The Lowpad has been named best logistics innovation of 2019 by the expert jury of the Logistica Award 2019. The low and omnidirectional AGV transports almost all load carriers - a new milestone in the lightning-fast development of AGVs, the jury said.
Jury chairman René de Koster presented the Logistica Award to Eurotec, the company behind the Lowpad, on Tuesday during the first day of Logistica trade fair. The other nominees were the Container Unloader from Copal Handling Systems, the Box Pick Cell from Robomotive and the VebaBox from VebaBox Cool Solutions. In addition to the professional award, a public award was also presented, which was also won by Eurotec.
Distinctive AGV
The six-member jury called the Lowpad a 'new milestone' in the lightning-fast development of automated guided vehicles (AGV). The vehicle is only 12 centimetres high and can lift and move shelving units, roll containers and Danish carts. Distinctive features include the powered steering wheels at the four corners of the vehicle, which allow the Lowpad to move in any direction from standstill; including diagonally or around a bend.
Navigation technology
In addition, the expert jury praised the Lowpad's navigation technology, which, unlike many existing AGVs, does not require the installation of facilities in the environment. The Lowpad only needs an image of the floor to determine its location with an accuracy of a few millimetres. A combination of safety sensors and safety bumpers ensures that employees are not at risk when the Lowpad enters their work area with loads up to 600 kilograms.
Applicable in daily operations
Jury chairman René de Koster praised the quality of the entries. "These range from innovative improvements to existing systems to new, concrete solutions. All innovations are all highly applicable in daily logistics practice," said De Koster, professor of logistics & operations management at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Logistica
The Logistica Award is a joint initiative of the Logistica Foundation and Jaarbeurs. The Logistica trade fair will take place from 5 to 7 November 2019. Check the website for the full programme or register here directly.
