IMHX 2025 Birmingham UK – A review

SVL Ireland at IMHX 2025: Bridging Irish Expertise with UK’s Leading Logistics Innovation

A deep dive into the key takeaways, trends, and technologies from the UK’s premier intralogistics event, and what they mean for the future of safety and efficiency in Irish industries.

1. Introduction: The Buzz of a Thousand Innovations

There are moments in the life of an industry that feel like a collective intake of breath before a plunge into the future. IMHX 2025, held at the sprawling NEC in Birmingham, was precisely that. For three days, the heart of the UK’s logistics, supply chain, and materials handling industry beat under one roof, creating a palpable energy—a buzz of a thousand handshakes, a million ideas, and countless innovations.

As visitors from Ireland, the team from SVL (Store Vision Ltd) navigated this “logistics love-fest,” not just as spectators, but as active participants in a global conversation. We came with a clear purpose: to absorb the cutting-edge trends, connect with the brilliant minds shaping our industry, and translate these global insights into tangible, value-driven solutions for our clients across Ireland.

This article is more than a recap of an event. It’s a strategic analysis of the key technological and philosophical shifts we witnessed, a look at the standout companies driving this change, and a roadmap for how Irish businesses can leverage these advancements to build safer, more efficient, and more resilient operations.

2. Why IMHX Matters: A Convergence of Minds and Machines

IMHX (International Materials Handling Exhibition) is not just another trade show. It is the UK’s largest and most comprehensive event for the intralogistics sector. To understand its significance is to understand the critical role of logistics in the modern economy. Every product on every shelf, every component in every factory, and every delivery to every door is powered by the complex dance of supply chain logistics.

IMHX is where the choreographers of this dance convene. It’s a living ecosystem where:

• Innovators Showcase the Future: From autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) gliding silently across floors to AI-powered analytics predicting the next supply chain bottleneck, IMHX is a window into what’s next.
• Problem-Solvers Connect: The event attracts a diverse audience—from C-suite executives and operations directors to warehouse managers and safety officers. This creates a unique environment for cross-pollination of ideas and solutions.
• The Entire Supply Chain is Represented: Unlike niche events, IMHX covers the full spectrum: from warehouse racking and forklift trucks to packaging solutions, software, and, crucially for SVL, safety and impact protection.

For an Irish company like SVL, attending IMHX is a strategic imperative. It allows us to benchmark our offerings against global standards, strengthen relationships with key partners like McCue Corporation, and ensure that the solutions we bring to Irish businesses are truly “best-in-class.”

3. SVL’s Mission at IMHX 2025: An Irish Perspective on Global Trends

As Ireland’s sole all-in-one impact protection and damage prevention provider, our mission at IMHX was focused and strategic. We weren’t there to sell; we were there to learn, to listen, and to connect the dots between the future of logistics and the immediate needs of our clients.

Our audience—the facility managers, operations directors, and business owners in Ireland’s construction, retail, manufacturing, and logistics sectors—trusts us to be more than just a supplier. They see us as a partner in safeguarding their assets, their people, and their bottom line.

With this in mind, our objectives were clear:

1. Identify Emerging Safety Technologies: How are global leaders integrating safety into the design of new automation and machinery? What new materials and designs are making impact protection more effective and intelligent?
2. Understand the Impact of Automation on Facility Layout: The rise of robotics and AMRs is fundamentally changing the way warehouses are designed. This has profound implications for pedestrian segregation, traffic management, and the types of protective barriers required.
3. Gauge the Pulse of Sustainability: How is the drive for sustainability influencing product design in our sector? Are there new, greener materials or circular economy models emerging for products like barriers and bollards?
4. Strengthen Strategic Partnerships: Events like IMHX provide an invaluable opportunity to meet face-to-face with our partners, including world-class manufacturers like McCue Corporation, and to explore potential collaborations with other innovators.

We walked the floors of the NEC with the specific challenges of Irish businesses in mind—from the bustling distribution centres in Greater Dublin to the precision-manufacturing plants in Cork and the vital pharmaceutical facilities across the country.

4. The Core Themes of IMHX 2025: A Symphony of Progress

Distilling the immense volume of information at IMHX into core themes reveals a clear direction for the industry. Four pillars stood out, defining nearly every conversation and innovation on display.

