Autonomous mobile robots
Lifting AMR
A jacking AMR that slides under racks and carts and delivers them where they are needed.
A lifting AMR, also called a jacking AMR, drives under a rack or cart, lifts it and carries it to the next station, buffer or store. It takes over the repetitive trips between processes that tie up operators on every shift. The same chassis family can carry roller or conveyor top modules, so one fleet can move both carts and loads that transfer straight onto conveyors. Every robot runs on one dispatch system together with your other robot types.
Why it works
- 01
No floor changes
Laser SLAM navigation uses existing walls, columns and racks. No tape, magnets or QR codes to install or maintain.
- 02
Works with your carts
Robots lift existing racks and carts, or we adapt them during the survey so the robot can pick them up reliably.
- 03
Roller and conveyor tops
The same chassis family can carry roller or conveyor modules for automatic transfer to and from production lines.
- 04
Linked to your MES
Tasks come from MES, WMS, PLC signals or call buttons, so deliveries follow production instead of a fixed timetable.
How a lifting AMR works
A task arrives from your MES, a PLC signal or an operator pressing a call button. The dispatch system assigns the nearest suitable robot, which drives under the rack or cart, lifts it and follows the planned route to the destination. It lowers the load, confirms the drop and moves on to its next task or to a charger.
Routes, pick-up points and drop points are set on a digital map built during installation. When the layout changes, the map changes too. You do not need to re-lay tape or move markers.
Typical tasks
Lifting AMRs suit plants that move many medium-size loads over short and medium distances, often around the clock. They are common in PCB, electronics assembly and battery plants.
- Work-in-progress transfer between SMT, test and assembly processes
- Line-side delivery of material carts from the store or supermarket
- Returning empty carts and racks to their buffer
- Moving rolls or totes straight onto conveyors with a roller top module
- Finished goods from the end of line to packing or storage
Results from comparable projects
In a typical process-transfer project, lifting AMRs connected to the MES cut handling labor by about 65%, ran 24 hours a day and went live in 9 weeks. With roller top modules, comparable projects docked with conveyors at ±10 mm and removed manual loading entirely. Your assessment gives the figures for your plant.
Every robot type runs on the same dispatch system, connected to your MES, WMS, PLCs, lifts and doors.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a lifting AMR and a jacking AMR?
They are the same robot. Both names describe an AMR that drives under a rack or cart and lifts it to carry it.
Can we use our existing carts and racks?
Often yes. We check your carts during the site survey and, where needed, propose small changes so the robot can lift them reliably.
Do lifting AMRs need tape or QR codes on the floor?
No. They navigate by laser SLAM using walls, columns and racks, so the floor usually stays as it is.
How long does a lifting AMR pilot take?
A pilot usually goes live in 6 to 10 weeks from the site survey, including mapping, integration and operator training.
Related cases
- Process transferAutomated flow between processesA typical PCB or electronics plant replaces manual cart pushing between processes with lifting AMRs that take their tasks straight from the MES. The result is steadier WIP flow, fewer people tied up in handling and round-the-clock operation.View case
- Roll handlingStraight from storage to line-sideA typical plant handling battery electrode rolls, film or tire materials uses AMRs with a roller top module to carry rolls from storage and dock directly with line-side conveyors. Rolls transfer between robot and conveyor with no manual loading.View case
Guides
- AMR vs AGV: how to choose for your plantAMRs and AGVs both move materials without a driver, but they differ in how they navigate, how they cope with change and how their costs build up over time. Here is a balanced comparison and a short checklist to help you decide.Read the guide
- AMR and AGV ROI: how to calculate payback for your plantWhen finance asks for AMR or AGV payback, they want a method they can challenge—not only a homepage ballpark. This guide covers full CAPEX and OPEX, a defensible baseline, net-savings formulas, AGV infrastructure cost, a printable assumption checklist, and when to use the estimator versus a free plant assessment.Read the guide
- Deploying AMRs in a factory: a step-by-step guideA typical AMR implementation goes from a floor plan to a running pilot in 6 to 10 weeks. This guide walks through each step, what to prepare and how to bring your team along.Read the guide
- AMR safety standards explained: ISO 3691-4, R15.08 and what to ask suppliersMobile robots share aisles with people, so safety is designed in from the robot to the site. This guide explains the main standards in plain language, who is responsible for what, and which documents to ask for before you buy.Read the guide
- How to integrate AMRs with your WMS and MESRobots only save labor when they move the right load at the right time. This guide explains how AMRs receive tasks from a WMS or MES, what the messages contain, which interfaces are common and how to plan and test the integration.Read the guide
- AMR vs AGV for pallet handling: how to choose the right pallet moverWhen you are replacing repetitive pallet-jack or forklift runs, start with the job—load unit, lift height, and handoff—not the AMR vs AGV label. This guide maps pallet moves to three robot families, gives a site checklist you can send to any supplier, and shows when a low-lift pallet truck, an autonomous forklift, or a lifting AMR is the better fit.Read the guide
Autonomous mobile robots
- Autonomous forkliftDriverless pallet handling for inbound, line feeding and finished goods.Learn more
- CTUA tote handling robot that stores and retrieves several totes per trip.Learn more
- Mobile manipulatorA mobile base with a collaborative robot arm for tending, loading and picking.Learn more
- Embodied AIHumanoid and dual-arm robots for flexible hands-on tasks, introduced through focused pilots.Learn more
Get a plan for your site
Send a floor plan or a phone video. Within 48 hours you get routes, a robot count and a payback estimate, free.