ForwardX Robotics to Showcase Warehouse AMRs at ProMat 2023

FowardX Robotics is hoping to make a splash next week at ProMat 2023. The Beijing-based AMR maker will showcase a range of its robots designed for the logistics and warehouse markets.

The company has already established a presence in Asia, ForwardX Robotics Chief Operating Officer Yaxin Guen told Robotics 24/7. The company said it has served over 100 customers, including JD.com, DHL, IKEA, TCL, and Walmart, according to its website.

It secured its first U.S. contract in August. Hirocloud, which is based in Edison, New Jersey, is using 600 FowardX AMRs as its 50,000 sq ft. facility, according to the news site Industry Today.

Founded in 2016, ForwardX has four AMR product lines, including its Flex Series, Max Series, Apex Series, and Conveyor Series. To date, it has raised $109 million, according to Crunchbase.

ForwardX Robotics sees the popular trade show as a great space to connect with customers across the logistics supply chain in North America, Guen noted. Given the U.S.’s labor struggles, the company sees it as a major market for growth.

ForwardX Robotics serves global customers with a strong U.S. presence

The company also noted that it already serves a lot of companies that have customers around the world. It is hoping by expanding into the U.S. it will be better able to address those customers’ needs. Guen explained that to do that successfully it will need to form relationships with companies locally.

“One of our major purposes in joining ProMat is to develop our distributor and partner network,” Guen said.

At the show, ForwardX Robotics will showcase robots from its Max, Flex, and Apex lines. ForwardX Robotics CEO Nicolas Chee will also be at the show to discuss the company’s products and partnerships. Specifically, the company will highlight its recent partnership with Qualcomm, since it is taking advantage of its robotics platforms, it said.

Robots from the company's Flex Series line are mainly used for piece-picking, Guen noted, while robots from its Apex Series are used to carry pallets. Robots from its Max Series are used to handle similar items to the Flex Series but can handle higher case-and-pallet picking payloads.

Its robots use lidar, computer vision and IMU sensors to navigate.

Guen estimated that the Flex Series in particular will be popular in the U.S. market given the demand for more robots that can handle case picking tasks, she said.

ForwardX Robotics will be located at Booth N7352 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Editor's note: For more on ProMat, visit Robotics 24/7's special coverage page.