The brand new Flexley Stack F712 autonomous forklift can work in storage and retrieval. Supply ABB Robotics.
ABB Robotics at this time launched the Flexley Stack F712, an autonomous forklift. The corporate stated the newest addition to its cell robotic portfolio creates a extra full, interoperable ecosystem.
ABB stated it designed the Flexley Stack F712 for demanding materials dealing with, end-of-line storage, and warehouse operations throughout industries, together with automotive manufacturing. The corporate stated its new autonomous cell robotic (AMR) can improve effectivity, flexibility, and scalability.
“Throughout intralogistics operations, companies are being requested to course of larger volumes in much less time, whereas working with more and more restricted sources,” acknowledged Marc Segura, president of ABB Robotics. “They’re below stress to maneuver items sooner and with larger flexibility, whereas labor availability is turning into a important constraint.”
“As a part of our journey to extra autonomous versatile robotics — AVR — now we have mixed superior imaginative and prescient, mobility and intelligence within the Flexley Stack F712 forklift, finishing our scalable, AI-powered AMR portfolio,” he stated. “This can be a turning level in industrial robotics. AVR allows robots to function in a reactive manner in unstructured environments, redefining what they will do.”
Flexley Stack makes use of vSLAM relatively than put in infrastructure
The Flexley Stack F712 can deal with a number of load varieties and sizes, due to adjustable forks, in line with ABB Robotics. This consists of open and closed pallets, containers, or racks, with masses as much as 2,000 kg (4,409.2 lb.) and heights of as much as 8.5 m (27.8 ft.).
In contrast to standard automated forklifts in the marketplace, the F712 makes use of visible simultaneous localization and mapping (vSLAM) to navigate its atmosphere, stated ABB. This eliminates the necessity for pre-installed infrastructure like markers or reflectors.
“Conventional localization appears on the world with skinny 2D lidar slices, however now now we have a wealthy 3D view and may share maps throughout our fleet of stackers, movers, and tuggers,” stated Renaud Dubé, head of analysis and improvement at Sevensense by ABB, throughout a press briefing.
The AI-enabled system helps the autonomous selections required to function in advanced, dynamic warehouse operations with a market-leading positional accuracy of ±10 mm (0.3 in.), asserted the firm.
The brand new AMR joins the Flexley Tug and Flexley Mover in ABB Robotics’ rising vSLAM fleet. The P604 is an omnidirectional platform that may carry two pallets, whereas the smaller P2603 AMR works with totally different high modules, defined Ricardo Martinez, R&D product know-how supervisor at ABB Robotics. The F712 can even work with the corporate’s industrial robotic arms.
“Throughout the globe, corporations share with us their issues with hiring forklift drivers. SLAM allows flexibility,” stated Alfonso Gonzalez, international AMR product line supervisor at ABB Robotics. “By integrating all our AMRs with the identical navigation know-how, we allow them to work seamlessly collectively. There’s a bonus for AMRs to have the ability to work on the identical mission — they’re now not restricted or remoted.”
The extra agile AMRs can scale back operational prices, enhance return on funding (ROI), and function safely across the clock, asserted ABB Robotics. The flexibility of various AMR varieties to collaborate on the identical workflows will translated into larger flexibility for logistics processes together with line feeding, pallet dealing with, and scalable storage, stated Martinez.
Purposes embrace intralogistics duties similar to warehouse storage and retrieval, in addition to line provide, end-of-line dealing with, body- and press-shop, and drive-in and lightweight buffer within the automotive and industrial sectors.
F712 complies with requirements, works with AMR Studio
The Flexley Stack F712 is totally built-in with the AMR Studio software program and is VDA 5050-compatible, enabling interoperability with ABB Robotics’ different AMRs, all of which is able to now have vSLAM. Its integration with different programs makes it straightforward to handle advanced initiatives with various kinds of cell robots, the corporate stated.
Along with AMR Studio, this will shorten commissioning occasions by as much as 20% and adapt immediately when a warehouse or manufacturing ground structure modifications. The no-code, drag-and-drop software program suite helps speedy setup, fleet coordination, site visitors administration and real-time visualization. ABB stated its tugs, movers, and forklifts can function collectively in the identical structure for “scalable, turnkey” automation initiatives.
“Clients can design workflows in a single, user-friendly interface,” stated Ainhoa Narváez, UX/UI designer and industrial design engineer at ABB Robotics. “AMR Studio democratizes automation. It permits true collaboration for operational effectivity primarily based on real-time knowledge, and it could actually develop as wants evolve.”
Licensed to the newest ISO and ANSI security requirements, Flexley Stack F712 can safely function at speeds of as much as 1.7 m/s (3.8 mph) whereas loaded, the corporate stated. The brand new raise truck is now obtainable, stated Martinez.
ABB Robotics improvements earn recognition
By combining autonomous forklifts, tugs, and movers on one platform, ABB Robotics stated it allows clients to automate a broader vary of materials dealing with and intralogistics processes. As one of many world’s main robotic producers, ABB Robotics’ portfolio consists of industrial robots, cobots, and AMRs for a variety of industries, together with automotive, electronics, and logistics.
In October 2025, ABB Group introduced plans to promote its robotics unit to SoftBank Group for $5.3 billion. ABB Robotics has about 7,000 workers, and its U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility are in Auburn Hills, Mich.
ABB Robotics acquired a 2026 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award for its OmniCore EyeVision system, which allows robots to autonomously adapt to advanced environments.
As well as, Ford Motor Co. just lately acknowledged ABB Robotics as a 2026 Ford Provider of the Yr within the Oblique Industrial Gear and Development Excellence Class. The automaker stated it honored ABB’s efficiency, dedication, and collaboration through the 2025 fiscal 12 months.
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