BEUMER Group has partnered with the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML) to establish a joint three-year “Enterprise Lab” focused on mobile robotics, marking a strategic step to strengthen BEUMER’s position in automated logistics solutions. The collaboration, which began at the end of 2025, brings together BEUMER developers and Fraunhofer scientists to accelerate research and development in scalable mobile robotics platforms.

Located at Fraunhofer IML in Dortmund, near BEUMER’s site, the lab provides access to advanced research infrastructure, including dedicated test areas. Five full-time Fraunhofer researchers will collaborate with BEUMER’s team over the next three years, working on standardized onboard controllers, sensor technologies, localization systems, and fleet management solutions. The platform will support multiple applications, from sortation robots in parcel centers to smart baggage transporters in airports.

“Instead of setting up an isolated island laboratory, we are using the Fraunhofer ‘Enterprise Lab’ as a tried and tested format for incorporating external cutting-edge research directly into our product development. Thus, we are enabled to significantly accelerate our mobile robotics projects and offer our customers innovative solutions even faster,” explains Volker Jungbluth, Chief Technology Officer of BEUMER Group. “Mobile robotics perfectly complements our product and system portfolio in our core areas of ‘Conveying and Sorting’ and offers clear technological and economic advantages: flexibly scalable, space-efficient, fail-safe and powerful. Exactly these points make MR a real lever for transformation in the sortation and logistics environment.”

“We are delighted to be working with our long-standing partner to take our joint cutting-edge research with the “Enterprise Lab” to a new level. Both sides benefit from the collaboration and the exchange of practical experience and application-oriented research. This partnership is broadly based in the field of mobile robotics. We are ambitious to provide the basis for leap innovations in mobile robotics in this cooperation,” emphasises Prof. Alice Kirchheim, Institute Director at Fraunhofer IML.

The “Enterprise Lab” builds on a proven Fraunhofer model, previously implemented with 11 other companies, which fosters close cooperation between industry and science. This approach allows BEUMER to rapidly transfer research outcomes into pilot projects and product improvements while benefiting from cutting-edge academic expertise.

The partnership aligns with BEUMER’s broader innovation strategy, which includes its start-up incubator Beam and recent acquisitions of digital pioneers Codept and Elara in 2025. By combining internal development, start-up collaboration, and academic research, BEUMER aims to drive long-term technological leadership and set new standards in intralogistics.

Both BEUMER and Fraunhofer IML expect the collaboration to accelerate innovation, enhance operational efficiency, and strengthen BEUMER Group’s competitiveness in automated material handling solutions.