Is robotics just a short-lived trend or will it dominate the intralogistics of tomorrow? The latest study by Unitechnik Systems GmbH shows that companies see robotics solutions primarily as a way to increase productivity and as an opportunity to combat the shortage of skilled workers. Almost 75 percent of those surveyed are planning future investments in robotic systems, demonstrating the high relevance of the topic. At LogiMAT, Unitechnik will be presenting a practical example of the integration of robotic solutions at Stand J21 Hall 1 and will be making the study results available to interested parties free of charge.
Only just under half of all respondents (48 percent) already use robotic technology to support intralogistics, but almost three quarters will invest in it in the future. This is one of the findings of the study recently conducted by Unitechnik with more than 150 participants from companies in various sectors. Autonomous in-house material transportation is the most common task currently performed by robots or AMR systems. Palletizing, packaging and picking tasks are also performed. The majority of respondents (82%) associate the introduction of robotic solutions with an increase in productivity. Almost 70 percent see this as a suitable means of combating the shortage of skilled workers. However, many study participants (67%) are put off by the high investment costs and interface integration (43%). There is a small surprise when it comes to the criteria for selecting a robotics provider: in addition to the obvious price-performance ratio (74%), 69% of respondents attach importance to the provider's logistical planning expertise. Consequently, respondents would rather commission a system integrator specializing in robotics or a general contractor (37 percent) than a robotics manufacturer (8 percent) with a robotics solution. It turns out that robots are usually an integrated component in a complex material flow system and require a high level of interface expertise during implementation.
“The results of our study are also incorporated into a white paper,” says Michael Huhn, Head of Sales at Unitechnik. “In it, we shed light on the reasons for deciding for or against robotic systems and provide tips for rapid integration.”
LogiMAT 2025: Experience AI-based robotics up close
Visitors to this year's LogiMAT can also experience the automation of the future live at the Unitechnik stand. A robot from Sereact will be on site to demonstrate how versatile and precise state-of-the-art technologies are. Visitors can test the robot's capabilities directly by challenging it with everyday objects. Unitechnik will also be presenting other automation solutions and will be happy to answer questions about the integration of robotic systems.
Information on the robotics study is available here: www.unitechnik.com/logistiksysteme/robotik.html
