The first generation of Rocla's automated warehouse trucks.

Rocla Oyj has introduced the first generation of its automated warehouse trucks as a solution to the labour shortage in the logistics industry in Europe.

"With the shortage of skilled warehouse truck drivers around Europe, a good way to keep the goods moving is to automate the material handling," a Rocla statement says.

Rocla vice president of marketing & communications Maija Karhusaari says the automated warehouse truck (AWT) is made using standard warehouse truck components.

"AWT is based on standard technology, design and components from our award-winning Humanic reach truck family - as opposed to custom-tailored automated guided vehicles (AGV)."

AGVs, traditionally custom-made for customers, are expensive and implementation can be time-consuming. AWTs are used for moving pallets, paper reels and other loads between the warehouse and the plant or as a part of the production process.

Karhusaari claims the AWT has benefits over AGVs.

"Because of its modular, productised structure, it is fast to implement, flexible in changing needs, easy to service and possible to acquire even on a rental basis - as a standard truck it has residual value."

Rocla CEO Jussi Muikku says the best solution for customers is to use a combination of automation and traditional warehouse trucks.

"[A] serially manufactured automated warehouse truck is easy to implement. The payback time on investment is exceptionally short due to fast delivery and great performance of the new solution."

The AWT has the chassis of the Humanic reach truck and Rocla's Integral mast, in which the lifting cylinders are integrated inside the mast construction. The truck is available globally but is focused on the European and Russian markets.

Rocla's 2007 net sales grew by 20% to EUR124.9 million (USD181.2 million) and operating profit improved significantly from EUR1.5 million (USD2.2 million) to EUR4.9 million (USD7.1 million). The company's production capacity is now 10,000 trucks a year.