KUKA, a German-based supplier of intelligent robotics, has released the KMF 1500P-CB, an autonomous counterbalance forklift designed for transporting different types of pallets and containers over longer distances within factories and warehouses.

According to the company, the product is the first model in what will be known as the KMF 1500P family of autonomous forklifts. Able to handle containers weighing up to 1,500kg, it represents a flexible solution for automating material flows.

One of the distinguishing features of the KMF 1500P-CB is its counterbalance architecture.

Unlike material-handling systems that may require access beneath or around a load, the counterbalanced design enables the autonomous forklift to pick up pallets and containers at enclosed transfer points such as roller conveyors.

This expands the range of production and logistics environments in which the vehicle can be deployed and reduces the need to redesign existing interfaces around automated transport equipment.

KUKA says this flexibility can help customers introduce pallet automation into established facilities more easily.

“Manufacturers are under increasing pressure to maintain reliable and cost-effective material flows despite ongoing labour shortages,” says Christian Mühsam, product manager at KUKA.

“With the new forklift family, we’re helping them automate transport processes and improve safety.

“At the same time, we’re expanding our portfolio with solutions that go beyond traditional horizontal material transport.”

Power for the KMF 1500P-CB is supplied by lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.

The batteries are replenished using conductive charging technology, supporting integration into automated operating cycles.

Combined with autonomous operation, the charging architecture is intended to enable the forklift to perform repetitive transport tasks with limited manual intervention and support high equipment availability in production and logistics environments.