Autonomous forklift

Imagine a timber yard where packages talk and a forklift moves by itself to find, pick up, and deliver them to the next step in the chain, without the need to scan or write anything down. This is the pilot Finvalia is testing as part of its smart intralogistics line, along with three other key elements: RFID, a shared WMS, and a digital twin.

Why an autonomous forklift?

In recent years, production capacity has increased, while storage space has shrunk. The result: higher turnover, more SKUs, and less time to prepare just-in-time shipments. The shortage of qualified labor adds extra pressure, making it urgent to automate repetitive package-handling tasks.

How the autonomous forklift pilot works

RFID tags tailored to the wood sector: Each package is identified with a robust weather-resistant tag. Antennas read movements in real time and send the data to the WMS.
Digital twin of the yard: Imatia consolidates RFID readings and other signals into a live 3D model. This allows simulating routes and assigning missions to the forklift without interfering with real operations.
Autonomously guided vehicle: Based on the twin, the forklift receives pick-up and delivery orders. Early trials already show that inventory counts—previously requiring the entire staff for several days—can now be completed in one day with five people, thanks to the RFID and autonomous vehicle combo.

Expected impact of the autonomous forklift

100% real-time reliable stock: No more lost packages or shipping errors.
Productivity: Fewer empty trips and a dramatic reduction in search time.
Safety: Less manned forklift traffic, hence fewer risks in the yard.
Full-chain traceability: Finsa labels the board, Puertas Vales adds the door, and Couceiro validates its entry into the warehouse—all on the same platform.

This pilot is just the starting point. Once the autonomous vehicle masters the timber yard, the same logic can be scaled to indoor warehouses, integrated with automated scales, or used to feed demand forecasting. The journey toward a fully connected end-to-end logistics flow is already underway, thanks to Finvalia.