NūMove was recently featured in Robotics Tomorrow as a robotic depalletizing expert, sharing insights on the latest trends, challenges, and innovations shaping the future of warehouse automation. In this exclusive interview, NūMove’s Marketing Manager, Luc Vanden-Abeele, discusses how advancements in machine vision, AI-powered robotics, and flexible automation solutions are helping warehouses and distribution centers increase productivity while reducing labor challenges.
The State of Robotic Depalletizing in 2026
“ In 2026, robotic depalletizing should deserve serious consideration because it addresses several challenges facing warehouses and distribution centers. Labor availability remains a major concern, and depalletizing is one of the most labor-intensive tasks in material handling.
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Depending on the product and packaging, robotic depalletizing can handle multiple products at each robot cycle, reaching rates that humans cannot meet. Combined with the consistency of robotic performance and improvements in machine vision and AI, depalletizing automation is becoming an increasingly practical way to improve productivity, safety, and operational resilience.
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One significant trend is the emergence of mixed-SKU depalletizing. As 3D vision systems continue to improve, robots will become increasingly capable of identifying and handling pallets containing different products, making this type of application more common. ”
Topics Covered in the Interview with Robotics Tomorrow
- What are the pros and cons of a single unit depalletizer, row depalletizer and layer depalletizer?
- What is semi-automatic depalletizing and in which context is this solution valuable?
- Should the robot always be guided with machine vision and why?
- What are the financial benefits of a depalletizing robot?
- What is on the horizon for robotic depalletizing? What are some of the roadblocks that need to be overcome for mass adoption?
Robotics Tomorrow: An Interview on Depalletizing with NūMove
