French autonomous mobile robot (AMR) maker iFollow is promising to “transform order picking and heavy load transport in warehouses and logistics operations” in the UK, with a contract with a major UK grocery retailer already in place.

The AMRs can carry two roll cages at once in cold stores and ambient warehouses, making them an ideal productivity-boosting solution for grocery logistics. The robust AMRs can also travel on rough floors, and being just 17cm high – approximately half as tall as other AMRs – gives the iFollow robot a further advantage in reducing overall height when carrying roll cages.

Frazer Watson, UK - Ireland country manager at iFollow, says: “With labour shortages being a major challenge, the ability of iFollow robots to transport two roll cages at once will clearly transform the operational performance of grocery DCs. Designing and manufacturing our own robots and using our own software allows us to tailor solutions to meet the needs of individual applications.

“Intelligent robots offer a flexible solution that can be easily adapted to changing needs, which makes iFollow’s technology ideal for supporting post-covid era grocery warehouse operations, which are facing demands for ever-shorter delivery times from growing e-commerce channels as well as store orders.”

Founded in March 2017 by Vincent Jacquemart and Nicolas Menigoz, iFollow has raised EUR7.5 million (USD8.5 million) to expand its assembly line, currently based in Gentilly, France. Production is planned to increase tenfold to reach 1,500 robots per year.

With over 100 robots already operational, iFollow is aiming to deliver at least 500 new AMRs in 2022.