted on two days in 2021 as part of the “Ifoy Test Days” – on March 25 and 26. The Test Camp Intralogistics enables logistics decision-makers to take test drives, test equipment and hold intensive technical discussions with company representatives who have made it to the “Ifoy Award” finals with their equipment and solutions. In addition, nominated vehicles and solutions from previous years will also be presented.