Last updated: August 2026
Update note: This article has been updated to reflect the opening of Clearlift’s Automation Demo Centre in Navan, Co. Meath. You can now book a visit to see every machine mentioned in this article working live in a real warehouse environment.
Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are no longer a concept for the future. They are working in warehouses and production facilities across Ireland and Northern Ireland right now — and at Clearlift Material Handling, you can see them in action.
We have opened Ireland’s first EP Equipment automation demo centre in Navan, Co. Meath. It is a working facility where AMRs and automated pallet movers are operating every day, and any business in Ireland or Northern Ireland can book a visit to see what warehouse automation actually looks like — not on a brochure or a YouTube video, but live, in front of you.
But first, here is everything you need to know about AMRs.
What is an Autonomous Mobile Robot?
An Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) is a self-navigating machine that moves goods around your warehouse or facility without requiring a human driver. Unlike a traditional forklift or pallet truck where an operator steers and controls every movement, an AMR uses sensors, cameras, and navigation software to map its environment and move independently.
AMRs do not need fixed tracks, floor tape, or magnetic guides. They build a map of your warehouse layout, navigate around obstacles and people in real-time, and integrate into your existing workflow without major infrastructure changes or lengthy installation projects.
AMRs vs AGVs — What is the Difference?
The two terms are used interchangeably but they describe different technologies:
AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles)
AGVs follow fixed, predetermined paths — typically using magnetic tape, wire guides, or floor markers. They are reliable and accurate on their fixed route but rigid. If you want to change the route, you change the infrastructure. They are typically suited to large-scale, repetitive operations that do not change.
AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots)
AMRs navigate dynamically. They build a map of your warehouse and update their routes in real-time based on what their sensors detect. You can adjust workflows, add obstacles, or change pick points without touching any hardware. They are significantly more flexible and better suited to most Irish SME warehouses where layouts and priorities shift.
For the majority of businesses we speak to in Ireland and Northern Ireland, AMRs are the right starting point — lower infrastructure cost, faster setup, and adaptable to how your operation actually runs.
The Full EP Equipment Automation Range — Available at Clearlift
At Clearlift, we supply the complete EP Equipment automation range. Each model is designed for a specific application within warehouse and production environments:
XP15 — Entry-Level Collaborative AMR (Co-bot)
The ideal starting point for any business new to automation. The XP15 works alongside your team rather than replacing them. Using ceiling-mounted reflectors for navigation, it operates on a simple teach-and-go principle — show it the route and it handles that repetitive pallet transport from that point forward. Best for single or repeated point-to-point routes, production lines, and picking-to-despatch flows.
EXP15 — Automated Electric Pallet Truck
A step up from the XP15, offering more sophisticated navigation for higher-throughput environments and more complex route requirements.
EXP20 — Higher Capacity Automated Pallet Truck
For heavier loads and more demanding routes, the EXP20 handles up to 2,000kg autonomously.
XQE122 — Automated Stacker
Automates vertical stacking tasks — lifting and placing pallets at height without an operator, consistently and accurately across every shift.
XPMM — Multi-Direction Automated Mover
For complex routes, tighter spaces, and operations requiring lateral movement.
XPL201 — Automated Longfork Truck
For specialist applications requiring extended fork reach, common in block-stacking and deep-lane storage environments.
You can see all of these models working live at our Navan Demo Centre. Book your visit here.
How AMRs Are Changing Warehousing in Ireland
The businesses seeing the strongest results from AMRs in Ireland and Northern Ireland share some common characteristics:
- Repetitive point-to-point pallet movements — from production line to despatch, goods-in to storage, or between work stations
- Labour challenges — whether shortage, high turnover in repetitive roles, or difficulty filling night shifts
- Multi-shift operations where consistent, predictable throughput matters
- Food, pharmaceutical, or cleanroom environments where hygiene and precision are critical
- Operations looking to scale output without proportionally scaling headcount
The key thing to understand: AMRs do not replace your team. They take over the repetitive, low-value transport tasks — moving pallets from A to B, over and over — so your people can focus on higher-value work like picking accuracy, quality checking, inventory management, and customer orders.
Is Your Warehouse Ready for Automation?
Probably yes, and sooner than you might think. One of the most common things we hear from businesses after they visit our Navan demo centre is: ‘I thought this was going to be much more complicated and expensive than it is.’
The EP Equipment range starts at entry-level and scales up. You do not need to commit to a full system from day one. Most of our customers start with one or two XP15 units on a single repetitive route, measure the impact, and expand from there. Typical payback is 12–24 months.
Installation is straightforward. The XP15, for example, requires only ceiling-mounted reflectors — no floor modification, no major IT integration, no weeks of downtime. Setup takes hours, not months.
Come and See It Working — Free Demo at Our Navan Centre
The best way to understand whether automation is right for your business is not to read about it. It is to stand in front of it, watch it work, and ask the questions that matter to your specific operation.
At our Navan demo centre in Co. Meath, you can:
- See AMRs navigating and operating in a live warehouse environment
- Talk to our automation specialists about your specific layout, volumes, and challenges
- Understand realistic costs, payback periods, and what installation actually involves
- Get a clear picture of which EP model suits your operation best
Ireland: 01 5267 411 | Northern Ireland: 028 3833 7038
We are based in Navan, Co. Meath (Republic of Ireland) and Portadown (Northern Ireland) and cover the full island.