Automation and Robotics: The Unstoppable Rise of the Smart Warehouse

If one theme dominated IMHX 2025, it was automation. The question is no longer if a business should automate, but how and how quickly. We saw this in action at the stands of companies like Geek+, Swisslog, and KNAPP UK, where sophisticated AMRs and automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) were the stars of the show.

Key Takeaway for SVL and Ireland: The “smart warehouse” is a dynamic environment where humans and robots work in close proximity. This creates new and complex safety challenges. Traditional safety measures are no longer sufficient. The future requires a dynamic safety infrastructure:

• Flexible, Modular Barriers: To easily reconfigure zones as operational needs change.
• Clearly Demarcated Pedestrian Walkways: To keep staff safe from automated vehicle traffic.
• Intelligent Sensor-Based Protection: Systems that can communicate with automated vehicles to prevent collisions.

Sustainability: The Green Thread Weaving Through Logistics

Sustainability has moved from a corporate buzzword to a fundamental business driver. At IMHX, this was evident in everything from electric forklift trucks to recyclable packaging solutions from companies like Sealed Air. The focus is on reducing carbon footprints, minimizing waste, and creating a circular economy.

Key Takeaway for SVL and Ireland: As a provider of physical infrastructure, our role in sustainability is critical. We are increasingly focused on:

• Durable, Long-Lasting Products: The most sustainable product is one that doesn’t need to be replaced. Our focus on high-quality materials like galvanised steel and engineered polymers ensures longevity.
• Recyclable Materials: Sourcing products made from recyclable materials and ensuring our end-of-life products can be responsibly processed.
• Damage Prevention as a Sustainability Strategy: Every time a rack, a wall, or a door is damaged, it requires resources to repair or replace. Effective impact protection is, in itself, a powerful sustainability tool that reduces waste and resource consumption.

Safety and Ergonomics: Protecting the Human Core of the Industry

Even in the most automated facilities, people remain the most valuable asset. IMHX 2025 placed a significant emphasis on protecting this human core. This was the domain of impact protection specialists like McCue Corporation, BOPLAN UK, and STOMMPY, who showcased the latest in energy-absorbing barriers, bollards, and column guards.

Key Takeaway for SVL and Ireland: This theme is SVL’s heartland. Our observations confirmed that our “all-in-one” approach is perfectly aligned with the market’s needs. The most effective safety strategies are holistic, integrating multiple solutions:

• Segregation: Using guardrails and barriers to create safe, dedicated pathways for pedestrians, separating them from vehicle traffic.
• Asset Protection: Installing bollards, column protectors, and rack-end barriers to protect critical infrastructure from impact.
• Visibility: Employing high-visibility colours, reflective materials, and convex mirrors to eliminate blind spots.

The innovation here lies in the materials. Flexible polymer barriers that absorb and dissipate impact energy, minimizing damage to both the vehicle and the barrier itself, are becoming the new standard.

The final pillar is the invisible intelligence layer that optimizes everything else. Companies like Peak Technologies Europe demonstrated how data, captured through sensors and RFID, can be used to improve everything from inventory management to vehicle routing. AI is being used to predict maintenance needs, optimize warehouse layouts, and even identify safety “near misses” before they become accidents.

Key Takeaway for SVL and Ireland: While SVL’s core business is physical protection, we are keenly aware of the role of data. Our site survey and assessment process is an analogue form of data collection. The future will see us integrating more data-driven approaches, potentially using simulations to identify high-risk “hot spots” in a facility and recommend the most effective protection strategy before a single bollard is installed.

5. Key Players and Groundbreaking Solutions: Our View from the Floor

Walking the aisles of IMHX was like a “who’s who” of the logistics world. We had the privilege of seeing firsthand the innovations from dozens of industry leaders. Here are some of the companies that caught our eye and reinforced the key themes of the event.

Titans of Automation: Geek+, Swisslog, and KNAPP UK

The stands of Geek+, Swisslog, and KNAPP UK were a hive of activity, with AMRs and robotic arms moving with a mesmerizing, futuristic grace. They represent the pinnacle of warehouse automation, offering solutions that promise unprecedented levels of speed and accuracy. Their presence underscored the urgent need for safety infrastructure that can keep pace with robotic workforces.

