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In the category of “Order Picking, Conveying, Lifting, and Storing Technology,” the jury selected AeroBot, a new product developed by Austrian manufacturer KNAPP (Hall 3, Booth 3B03).

The innovative AeroBot system – which is being introduced to the public at LogiMAT 2025 – offers a smart, scalable design for robot-operated compact storage. AeroBots are a new generation of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that complement the technology company’s range of automated storage systems. Innovations include friction drive technology and state-of-the-art lidar technology that allows the bots to navigate warehouses in three dimensions – something unique in the industry to date. This also makes the AeroBots uniquely suited for the high levels of flexibility and scalability that today’s warehouse customers expect. AeroBots move under the shelving system and vertically along the shelves to the specified storage location. There, a small bot satellite, located directly on the AeroBot, handles the storage and retrieval of the system containers, known as aeroboxes, which can be stored up to four deep and filled to a weight of up to 35 kg. Another plus: The system containers allow the AeroBots to accommodate different load dividers, making it possible to store a wide variety of product groups together in one system. Compact warehouses accommodate heights of up to 12 meters with different shelf heights in a single system for maximum storage density. KNAPP’s proprietary KiSoft firmware controls the process, orchestrates the AeroBots and SatBots, and integrates the mechanical components into the overlying software systems.

In the category of “Identification, Cargo Securement, and Packaging and Loading Technology,” the award went to the RFID Reader Generation 4 from KATHREIN Solutions (Hall 2, Booth 2A17).

The fourth and latest generation of the RAIN RFID Reader from KATHREIN Solutions, which is being introduced at LogiMAT 2025, features numerous innovations that enable optimized logistics processes. The Gen4 readers come in two models: an antenna reader unit (ARU) with an integrated antenna and three ports for external antennas, and a reader unit (RRU) with four ports for external antennas. The integrated antenna in the ARU Gen4 is a circularly polarized phased-array antenna system that has three scalable antenna beams. Two of these beams are wide and aligned to the left and right, the third beam is narrow and aligned straight ahead. This technology enables reliable data capture even in complex environments. Positioned on a forklift truck, the device can reliably read each individual transponder on a pallet. This makes it possible to take real-time inventory of the transponders attached to a pallet while it is still in motion – and to report this to the ERP system via the integrated wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi and/or 5G) of the KATHREIN Gen4 reader. When forklift trucks load or unload pallets on a truck, or when pallets are moved within the warehouse, the RFID-tagged products are automatically read and their movements registered. This real-time integration eliminates expensive, time-consuming processes of collecting such data. It also eliminate the need to capture transponder data with RFID gates. And finally, the Gen4 readers boast a 40% reduction in power consumption and a 50% smaller footprint of raw materials. With all that, the RFID Reader Generation 4 not only lowers operating costs, it also supports sustainability strategies.

In the category of “Software, Communications, IT,” this year’s award honored PSIwms AI from PSI Software | Business Unit Logistics (Hall 4, Booth 4D41).

PSIwms AI offers a range of solutions focusing on automation and process optimization. PSI’s AI platform gives customers a brand-new tool for analyzing, planning, and optimizing logistics processes in the warehouse. The AI solution analyzes thousands of warehouse operation scenarios every hour and makes recommendations for optimization based on a digital twin of the actual warehouse that generates data used to train machine learning models (algorithms). This virtual test warehouse is connected to the warehouse management system (WMS) and represents the physical warehouse by reflecting all relevant processes and features. This makes it possible to carry out non-invasive tests to see how the most important KPIs change when adjustments are made in the warehouse. In a reference project, the platform analyzed the relevant processes of a distribution center with 750,000 storage locations and more than 700 employees. The processes were optimized to such an extent that picking routes were shortened by about 31% and the efficiency of the entire picking process was boosted by some 23%. An interface connects the AI platform directly to PSIwms so that changes in the physical warehouse are automatically transferred in real time to the digital twin, where they can be integrated into the analysis. One unique selling point is that changes to the WMS process or a reconfiguration of the system are also automatically incorporated into the AI platform. The AI platform will be showcased in Stuttgart.

Background information:

The BEST PRODUCT award was initiated by the organizers of LogiMAT in order to draw attention to the outstanding achievements of the exhibitors, many of whom are small or medium-sized businesses. Over the years, the award has honored innovative products that have made a significant contribution to streamlining processes, cutting costs, and enhancing productivity in the internal logistics of businesses. The BEST PRODUCT award is presented in three categories:

• Software, Communications, IT
• Order Picking, Conveying, Lifting, and Storing Technology
• Identification, Cargo Securement, and Packaging and Loading Technology

In the run-up to LogiMAT, an independent jury of scholars and journalists critically evaluates the submissions based on the aforementioned criteria, then selects the winners. The award has since been recognized as one of the most coveted distinctions in the intralogistics industry. Winners are presented with a certificate and a medal during the gala opening ceremony of LogiMAT.

Members of the BEST PRODUCT award jury:

Dr. Johannes Fottner, Professor and Chair of the Institute for Materials Handling, Material Flow, Logistics at the Technical University of Munich (Jury President)

Jan Kaulfuhs-Berger from the industry journal Technische Logistik

Dr. Alice Kirchheim, Professor at TU Dortmund Department of Material Flow and Logistics Management, Institute Director at Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML

Matthias Pieringer from the industry journal LOGISTIK HEUTE

Prof. Wolf-Michael Scheid (Dr.-Ing.); Association of German Engineers, Society for Production and Logistics (VDI-GPL)

Dr. Robert Schulz, Professor, University of Stuttgart, Institute of Mechanical Handling and Logistics (IFT)

Tobias Schweikl from the industry journal LOGISTRA