Global Material Handling Competition Narrows Field to 17 Finalists
The international IFOY competition has cut its field of material handling innovators down to 17 finalists from an initial pool of 49 applications. The selected products and solutions, representing eight countries, will now compete for recognition across five major categories.
Winners will be named in Integrated Customer Solutions, Industrial Trucks, Robot Warehouse System, Intralogistics Software, and Special of the Year. The finalist roster includes established players like Crown, Jungheinrich, KNAPP, Locus Robotics, SSI SCHÄFER, and STILL, along with newer entrants like idealworks, Libiao Robotics, Mobotic, Nomagic, PureLoX SOLUTIONS, The Mobile Robot Company, and Wiltsche Fördersysteme.
Live Testing Phase Begins in April
All finalists will face the IFOY Audit during the Test Camp Intralogistics on April 15-16 in Dortmund. The event opens to industry visitors, giving warehouse operators and logistics providers a chance to experience and test the innovations firsthand before final judging.
This hands-on evaluation phase sets IFOY apart from typical industry awards—finalists must prove their technology works in real-world conditions, not just on paper. The winners of the IFOY AWARD 2026 will be announced June 25 at the Atrium of AEB in Stuttgart.
Startup Competition Highlights Emerging Players
Beyond the main product categories, four young companies are competing for the IFOY Start-up of the Year title: AI2Connect, Koiotech, Pyck, and Romb Technologies. This category spotlights emerging technology providers that could reshape material handling operations in the coming years.
For 3PLs and fulfillment operators evaluating new warehouse technology, the IFOY finalists represent a curated shortlist of solutions that have already passed initial industry vetting. The April test camp offers a rare opportunity to see competing technologies side-by-side before making investment decisions.
