Automated Material Handling (AMH) Market Report 2024

This Automated Material Handling (AMH) market report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market’s historic and forecast market growth by geography.

The automated material handling (AMH) market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $47.19 billion in 2023 to $52.56 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.4%. The growth during the historic period can be attributed to the increasing number of start-up companies offering robotic solutions for warehouse automation, the growing trend towards smart factories, the rising demand for manufacturing efficiency and productivity, the expansion of the e-commerce industry, and increasing labor costs.

The automated material handling (AMH) market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $81.81 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.7%. The anticipated growth during the forecast period can be attributed to the expansion of the e-commerce industry, increasing efficiency and productivity in warehouse operations, a rising need for automation across industries, the development of autonomous drones for warehouse management, and growing use of robotics in warehousing. Key trends for this period include the introduction of technologies to support logistics and supply chain management in manufacturing, advancements in motion control, ongoing innovations in high-quality product manufacturing, technological progress, and integration with the Internet of Things (IoT) and data analytics.

The increasing demand for automation across various industries is anticipated to drive growth in the automated material handling market. Automation involves employing technology and systems to perform tasks and processes with minimal human intervention, thereby improving efficiency, accuracy, and productivity. The surge in automation is driven by factors such as labor shortages, cost reduction, scalability, and data-driven decision-making. Automated material handling systems optimize operations by effectively managing the movement, storage, and processing of materials, which reduces manual labor, minimizes errors, and enhances overall productivity. For example, in 2023, the International Federation of Robotics, a Germany-based non-profit organization, reported a 12% increase in industrial robot installations in manufacturing for 2022, totaling 41,624 units. The automotive sector, primarily comprising US, Canadian, and Mexican companies, was the leading adopter with 20,391 installed units, marking a 30% increase from 2021. This growing need for automation is a key driver for the automated material handling market.

Key players in the automated material handling market are focusing on developing advanced solutions, such as freight movement systems, to address the rising demand for more efficient, flexible, and resilient supply chain operations. A freight movement system, a component of automated material handling, is designed specifically for the transportation of goods or materials within warehouses, factories, or distribution centers. This system integrates various automated technologies to enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and safety of material handling operations. For instance, in February 2024, ArcBest Corporation, a US-based transport company, introduced the Vaux Freight Movement System, a cutting-edge suite of hardware and software that transforms the processes of loading, unloading, and transferring freight in warehouses, docks, and on the road. The Vaux Freight Movement System allows trailers to be unloaded in under five minutes, utilizing multiple forklifts to handle the freight from all sides. This system reduces driver wait times, decreases damage claims, and improves dock utilization.

In July 2022, Alta Equipment Group Inc., a US-based provider of heavy construction equipment and warehouse solutions, acquired Yale Industrial Trucks for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aligns with Alta’s growth strategy, which emphasizes entering new markets with significant scaling opportunities. Yale Industrial Trucks, a Canada-based company, specializes in automated material handling products.

Major companies operating in the automated material handling (AMH) market are Mitsubishi Group, Honeywell International Inc., Toyota Industries Corporation, Murata Machinery Ltd., KION Group AG, Omron Corporatin, Jungheinrich AG, FANUC Corporation, Crown Equipment Corporation, Daifuku Co. Ltd., Hyster-Yale Materials Handling Inc., KUKA AG, Dematic, SSI Schaefer Group, Vanderlande, SICK AG, BEUMER Group​, Beckhoff Automation GmbH & Co. KG, Kardex Group, Swisslog AG ​, Bastian Solutions LLC.

North America was the largest region in the automated material handling (AMH) market in 2023. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the market going forward. The regions covered in the automated material handling (AMH) market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

The countries covered in the automated material handling (AMH) market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Automated material handling (AMH) involves using automated systems and technologies to manage the movement, storage, control, and protection of materials and products throughout manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and disposal processes. This includes equipment such as conveyors, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), robotics, automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), and sorting systems, all often controlled by software that optimizes the flow and storage of goods. AMH aims to enhance efficiency, lower labor costs, reduce errors, and improve safety by automating tasks that traditionally required manual intervention.

The main product types in automated material handling (AMH) are hardware, software, and services. Hardware consists of the physical components used in material handling and warehouse management, forming the core of the AMH system. The system types include unit load material handling systems and bulk load material handling systems, with functions such as storage, transportation, and assembly. These systems are utilized by various end-users including airports, automotive industries, food and beverage sectors, retail, warehousing and distribution centers, logistics, general manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and post and parcel services.

The automated material handling market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides automated material handling market statistics, including automated material handling industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with an automated material handling market share, detailed automated material handling market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the automated material handling industry. This automated material handling research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The automated material handling (AMH) market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing automated inventory management, and automated conveyor management. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The automated material handling market also includes sales of conveyor systems and robotic picking systems. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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