The countdown to the biggest night in the UK material handling calendar has officially begun with the launch of nominations for The Archies 2025.
Organised by the UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA), The Archies are among the most prestigious prizes in the sector, recognising excellence, innovation and achievement. With this year’s ceremony taking place on the middle night of IMHX, anticipation is already building for an unforgettable celebration of all things material handling related.
Now is the time to showcase your success – submit your nominations today.
This year’s event will be hosted on the evening of Wednesday 10th September at The Vox Conference Centre NEC Birmingham, and will celebrate excellence across the material handling and intralogistics sector.
In recognition of the importance of The Archies 2025, the headline sponsor for this year’s awards is IMHX. As the UK’s leading showcase for the latest cutting-edge supply chain and logistics solutions, IMHX provides exhibitors and visitors with an opportunity to discover the latest technologies and trends that are transforming the sector.
The Archies will draw an influential audience of material handling decision-makers and other stakeholders making it an ideal networking opportunity for the industry.
Rob Fisher, CEO of the UKMHA, said: “The critical importance of the material handling and intralogistics sector to the UK’s economic performance warrants an event capable of showcasing excellence across the industry.
“The Archies therefore go hand-in-glove with IMHX in focusing attention on the successes of our industry and the people working within it. This year we are delighted to welcome Logistics Matters as our media partner and we are hugely appreciative of their continued support.”
For 2025, the award categories have been chosen to reflect the entire material handling spectrum, with recognition set for individuals, products, services and innovative solutions. They reflect the need to attract the best new talent to the industry – a key aim of the UKMHA – as well as the changing nature of the industry with the advances in technology such as automation and AI.
The award categories are headed by the Lifetime Achievement Award. This is the highest individual honour bestowed by the UKMHA and is presented to the individual who has made a significant contribution to the material handling industry.
The importance of sustainability and good safety standards are recognised by the Best Safety Initiative and Sustainability Excellence awards. The latter is sponsored by B&B Attachments.
The Intralogistics Project of the Year recognises a project that has utilised innovation and improved operational efficiencies.
In keeping with the goal of recognising young talent within the industry, the Rising Star Award honours the performance of an emerging young professional (below 30 years of age) who has demonstrated initiative and potential as a future leader.
In tandem with this, the Apprentice of the Year awards, sponsored by TVH, are presented to one second-year, and one third-year apprentice who, in the opinion of the judges, has demonstrated outstanding dedication and passion for the material handling industry.
The Industry Leader Award is bestowed on an individual who has consistently shown outstanding leadership qualities.
The Training Provider of the Year honours the business that demonstrates outstanding service levels, while the Best New Product acknowledges a new-to-market product or solution that has had a significant and influential impact on the industry.
The Excellence in Automation categoryrecognises how technical innovation and the use of automation have played a vital part in improving efficiency and delivering growth for the user. In a similar vein, the Technology Innovator Award recognises the company developing or implementing cutting-edge technology in material handling.
The Logistics Innovation Award highlights a forward-thinking logistics solution or strategy, while the Operational Efficiency Award recognises the measurable improvement in operations through the use of new equipment, reconfiguration of distribution centre or warehouse, or use of automation or AI.
The prestigious UKMHA Dealer Member of the Year, sponsored by Combilift, is one of the evening’s most eagerly awaited awards. This award recognises the company which has consistently operated its business to the highest standards.
Finally, the Customer Service Excellence Award, sponsored by CFTS,honours the team delivering exceptional levels of customer service.
The deadline for submissions for this year’s awards is 28th May. For more details on The Archies 2025 visit: www.ukmha.org.uk/events/the-archies-awards/
