The IMHX logistics industry show has wrapped up in Birmingham with organisers, the UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) and Informa Markets, setting three key themes for the event which reflected industry interest  - sustainability strategies; smart technology and safety and operational excellence.

The event was well attended, according to those who spoke with Forkliftaction News, with a number of unique attractions for the event proving popular including the IMHXperience Zone which included product demonstrations of forklifts, robots and other technologies.

In the IMHXperience Zone attendees had the opportunity to experience hands-on forklift demonstrations, guided by industry experts from Mentor Training, a UK-based forklift training organisation. 

Those participating in the IMHXperience Zone included some major industry players such as Hangcha, Combilift, Crown as well as Elan Europe, Mentor, Ocado, Whittan and Workplace Products.

Product launches and showcases

There were not a lot of new product launches at IMHX, with many companies instead choosing to showcase products which were launched earlier.

Toyota Material Handling UK (TMHUK) did launch its Traigo48 and Traigo-i electric counterbalance forklift models. 

The Traigo48 range is offered with a choice of 3 or 4-wheels, and TMHUK says, is designed for high productivity environments which require versatility. It has a payload capacity of up to 2T, operates on a 48V battery and can reach speeds of 16km/h.

The Traigo-i Li-ion, three-wheel counterbalance forklift is available in a 1.6T model and 2T model. It operates on a 48V battery and can also reach speeds up to 16km/h.

The four-wheel Traigo-i also runs on a 48V battery, has a 2T capacity, a reach height of 7.5m, and a maximum speed of 19km/h.

The CFTS, the UK’s accrediting body for Thorough Examinations, launched its paperwork-free CFTS Thorough Examination App, making it easier and faster for equipment operators to complete and manage their compulsory checks.

Rob Fisher, director of CFTS’s parent body UKMHA, says: “This tool is the biggest step forward in Thorough Examination since the industry launched CFTS, 21 years ago. 

“The app will reduce admin time, track certification, and help technicians deliver a fast, compliant inspection every time,” Fisher continues. “It’s taken years of hard work to make sure every angle is covered. We’re excited to give IMHX visitors this exclusive first chance to get hands-on."

Crown showcased its WJ 50 Series pedestrian pallet truck launched in July, along with its SP 1500 Series order picker launched in May 2024.

The WJ 50 Series is a compact, lightweight, electric pallet truck which can handle loads up to 1.5T. It is powered by a 48V lithium-ion battery and weighs just 159.5kg for the 1.2T model.

The SP 1500 Series has the option for Crown’s Xpress Lower technology, enabling the stockpicker to lower its mast up to 2.5 times faster than competing forklifts while the regenerative lowering system returns power to the battery.

Crown says its stand at IMHX was “absolutely buzzing”.

“From exceptional conversations to live truck demonstrations, technology insights, and the launch of our brand-new WJ lithium pallet truck, IMHX 2025 was a true celebration of what’s possible in materials handling,” the company states on LinkedIn.

“We were proud to round off the week with a win at the UKMHA Archie Awards and also celebrate Crown’s 80th year!”

Knapp showcased its autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) including its Aerobot intelligent storage system which was launched at LogiMAT in March where it picked up the Best Product Award.

French warehouse robotics developer Exotec showcased its Next Generation of Skypod, the latest iteration of its automated storage and retrieval system.

The Next Generation of Skypod features a more compact robot, robot-to-robot picking, a high-throughput exchanger, denser storage, and new software features which Exotec says can improve single workstation throughput by 50% compared to the previous generation.

Irish materials handling equipment manufacturer Combilift, exhibiting at IMHX for the first time this year, held a unique competition at the event to celebrate production of its 100,000th multidirectional forklift by offering the machine as a raffle prize.

Combilift set a goal of raising EUR100,000 (USD117,638) from the raffle, with all proceeds being donated to UNICEF to deliver urgent aid to children impacted by conflict and natural disasters. The competition closes December 15.

Safety a key talking point

Safety evolved as not only a theme but a key topic discussed by those attending, with companies exhibiting safety technology reporting strong interest.

There were a number of exhibitors showing systems designed to keep people, equipment and infrastructure protected and safe. These include Essensium with its SafeTrack and PalletTrack, Powerfleet’s Pedestrian Proximity Detection and ZoneSafe’s Vehicle to Person Alert Proximity Warning System.

UK-based electronic control and monitoring equipment developer, Davis Derby Limited, launched its AIC4 - AI Pedestrian Detection System. 

“The four-camera system has been designed for the forklift market with configurable warning zones, configurable driver alerts and configurable outputs to enable trucks to be slowed down if pedestrians get too close,” the company states.

Petrus Malherbe, head of content with Powerfleet, which was also showcasing its Unity platform which connects warehouse operations with on-road fleet management, tells Forkliftaction News the quality of visitors to its exhibit was “impressive”.

“Workplace safety was the dominant conversation, particularly around preventing forklift-pedestrian accidents and achieving measurable safety improvements,” Malherbe continues.

“Visitors were highly engaged with AI-powered safety solutions and the practical use of collision avoidance technology.”

Rack Collapse Prevention (RCP) managing director, Lee Whiting, agrees safety was a major theme of the event, as well as accident prevention technology and a strong interest in innovations which reduce risk without high upfront capital expenditure.
RCP was showcasing its Spy Rack early detection system.

Victoria Vincent, marketing manager with UK-headquartered B&B Attachments, says a recurring theme across IMHX 2025 was the continued push for efficiency, safety, and sustainability in materials handling. 

“Visitors were particularly interested in technology that reduce downtime, improve load visibility, and support safer handling in increasingly complex warehouse environments,” Vincent adds.

“Automation and smart attachments drew attention, with many conversations focused on how these solutions can streamline operations without requiring a complete overhaul of existing equipment.

“Sustainability was also a hot topic, with businesses seeking handling solutions that are not only durable and adaptable but also contribute to lowering their environmental footprint.”

Quieter than usual?

There was mixed sentiment on how busy the event was with organisers forecasting some 10,000 visitors would attend.

Most attendees we spoke with report the first two days of the event were busy however, the third day had significantly lower attendance.

Lee Whiting from RCP was among those who said there could be merit in the event becoming a two-day show.

Araitz Claramunt Oregi, content marketing specialist with Logisnext said the event was “interesting, even if all exhibitors seemed to agree that this year it was quite quiet”. Logisnext did not exhibit this year.

Official attendance figures were not available at the time of publication.