FEATURE Robotics


THE RISE OF ROBOTICS IN INTRALOGISTICS


The biggest efficiency gains in manufacturing may lie beyond the production line, says Mark Gray, UK Sales Manager for Teradyne


F


or years, manufacturers have focused investment into automation on their production lines to improve productivity, efficiency,


and to increase their outputs. Today, many are discovering that some of their biggest opportunities for efficiency – and increasingly resilience – lie in the movement of materials between processes instead. Many manufacturers have invested heavily in automation on the production line yet still rely on people to move materials between processes.


This dependence on forklift drivers and pallet truck operators can create bottlenecks, while ongoing labour shortages make these roles increasingly difficult to fill. Internal transport can also present significant safety risks in busy factory environments. As a result, intralogistics is fast becoming a strategic priority. Technologies such as autonomous mobile


robots (AMRs) are helping manufacturers automate the movement of materials throughout their facilities, reducing delays and ensuring goods arrive where they are needed, when they are needed. Meanwhile, collaborative industrial


robots (cobots) can support tasks such as palletising, machine tending and line feeding, working safely alongside employees. Together, AMRs and cobots create connected workflows that extend automation beyond the production line and into intralogistics operations. Unlike traditional fixed automation, these flexible systems can adapt to changing layouts, production demands and product mixes. The result is greater productivity,


improved consistency and safer, more resilient operations. A practical example of this trend can be seen at Fermator, a leading manufacturer of automatic elevator doors. Like many


14 July/August 2026 | Automation


manufacturers, Fermator was looking for ways to improve the efficiency and reliability of internal material transport while maintaining high safety standards across its operations. To address these challenges, the company deployed AMRs, including the MiR1200 Pallet Jack, to automate the movement of materials throughout its facility. By taking over repetitive transport tasks, the robots helped create a more consistent flow of goods between processes while reducing the reliance on manual pallet and material handling.


introduction of AMRs enabled employees to step away from repetitive transport duties and focus on problem-solving or other higher-value activities in the intralogistics process. The result was a more efficient and consistent operation, and it highlighted how robotics can transform intralogistics from a traditional support function into a strategic driver of manufacturing performance. Looking ahead, manufacturers are likely to face increasing pressure to produce a wider variety of products with greater speed, while labour shortages and rising costs continue to challenge traditional ways of working. In this environment, flexible robotics is


emerging as the next phase of Industry 4.0. Unlike traditional fixed automation systems, AMRs and cobots can be deployed quickly, work safely alongside people, and adapt to changing production requirements with ease.


It’s this approach that will play an important role in creating future-ready operations.


The impact extended beyond


productivity improvements. Following the deployment, Fermator increased its internal safety performance from 60% to 90%, demonstrating how robotics can help create safer working environments. AI-driven route optimisation also


reduced variability in transport times, ensuring materials arrived where they were needed more predictably. This allowed for smoother production operations. Perhaps most importantly, the


And, as manufacturers search for new ways to increase productivity, some of the biggest efficiency gains will be found beyond the production line itself and in the effective flow of materials throughout a factory.


After all, even the best production line cannot deliver its full potential if its products spend all their time waiting to reach their next stage.


Teradyne www.teradyne.com


automationmagazine.co.uk


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