Masters of Movement: Combilift and Flexi Narrow Aisle

Irish giant Combilift and UK-based Flexi Narrow Aisle showcased their genius for space-saving materials handling equipment. Their multi-directional and articulated forklifts are designed to operate in tighter spaces, which in turn demands more precise and robust protection for the racking and infrastructure around them. This is where SVL’s solutions, such as our heavy-duty rack-end protectors and column guards, become absolutely essential.

The Unsung Heroes of Protection: McCue, BOPLAN, and STOMMPY

This is our neighbourhood. We were incredibly impressed by the offerings from our esteemed partner, McCue Corporation, whose innovative polymer-based safety solutions continue to set the industry standard. Their products are a testament to the principle of absorbing impact rather than just resisting it.

Similarly, BOPLAN UK and STOMMPY demonstrated the power of flexible barrier systems. Their products are designed to protect people and property while minimizing damage to vehicles upon impact—a philosophy that aligns perfectly with SVL’s own. Seeing these global leaders reinforced our commitment to providing Irish businesses with the most advanced and effective protection solutions on the market.

Innovators in Conveying and Packaging: Interroll and Sealed Air

The flow of goods relies on more than just forklifts. Interroll and Conveyor Units Limited displayed state-of-the-art conveyor systems that are the arteries of any modern warehouse. Protecting these critical systems from accidental impact is vital. Meanwhile, Sealed Air and its AUTOBAG® brand showed how intelligent packaging can reduce waste and improve efficiency, tying directly into the theme of sustainability.

A Nod to Other Industry Leaders

The sheer breadth of expertise was staggering. From the vertical lift modules of NERAK UK to the temporary building solutions of Spaciotempo, and the machine guarding from Axelent Ltd, every exhibitor played a part in the grand tapestry of logistics. Companies like QTS, Peak Technologies Europe, LAC Logistics Automation, and SSI SCHÄFER all contributed to a picture of an industry in rapid, exciting transformation.

6. How IMHX Trends Align with SVL’s Core Philosophy

Our visit to IMHX 2025 was more than just an educational trip; it was a powerful validation of SVL’s founding philosophy and business model. The global trends we observed are the very principles we have been championing in Ireland for over 17 years.

The “Why” Behind the “What”: From Product to Holistic Solution

The biggest takeaway from IMHX is that isolated products are no longer enough. The market demands integrated, holistic solutions. This is the essence of SVL’s “all-in-one” value proposition. A client doesn’t just need a bollard; they need a comprehensive traffic management plan for their car park. They don’t just need a wall guard; they need a complete hygienic and damage-proof solution for their cleanroom.

Our process—Survey, Assess, Supply, and Install—is designed to deliver exactly this. We look at the entire facility, from the car park to the warehouse to the service yard, and design a cohesive safety and protection strategy.

Integrating Best-in-Class Technology with On-the-Ground Expertise

IMHX showcased a dazzling array of technology. However, technology is only as good as its application. SVL’s role is to act as a bridge. We partner with global technology leaders like McCue and Gradus to source the best products, and then we apply our deep, on-the-ground knowledge of Irish industries to deploy them effectively.

Our 60+ years of combined team experience across retail, healthcare, and industrial fit-outs means we understand the unique challenges our clients face. We can recommend the right polymer barrier for a high-traffic warehouse aisle or the correct hygienic wall cladding for a hospital corridor because we have seen these environments firsthand, time and time again.

Championing Safety as the Foundation of Efficiency

A recurring theme in our conversations at IMHX was that safety and efficiency are not competing priorities; they are two sides of the same coin. An unsafe warehouse is an inefficient warehouse. Every incident, every piece of damaged equipment, and every injury leads to downtime, repair costs, and a loss of productivity.

This is the core message SVL brings to every project. By investing in robust impact protection, businesses are not just “ticking a box” for compliance. They are making a strategic investment in the operational uptime and financial health of their business. Our tagline, “Safeguarding What Matters,” refers to both people and property, because protecting one is essential to the productivity of the other.

