It has already been the case for three years that not just forklift manufacturers but also all intralogistics providers have been able to enter their innovations for the IFOY Award.
Now, the IFOY organisation has integrated intralogistics also as part of the name. The "International Forklift Truck of the Year" is being rechristened "International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year" Award – the abbreviation "IFOY" remains unchanged.
"IFOY was launched as a forklift award and has become the benchmark for innovation in intralogistics. From the beginning, we received entries from system and software providers, and the forklift manufacturers have long been building not just materials handling equipment but also competing with the providers of integrated intralogistics systems. The renaming of the award is a logical step and levels the playing field for all entrants", are the reasons given by Anita Würmser, Executive Jury Chairperson for the IFOY Award.
Despite the fact that the categories have been expanded, the jury will in future continue to nominate only the best entrants for the final round. Also unchanged is the testing and selection method, which will be supplemented by the test procedure and the innovation checks for the new categories. The results of the tests and expert opinions form the basis for the decisions of the international jury made up of trade journalists from 17 countries.
In order to more clearly document the high level of innovation and the technical quality of the finalists, a "Best in Intralogistics" seal of approval is being introduced for the products and solutions that pass the IFOY test procedure – recognised as the toughest selection process – with flying colours.
New IFOY categories in 2018
The entry categories have also been redefined. The newly named "Intralogistics Software of the Year" and "Intralogistics Robot of the Year" categories will in future be for apps, software solutions or robot-supported solutions for intralogistics applications.
In the slightly modified category "Integrated Warehouse Solution", the focus is not on the vehicles but on planning and implementation expertise. The award recognises successfully implemented holistic warehouse solutions at a customer location.
Awards are presented for the best "cranes and lifting devices" every two years at the CeMAT.
The "Special Vehicle" category is being expanded to include "Heavy Load Forklifts". Entries are accepted for special vehicle design as well as container stackers, on-board forklifts, truck-mounted forklifts or heavy duty forklifts with a load capacity of more than eight tons.
The traditional forklift truck categories – "Counter Balanced Truck" up to 3.5 and over 3.5 tons – as well as the "Warehouse Truck" categories "highlifter" and "lowlifter" for trucks with lifting heights above and below six metres remain unchanged. In the "Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV)" category, driverless transport vehicles and shuttles will be vying for the award.
The category "Special of the Year" recognises outstanding technical details or components, such as ergonomic innovations, safety solutions, automation components, but also drive technologies.
