As companies move from automating individual tasks toward smarter factories and warehouses, robots are no longer viewed simply as machines designed to perform one isolated task.
A robot can transport materials. A mobile platform can bring a robot to different locations. A Robotics system can combine mobility, manipulation, lifting and fleet coordination to support multiple stages of the same workflow.
This is also where Robotics is expanding its role across manufacturing and logistics.
Through its cooperation with KUKA, PAN Robotics is adding a new group of technologies to its Robotics portfolio, expanding from mobile robot solutions into mobile transport platforms, autonomous forklifts and mobile robotic systems that combine mobility with robotic manipulation for more complex automation applications.
1. From Mobile Robots to a Broader Robotics System
In a factory or logistics center, material transportation is only one part of the overall workflow.
Raw materials need to move from storage to production. Work-in-process materials need to move between stations. Pallets need to be lifted, positioned or delivered to designated locations. Some processes also require robots to interact directly with parts, machines or products.
Therefore, the question is not simply: “Does the company need a robot to transport goods?”
It can become: “How can robotics support movement, transportation, lifting and manipulation within the production flow?”
This is the space addressed by KUKA's Autonomous Mobile Robotics (AMR) and mobile manipulator portfolio.
2. KMP – Mobile Platforms for Transportation and Intralogistics
One of the key technology groups within KUKA's portfolio is its range of mobile transport platforms, including the KMP family.
Mobile platforms are designed to move autonomously through production or logistics environments and transport loads to different locations. They are particularly relevant when companies need flexible routes or need to connect multiple points within the same material flow.
Where can KMP platforms be considered?
- Internal material transportation in factories.
- Production line material supply.
- Work-in-process transportation between stations.
- Connecting warehouse and production areas.
- Material handling in changing layouts.
- Automating internal transportation flows.
For example, the KUKA KMP 3000P is an autonomous transport platform with a payload capacity of up to 3 tons. KUKA positions it for applications such as production material supply, process interlinking and point-to-point transportation. The platform supports omnidirectional movement as well as navigation technologies such as SLAM and QR codes.
The important point is that a mobile platform does not necessarily have to replace an entire existing transportation system. In many projects, its value lies in adding flexibility to transportation routes where fixed conveyors or traditional vehicles become less suitable as layouts, pickup points or delivery points change.
3. Robotic Forklifts – Robots for Transportation and Lifting
If a mobile platform focuses primarily on transportation, a robotic forklift extends the automation scope to pallet handling and lifting.
This technology is intended for environments where a company needs more than simply moving goods from point A to point B. The system must also support the automated pickup, movement and delivery of pallets to designated locations in warehouses or production areas.
Typical application areas
- Automated pallet transportation.
- Connecting warehouse and production areas.
- Moving pallets between designated locations.
- Automated material handling.
- Warehouse automation and production logistics.
KUKA currently offers autonomous forklifts for pallet handling, flexible navigation and warehouse automation. Different vehicle types can also be coordinated within the same fleet, depending on the configuration and requirements of the project.
This expands the role of Robotics into a core Smart Logistics challenge: not only automating movement, but also automating the flow of pallets and materials.
4. KMR iisy – Mobile Cobot for Manufacturing and Logistics
This is another important direction within KUKA's portfolio.
KMR iisy combines the LBR iisy cobot with a mobile transport platform. KUKA positions KMR iisy for production and logistics applications where the cobot can be used flexibly at different workstations.
In simple terms, the robot does not necessarily have to remain at one fixed location.
Instead of installing a separate robot at every workstation, a mobile cobot can move between appropriate locations according to the process requirements.
What can KMR iisy support?
- Machine tending.
- Pick & place.
- Loading and unloading.
- Workpiece and component transportation.
- Material supply within production.
- Palletizing in suitable configurations.
KMR iisy uses safety scanners, LiDAR and 3D cameras to support environmental perception and autonomous navigation. KUKA also describes free navigation using SLAM and the use of QR codes when higher positioning accuracy is required at workstations.
This represents an important shift in automation thinking: the robot does not only work at one location; it can become part of a mobile workflow.
5. KMR iiwa – Industrial Robot Combined with a Mobile Platform
While KMR iisy represents the mobile cobot approach, KMR iiwa demonstrates another configuration: combining the LBR iiwa robot with an autonomous mobile platform.
KUKA developed KMR iiwa as a combination of the LBR iiwa robot and a mobile platform, allowing the system to move autonomously between working areas. The platform uses laser scanners for navigation and Mecanum wheels for omnidirectional movement.
The mobile platform can be thought of as the “legs” of the robotic system, allowing the robot arm to move between work areas instead of being limited to one fixed workstation.
Key characteristics of KMR iiwa
- Combines the LBR iiwa robot with a mobile platform.
- Supports autonomous movement in production environments.
