According to insidefmcg.com.au, this year’s CeMAT Australia attracted 245 exhibitors and 6,156 unique attendees, reflecting a decisive industry shift from debating whether to automate toward solving concrete operational challenges through integrated systems.
Automation with a Business Case
James Redshaw, senior exhibition manager for CeMAT Australia and CeMAT Southeast Asia, stated that the central question is no longer whether to automate, but when and how — with investment decisions now driven by measurable ROI against specific constraints.
“Businesses are looking for solutions that address immediate constraints around labour, space, throughput and cost, rather than automation for its own sake.” — James Redshaw, senior exhibition manager for CeMAT Australia and CeMAT Southeast Asia
Exhibitors showcased automated storage and retrieval systems, shuttle technologies, goods-to-person systems, warehouse software, and integrated material-handling equipment — all designed to increase warehouse density and throughput while delivering quantifiable improvements in cycle times and error rates.
Robotics as Everyday Operational Tools
Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), robotic arms, AI-enabled picking systems, and automated palletising solutions moved beyond novelty status at CeMAT Australia 2026. Redshaw noted these technologies are now treated as standard tools supporting daily workflows — not experimental pilots. Demonstrations spanned applications from single-task workflow enhancement to fully integrated fulfilment facilities serving e-commerce and FMCG clients. The maturity of adoption was underscored by real-world deployments across Australian distribution centres, with operators reporting 22% average reduction in manual handling injuries and 18% faster order processing times in facilities using AMR-assisted picking zones.
Safety Embedded in Operational Design
Safety evolved from a compliance checkbox into a core design criterion integrated with workforce planning and automation strategy. CeMAT Australia 2026 featured pedestrian protection systems, smart racking with collision-detection sensors, forklift attachments with proximity alerts, advanced tyre technologies for stability on uneven surfaces, and fleet management platforms with real-time operator behaviour analytics. The concurrent Australian Forklift Championship — held over three days during the event — reinforced that human skill remains indispensable: competitors demonstrated precision load handling under timed conditions, validating the ongoing need for high-calibre operator training alongside technology deployment.
Electrification Shifts from Pilot to Fleet Planning
Electric materials-handling equipment gained significant traction, with organisations moving past pilot trials toward full fleet integration strategies. Redshaw observed growing attention on charging infrastructure scalability, battery lifecycle management, and grid power requirements — critical factors for warehouses operating 24/7 shifts. Electric forklifts accounted for 37% of all materials-handling equipment demos, up from 19% at CeMAT Australia 2024. Fast-charging solutions capable of delivering 80% charge in under 30 minutes were highlighted as essential enablers for continuous operation without workflow interruption.
Connected Fulfilment Drives System Integration
Organisations increasingly prioritise interoperability over standalone technology purchases. Warehouse management systems (WMS), warehouse execution systems (WES), inventory optimisation platforms, and integrated fulfilment orchestration tools demonstrated how data flow — not just hardware — enables resilience. According to Redshaw, companies are evaluating solutions based on their ability to unify data from disparate sources — including legacy PLCs, RFID scanners, and cloud-based ERP modules — to support dynamic decision-making. One case study presented showed how connecting real-time inventory visibility with predictive demand signals reduced stockouts by 29% and cut excess inventory holding by 14% across five regional distribution hubs in Australia.
Source: insidefmcg.com.au
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
