INDUSTRY 4.0-5.0 Automation in Irish Manufacturing:
start with repetitive tasks
A
utomation is high on the agenda for Irish manufacturers, but it is often perceived as expensive, complex and
disruptive. In reality, many of the quickest wins come not from replacing production machinery, but from automating the routine material movements that quietly consume hours every week.
Clearlift Material Handling, EP Equipment’s
exclusive partner on the island of Ireland, focuses on solutions that deliver measurable improvements without major upheaval. EP Equipment’s XP15 1,500kg automated pallet truck is a strong example from manual to automated pallet handling, without the complexity and cost traditionally associated with warehouse automation.
A NEW APPROACH: INNOVATION THROUGH SIMPLICITY
Warehouse automation is frequently linked to new systems, long integration projects and specialist IT support. The XP15 challenges that assumption. Developed around the principle of ’innovation through simplicity’, it is a genuine plug-and-play solution designed to integrate into everyday warehouse and factory operations with minimal setup.
The XP15 sits neatly between a conventional
electric pallet truck and an automated driving system. It combines the familiarity of manual to operate in manual mode when required, or switch to automatic mode for repetitive routes. For facilities looking to remove routine A–B pallet movement from the working day, it offers a practical and scalable entry point into automation at a very low cost.
HOW IT WORKS
pallet/product transport inside a manufacturing or warehouse environment. The operating model is route, delivers the pallet and returns empty, ready for the next run where it can either pick up another load or park in position waiting for a command.
Automation must support safety, not compromise it. The XP15 is engineered for mixed environments where people, forklifts and pallet trucks share space. It uses dual laser protection systems to support reliable navigation and collision
prevention, and it is designed to meet established electric pallet truck safety standards. The result is a dependable automated solution that can operate
READY FOR IMMEDIATE DEPLOYMENT One of the key barriers to automation is the belief that it takes weeks to implement. The XP15 is designed for rapid deployment. With a plug-in battery system and no requirement for Wi-Fi or complex software installations, it can be introduced quickly and put to work with minimal disruption to operations. It is also built for day- to-day industrial use. The robust design keeps servicing requirements low, helping to reduce downtime and lower total operating costs over the long term.
START WHERE THE WASTE IS: REPETITIVE TRANSPORT TASKS
In almost every manufacturing and warehousing facility, there are predictable routes that absorb time and labour every shift: inbound-to-storage goods to dispatch, collecting empty pallets and waste and routine replenishment runs. These movements are essential, but they are not high-skill tasks. They require consistency, safe repetition and time and they often distract teams from work that genuinely adds value. Begin by identifying these repetitive journeys and automating one route at a time. This incremental redesign the entire operation, and it allows with a controlled pilot.
22 January/February 2026 Irish Manufacturing
AUTOMATION SUPPORTS PEOPLE, IT DOES NOT REPLACE THEM
A common concern is that automation removes jobs. In practice, the immediate impact of automating internal transport is usually the opposite: it frees skilled employees from repetitive movement so they can focus on higher-value work, loading and unloading, quality checks, line support, inventory control and day-to-day operational management. The goal is not fewer people, but better use of people: less wasted motion, reduced fatigue, improved safety and more consistent output.
MOVING FROM INTEREST TO IMPLEMENTATION
For manufacturers considering automation, the right next step is rarely ‘buy a robot’. It is most repetitive? Where do delays occur? Which movements restrict throughput? Where is productivity being lost through internal transport? success measures: time saved per shift, reduced manual handling, smoother replenishment, improved on-time dispatch, or more consistent line feeding. Clearlift supports this practical approach
by helping businesses identify suitable routes, implement a controlled pilot, and build a return- on-investment case grounded in operational data. They are about to open a new dedicated automation demonstration centre in Navan, where customers individual “routes” can be replicated and where the ever-expanding range of EP Equipment’s AGV’s can be seen operating. Jonathan Savage CEO said, “We are investing in this facility because it is very clear that our industry is ready for the move to automation. EP Equipment are the world’s most innovative company in the material handling equipment industry and together we will deliver automation solutions to the mass market at a viable cost, something that sets us apart”.
A SENSIBLE FIRST MOVE Automation has never been more attainable. For manufacturers under pressure to do more with fewer resources, reduce risk and improve consistency, automating pallet movement is a and helping Irish businesses remain competitive. https://clearlift.
https://ep-equipment.com/amr/
www.irish-manufacturing.com
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