- Provides omnidirectional movement through Mecanum wheels.
- Can be configured into turnkey systems according to application requirements.
- Suitable for applications that combine mobility and robotic manipulation.
This approach extends the capabilities of robotics from one fixed workstation to multiple working areas within the same environment.
6. Why Mobile Robotics Is Becoming More Important in Manufacturing
A fixed production line can be highly effective when processes remain relatively stable. But when companies need to change layouts, increase product variants, relocate material supply points or connect multiple production areas, flexibility becomes increasingly important.
This is why AMRs are designed to perceive their surroundings, navigate autonomously and adapt routes rather than relying entirely on fixed paths.
Where can mobile robotics add value?
- Changing factory or warehouse layouts.
- Automating internal transportation routes.
- Connecting multiple production areas.
- Reducing dependence on manual transportation.
- Supporting high-mix and small-batch production models.
- Expanding automation step by step.
KUKA currently uses technologies such as LiDAR, cameras, safety sensors and SLAM to support autonomous navigation, obstacle detection and route planning. AMRs can also be integrated into existing manufacturing and logistics environments without necessarily requiring a completely new fixed infrastructure.
From a business perspective, this means automation can start with one material flow, one process, one area or one group of tasks, and then expand as the operating model is validated.
7. From One Robot to an Integrated Automation System
One of the most important changes when a company moves toward deeper automation is the way it defines the problem.
Instead of asking “Which robot should we buy?”, the better question is:
“Which process needs to be automated, and how should the robot participate in that workflow?”
One project may only require a mobile platform for transportation.
Another may need a robotic forklift for pallet handling.
A production line may require a mobile cobot that can both move and perform tasks.
At a larger scale, multiple robots may need to be coordinated through fleet management and connected with warehouse or production management systems.
Fleet Management – When a Company Has Multiple Robots
KUKA develops fleet management software to coordinate transport tasks, manage vehicle utilization and support the operation of AMR fleets. The system can also integrate with ERP, WMS and MES environments through suitable interfaces and standards, including VDA 5050.
Therefore, Robotics is no longer only about one machine.
It is about robot + mobile platform + software + process + integration.
8. KUKA Expands PAN Robotics' Automation Direction
Cooperation with KUKA allows PAN Robotics to broaden the technology scope it can bring into automation projects.
From mobile robot solutions for transportation, PAN Robotics can now address a wider range of applications across manufacturing, intralogistics and Smart Logistics.
In Manufacturing
- Production line material supply.
- Machine tending.
- Workpiece transportation.
- Pick & place.
- Connecting workstations.
In Logistics
- Internal goods transportation.
- Pallet handling.
- Warehouse automation.
- Connecting warehouses with production areas.
In Smart Factory
- Mobile robotics.
- Mobile cobots.
- Robots combined with mobile platforms.
- Multi-robot coordination.
- Robotics integration into operational systems.
The important point is not simply adding another brand to a product portfolio. It is expanding the range of automation challenges that PAN Robotics can analyze and configure together with customers.
9. Not Every Company Needs the Same Type of Robot
A suitable Robotics system does not start with a brand or model. It starts with the operational requirement.
Companies should consider:
- Type of goods or materials to be handled.
- Payload requirements.
- Travel distance.
- Transport frequency.
- Number of pickup and delivery points.
- Lifting requirements.
- Whether robotic manipulation is required.
- Factory or warehouse layout.
- How frequently the process changes.
- Expected fleet size.
- Integration requirements with WMS, MES or ERP.
- Desired level of automation.
Only then can the company determine whether it needs a mobile platform, robotic forklift, mobile cobot, mobile manipulator or a combination of multiple technologies.
This is also why PAN Robotics approaches Robotics through consultation and system integration rather than simply selecting a robot model for a customer.
PAN Robotics – Expanding Automation Capabilities for Manufacturing and Logistics
KUKA adds another group of technologies to PAN Robotics, creating opportunities to connect robotics, mobility and automation within the same application.
From mobile platforms and robotic forklifts to mobile cobots and mobile manipulators, each technology addresses a different requirement within the operational flow.
With a focus on Robotics solutions for Smart Factory and Smart Logistics, PAN Robotics aims to work with businesses to identify the right automation challenge, select an appropriate configuration and progressively bring automation into real-world operations.
More robots do not automatically mean better automation. What matters is placing the right robotic technology where it creates value in the process.
Looking for a Robotics solution for your factory, warehouse or logistics operation?
PAN Robotics can support businesses from transportation and lifting requirements to mobile robotic systems that combine movement and manipulation, helping identify an automation approach aligned with the actual operating process.
Contact PAN Robotics to discuss your automation requirements.
Contact Information
PAN TRADING JSC
📍 142 B2 Street, Sala Urban Area, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
📞 (+84) 28 3840 2222 - 0919 302 879
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