More than 50,000 material handling, logistics and transportation professionals gathered last week at ProMat 2025 in Chicago, Illinois, to see the latest equipment and technology available for addressing manufacturing and supply chain challenges.
Autonomous mobile robots, automated storage and retrieval systems, automated guided vehicle systems, conveyors and order fulfillment automation headed the list of product categories with the most exhibitors.
However, companies that provide inventory management software, platforms for managing varying types of automated equipment in a single system, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and end-of-line packaging were credited with the “latest, greatest” advancements in technology.
Orchestrating automated fleets
Real-time automation platforms are becoming more important as companies deploy automated equipment working in the same footprint but using varying signals, said Carolina Handling Systems Engineer Jacob Barrett.
“If AGVs or AMRs are not from the same provider, they usually use different signals,” Barrett explained. “You need a platform to interpret those signals to make sure it’s sending out the right information. It’s a traffic manager in a lot of ways.”
Carolina Handling has formed a partnership with Kinexon to provide its customers with an option for orchestrating automated fleets. Kinexon’s fleet management software integrates and communicates with diverse groups of AMRs and AGVs, regardless of the manufacturer or type.
“The software will track everything,” said Carolina Handling Senior Systems Sales Manager Bill Bray. “It knows where the lifts are, it knows where the bots are, and it knows when a cell is about to be completed. It tracks all of that and optimizes the best path for pickup and delivery.”
Advancements in sustainability
End-of-line packaging companies also received shout outs for technological advancements, including a new system called PaperWrap from Ranpak Automation. The new solution uses paper rather than traditional plastic film for pallet wrapping, offering a sustainable option for companies focused on green initiatives.
Using recyclable kraft paper, PaperWrap can lower CO2 emissions by up to 62 percent, compared with similar plastic solutions, according to the company.
Recycling plastic stretch wrap also is becoming a popular option for environmentally minded companies, according to Carolina Handling’s Barrett.
For example, Charlotte, North Carolina-based Atlantic Packaging accepts bales of used stretch film from customers. After searching film for any contaminants, Atlantic’s stretch film recycling installation shreds, granulates and transforms the film into PCR resin pellets that can be repurposed for new stretch film applications.
Automation moves downstream
Right-size packaging, load unitizing, labeling and other end-of-line processes also received a lot of attention at ProMat as more companies begin moving downstream from automation of core production processes to automating highly manual packaging processes.
“It’s the last thing you do before you get the product out the door, so there’s got to be some type of value-add for processes like labeling, sealing and case erecting,” Barrett said. “Right-size packaging has become extremely popular because there is a big savings on shipping costs.”
Equipment to cut boxes for an exact fit and those that build boxes around products also are gaining traction.
“Those are more expensive integrated technologies, but once you figure out the profile and you’re sizing boxes to fit, you’re cutting down on manual packing and shipping costs and you begin to see the ROI,” Barrett said.
Modula Flexibox offers high-speed order fulfillment
Another technological advancement to note, according to Carolina Handling engineers, is the Modula Flexibox, which features a central elevator with a telescopic fork that can retrieve up to nine bins simultaneously.
The VLM's advanced system groups multiple order references within a single tray, which significantly reduces operator wait times and enables faster order fulfillment. When an order is received, Flexibox analyzes all order lines and uses the central elevator to retrieve the required bins. Bins are then placed on a service tray delivered directly to the picking bay, allowing operators to complete multiple order lines in a single cycle.
An authorized Modula dealer since 2021, Carolina Handling sells, installs and services Modula’s advanced vertical storage and retrieval systems designed to reduce storage space and boost productivity in order picking.
Go HERE for more information on integrated automation solutions from Carolina Handling.
