COPENHAGEN, Denmark – The Mobile Robot Company’s J1600 has been recognized as the winner of the prestigious IFOY AWARD for Industrial Truck of the Year 2026. This innovative dual-mode self-driving pallet jack has been praised for its ability to bridge the gap between traditional manual equipment and classic automated guided vehicles.
The J1600 was entered in the Warehouse Truck lowlifter category and was selected by an independent jury after rigorous practical testing and a scientific Innovation Check. The jury noted that the J1600 represents a new product level that combines the flexibility of manual pallet jacks with the efficiency of automated guided vehicles.
“The J1600 fills a long-standing gap in the warehouse automation industry,” said Emil Hauch Jensen, co-founder and CEO of The Mobile Robot Company. “It offers the best of both worlds, allowing operators to handle pickup and exceptions manually while also providing the option for autonomous operation.”
The J1600’s unique capabilities are evident in its design. The machine features white lights to indicate manual operation and blue light strips to display the protective field in automatic mode. A physical button allows for autonomous start, and manual control can be restored immediately by moving the tiller.
The J1600 has a payload capacity of 1,600 kg and a manual lift of 1.6 m. It is equipped with 3D LiDAR SLAM and autonomous path planning technology. While basic use is stand-alone, the J1600 also offers advanced software for fleet and API integration.
The IFOY AWARD is an international competition that evaluates the best material handling and logistics equipment. This year, 49 entries were received, and 17 finalists completed the IFOY Audit. The J1600 was recognized in the Industrial Truck category, while the scientific assessment placed it in the emerging middle ground between truck and robot.
The Mobile Robot Company ApS is a Danish robotics company that was founded in November 2024 and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. The J1600 is the company’s first product, and it has quickly gained recognition for its innovative design and capabilities. The company’s CEO Emil Hauch Jensen can be contacted for media inquiries at hello@mobilerobot.com or +45 88 10 90 12.
To learn more about The Mobile Robot Company and the J1600, please visit www.mobilerobot.com.
