Through the University Research Program, The Raymond Corporation is seeking proposals that innovate and elevate the material handling industry.

Proposal themes related to these areas are encouraged, but given the broad nature of material handling, other themes are welcome. Each theme is followed by a question that a project could address as an example.

The Future of Logistics

1. Material handing in an uncertain future | How should industry prepare for future supply chain disruptions?
2. Material handling in a “smart city” | What equipment and distribution facilities are needed to support smart cities?
3. Warehouse design | What equipment is needed for a revolutionary new facility that combines retail, e-commerce, inventory storage and reverse logistics and what does the facility look like?
4. Urban and suburban package delivery | How could goods be configured just before delivery?

Improving Material Handling

1. Automation and material handling | What hardware and software can ease the transition to automation?
2. Advanced sensors for material handling | What new technology can be used for indoor location tracking, measuring wear or monitoring ergonomics?
3. Advanced vision systems and material handling | How could productivity be improved with vision systems enabled by lower cost, higher performing computers?

Truck and Operation Evolution

1. Industrial design of vehicles | What new materials and processes can improve the design, manufacturability and sustainability of material handling vehicles?
2. Operator ergonomics | How can digital twins and human factors improve operator productivity?
3. Neurotechnology applications in material handling | How could operator productivity improve with a direct connection to the human brain or an indirect haptic connection?