7. What This Means for Irish Businesses: Bringing Global Insights Home

The trends and technologies from IMHX 2025 are not abstract concepts for the future. They have immediate, practical applications for businesses across Ireland. Here’s how SVL is translating these insights into actionable solutions for our key sectors.

For the Warehouse & Logistics Manager

The Challenge: You’re introducing more MHE (Materials Handling Equipment) or even AMRs, increasing the risk of collisions with racking, columns, and personnel.

The SVL Solution: We can design and install a dynamic safety system using a combination of heavy-duty Armco barriers for perimeter protection, flexible polymer guardrails for internal traffic routes, and high-visibility bollards and column protectors to safeguard your most critical structural assets. We’ll help you create clear, safe pedestrian walkways to keep your team safe in an increasingly automated environment.

For the Retail & Distribution Centre Operator

The Challenge: Your back-of-house and loading bay areas are a constant hive of activity, leading to scuffed walls, damaged door frames, and impacted fridge corners.

The SVL Solution: We provide a complete “kerb-to-stockroom” solution. This includes wheel stops and bollards in the car park, robust loading bay buffers, and a suite of internal protection like PVC wall cladding, stainless steel corner guards, and trolley rails to keep your facility looking clean and professional while preventing constant repair costs.

For the Manufacturing & Pharmaceutical Plant Director

The Challenge: You operate in a highly regulated environment where hygiene and safety are non-negotiable. Damage to walls or equipment can compromise cleanroom standards and lead to costly shutdowns.

The SVL Solution: We are experts in hygienic and impact-resistant environments. Using products from our partner Gradus, we install seamless hygienic wall cladding, chemical-resistant PVC rub rails, and stainless steel protection systems. These solutions are designed not only to withstand impact but also to be easy to clean and maintain, ensuring you meet the strictest industry standards.

For the Healthcare Facility Manager

The Challenge: Hospital corridors are high-traffic zones for beds, trolleys, and equipment, leading to constant damage to walls and corners. Patient safety and mobility are also paramount.

The SVL Solution: We provide a dual-purpose solution. Our wall guards and corner protectors shield the building’s interior, reducing maintenance costs and keeping the facility looking new. Simultaneously, we install ergonomic handrails and combi-rails that provide impact protection while also offering support for patients and staff, enhancing overall safety and accessibility.

8. The Future is Collaborative: SVL’s Commitment to Irish Industry

Our experience at IMHX 2025 solidified a core belief: the future of our industry is collaborative. No single company can be an expert in everything. The key to success lies in building a strong network of partners and sharing knowledge for the benefit of the end customer.

This is why SVL places such a high value on our partnerships with manufacturers like McCue and Gradus. It’s also why we invest time in attending events like IMHX—to learn from our peers, understand the challenges of our partners in the MHE and automation space, and ensure our solutions integrate seamlessly into the wider logistics ecosystem.

As a 100% Irish-owned company, our commitment is to the success of Irish industry. We are dedicated to bringing the best of global innovation home and adapting it to the specific needs of the local market. We see ourselves as more than a supplier; we are a local partner invested in the safety, efficiency, and growth of your business.

9. Conclusion: More Than a Visit, It Was a Vision

Leaving the NEC after three whirlwind days, our team felt energized and inspired. The “lukewarm coffee” and “secret innovation vortex” we joked about in our social media post were part of an experience that was profoundly insightful.

IMHX 2025 provided a clear vision of the future: a future that is automated, sustainable, and data-driven. But it also reinforced a timeless truth: at the heart of all this technology, the fundamental need to protect people and property remains paramount.

For SVL, the path forward is clear. We will continue to be Ireland’s leading authority on impact protection and damage prevention. We will deepen our expertise, embrace new technologies, and strengthen our partnerships. Most importantly, we will continue to listen to our clients, understand their challenges, and deliver comprehensive, turnkey solutions that safeguard what matters most.

The future of logistics is exciting, and SVL is here to help Irish businesses navigate it safely and successfully.

Is your facility prepared for the future of logistics? Contact the SVL team today for a free, no-obligation site survey and let us help you build a safer, more efficient workplace.

📞 +353 (0)1 257 2260 | 📩 sales@svl.ie | 🌐 www.svl.ie

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