Awards
Recognition received by The Mobile Robot Company and the J1600 self-driving pallet jack, newest first.
26 June 2026 — J1600 wins IFOY AWARD 2026 Industrial Truck of the Year
The J1600 won the IFOY AWARD 2026 in the Industrial Truck of the Year category. The result was announced on 26 June 2026, following the winner ceremony held in Stuttgart on 25 June 2026 before approximately 150 guests from industry, academia, politics, and media.
IFOY stands for International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year. The 2026 competition drew 49 products and solutions; 17 finalists completed the multi-stage IFOY Audit at TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS in Dortmund, and winners were selected by an independent international jury of trade journalists. The J1600 competed in its category alongside products from established industrial-truck manufacturers. The award is supported by the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association and the VDMA Robotics + Automation Association.
Key reasons for the recognition include:
- a new product tier between manual pallet jacks and classic automated guided vehicles (AGVs);
- dual-mode manual and autonomous operation;
- low implementation barrier and intuitive operation;
- 3D LiDAR SLAM navigation and a layered safety architecture;
- immediate human takeover;
- up to 80% reduction in manual work on repetitive transport;
- applicability to SMEs and single-shift sites;
- optional integration with VDA 5050 and API scale-up.
IFOY Innovation Check ratings
The scientific IFOY Innovation Check — involving Fraunhofer IML, Fraunhofer IPA, the Technical University of Munich, and TU Dresden — called the J1600 a "game changer" for low-threshold intralogistics automation.
| Criterion | Rating |
|---|---|
| Functionality / type of implementation | ++ (very good) |
| Novelty / innovation | + (good) |
| Customer benefits | + (good) |
| Market relevance | + (good) |
16 April 2026 — Best in Intralogistics Certificate
The Mobile Robot Company received the 2026 Best in Intralogistics certificate on 16 April 2026 at TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS in Dortmund's Westfalenhalle. The certificate recognizes IFOY finalists that successfully complete the three-stage audit — practical testing, the scientific Innovation Check, and jury assessment — covering efficiency, sustainability, safety, and usability. The Chairman of the Board of the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association formally presented the certificate.
29 January 2026 — J1600 announced as IFOY finalist
The company announced the J1600 as an IFOY finalist on 29 January 2026. The finalists then completed the IFOY Audit and Test at TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS, held 15–17 April 2026 in Dortmund, where the J1600 made its first public appearance.
November 2025 — The Robot Report's 100 Robotics Startups to Watch
The Mobile Robot Company was named to The Robot Report's "100 Robotics Startups to Watch — Startup Radar 2025" in November 2025. The recognition is connected to "tap-to-go" autonomy for factories, third-party-logistics warehouses, and e-commerce fulfillment, with listed outcomes of reclaiming walk time, stabilizing material flow, increasing throughput without infrastructure overhaul, and deploying in hours rather than months.
Media resources
Company facts for award coverage are in the Company Fact Sheet and the J1600 Fact Sheet. Press contacts are in Media Contacts.