Fraunhofer + BEUMER robotics lab
BEUMER Group and Fraunhofer IML launched a three‑year robotics innovation lab to accelerate mobile‑robot adoption in logistics — focusing on automation, flexibility and faster deployment. The lab is pitched as a practical bridge from pilot projects to scalable warehouse automation and workforce upskilling. (mhwmagazine.co.uk)
BEUMER published the joint announcement from Beckum on 17 March 2026 and said the strategic partnership with Fraunhofer IML had been agreed at the end of 2025. (beumergroup.com) The project will be hosted on the Fraunhofer IML campus in Dortmund, located directly next to BEUMER’s local site, and will make use of Fraunhofer’s on‑site research infrastructure and test areas. (beumergroup.com) Fraunhofer IML confirmed it will dedicate five full‑time researchers to the joint effort to work side‑by‑side with BEUMER developers. (iml.fraunhofer.de) BEUMER Chief Technology Officer Volker Jungbluth framed mobile robotics as a complement to the company’s conveying and sorting systems and described the technology as “flexibly scalable, space‑efficient, fail‑safe and powerful.” (beumergroup.com) Institute Director Prof. Alice Kirchheim at Fraunhofer IML said the collaboration aims to “provide the basis for leap innovations in mobile robotics,” signalling objectives that extend toward product maturity and commercial application. (iml.fraunhofer.de) BEUMER’s release emphasises using the established Fraunhofer “Enterprise Lab” format to feed external research directly into BEUMER’s product development pipeline in order to shorten innovation cycles and accelerate customer roll‑outs. (beumergroup.com)
