VIBO

To improve intralogistics efficiency in its assembly area, Vibo implemented the MiR 1200 Pallet Jack. The autonomous pallet handling solution has increased productivity and improved ergonomics at the Trissino plant, combining flexibility, safety, and a high level of autonomy.

With 45 years of experience, Vibo is an industrial company specializing in the conception, design, and manufacturing of accessories and technical furnishing solutions. Its product portfolio includes pull‑out systems, drawers, under‑cabinet solutions, dish racks, under‑sink solutions, waste separation systems, and bedroom accessories.

Founded in 1980 by Luisa Nardi and Franco Bonin, Vibo has grown through the gradual expansion of production capacity, the opening of new plants, and the internalization of strategic processes such as wood processing, sheet metal, molding, turning, and robotics. This evolution has resulted in an increasingly integrated and structured production system, where flow efficiency, interdepartmental coordination, and operational continuity are critical.

Today, Vibo is a leading company in its sector and a supplier to nearly all Italian furniture manufacturers, with exports accounting for 75% of its business and customers in more than 70 countries worldwide.

Technological innovation is a key driver of Vibo’s growth strategy. The company has a long‑standing automation journey, having implemented multiple forms of automation across its production processes—from its first anthropomorphic robot in 2000, to MES adoption in 2007, and more recently the introduction of collaborative robotics, including two UR20 cobots by Universal Robots used for palletizing.

Intralogistics and material handling represented a bottleneck in Vibo’s complex production process, prompting the company to seek a collaborative automation solution capable of operating safely in the open environment of the Trissino plant, without the need to segregate production areas.

In 2025, after evaluating several suppliers, Vibo selected the MiR 1200 Pallet Jack from Mobile Industrial Robots—an autonomous mobile robot capable of transporting pallets weighing up to 1,200 kg.

Vibo operates a fleet of electric forklifts driven by operators. However, when the forklifts were undergoing charging cycles, parts of the production shift were left uncovered. This challenge led Vibo to introduce an automated pallet truck capable of operating autonomously 24/7, enabling the company to consider the introduction of a third production shift.

The MiR 1200 Pallet Jack leverages an artificial intelligence‑based perception system that quickly and accurately recognizes both standard and shrink‑wrapped pallets. This capability is essential in dynamic environments like Vibo’s, where multiple pallet formats—from 80×120 EUR to 100×120 EPAL—are used daily, and where varying loads demand reliable and flexible intralogistics solutions.

Designed for autonomous 24/7 operation, the robot is supported by a high‑capacity battery and a fast‑charging “opportunity charging” system that maximizes productivity. With an operating speed of up to 1.5 m/s, the MiR 1200 optimizes pick‑and‑place cycle times and reduces waiting times along production and storage lines.

With compact dimensions (820 × 1934 × 2120 mm) and a structure developed in collaboration with Logitrans—a company with more than 80 years of experience in lifting equipment—the MiR 1200 is designed for demanding industrial environments while remaining easy to use. The integrated tiller enables manual driving and supports smooth adoption by traditional operators.

Reflecting on the decision to adopt the solution, Boschetto explains:

“When we chose the MiR1200 Pallet Jack in 2025, we were aware that we had selected a very new machine. It was therefore clear to us that we would need to work on adapting the machine to our production requirements. In this, MiR’s service team and the support of the distributor Me.Ko. were essential.”

The MiR 1200 Pallet Jack carries out complete intralogistics cycles, transporting full pallets to the storage area and returning empty pallets to the various assembly bays. The robot picks stacked pallets from a racking area and identifies the required pallet among four different formats without the need for pallet separators.

During the initial implementation phase, operator acceptance was a natural consideration.

“In the first months of implementation, there was some hesitation from operators toward this new automation. But it only took a few weeks to win their trust,” says Boschetto.
 “Now, thanks to the Pallet Jack, we can assign operators to higher value‑added activities, relieving them from routine tasks connected to the palletizing cycle and improving the ergonomics of our internal operations.”

A study conducted by Teradyne Robotics on the state of automation in Italy and five other countries found that collaborative robotics is viewed positively by more than 83% of workers, who see it as an opportunity. At Vibo, the MiR 1200 Pallet Jack followed a similar path: after initial hesitation, its reception became highly positive—so much so that operators now refer to the MiR AMR as “Mir…acle.”

Among the key benefits recorded by Vibo was an increase in productivity, driven by the high operating autonomy of the MiR 1200 Pallet Jack and its battery performance. The robot reduced the cycle times of logistics missions, supported by its ability to manage multiple pallet formats with flexibility.

Automation was implemented without the need to install costly safety barriers, preserving the open and flexible environment that characterizes the Trissino plant.

The presence of the tiller represented another significant advantage. It was used during the initial implementation phases to register pallet pick‑up and drop‑off points, contributing to a system that is both flexible and versatile in daily operation.

Finally, Vibo highlighted the value of the after‑sales support provided by MiR and its distributor Me.Ko., which enabled the company to optimize Pallet Jack programming and adapt the solution to its specific production requirements.