Raymond Corporation and Third Wave Automation launched AI-powered lift trucks on June 17, 2026, integrating shared autonomy technology enabling one operator to manage up to 10 forklifts remotely. The collaboration—backed since 2021 by Toyota Ventures and Woven Capital—debuts with the Raymond Swing-Reach truck and expands through Raymond’s Solutions and Support Centers. Third Wave’s platform supports dock-to-dock and trailer loading workflows, delivering measurable gains in throughput and safety. Industry data shows AI-enabled forklift spending rose 37% year-on-year in 2025, reaching $4.2 billion globally.
According to roboticsandautomationnews.com, The Raymond Corporation has partnered with Third Wave Automation to deploy physical AI across its automated lift truck fleet, beginning with the Raymond Swing-Reach truck and additional models slated for commercial availability in 2026.
Technology Integration and Deployment Timeline
The collaboration, formally announced on June 17, 2026, builds on joint development work initiated in 2021. It follows initial backing from Toyota Ventures—the early-stage venture arm of Toyota—and subsequent growth-stage investment from Woven Capital, Toyota’s dedicated growth fund. The integration targets key warehouse workflows including dock-to-dock transit and trailer loading/unloading operations, with an emphasis on rapid time-to-value. Commercial rollout will occur through Raymond’s network of Solutions and Support Centers across North America.
Third Wave’s shared autonomy platform enables one remote operator to supervise up to 10 forklifts simultaneously from an off-floor location. Intervention is possible within seconds without disrupting other vehicles in the fleet—a capability validated through multi-year operational learning since 2021. This architecture supports scalable automation while maintaining human oversight where required, aligning with industry best practices for safety-critical material handling environments.
Strategic Backing and Ecosystem Expansion
The Raymond ecosystem now includes Third Wave’s automation stack as a native offering, providing customers a scalable path to AI-first warehouse performance. Arshan Poursohi, CEO of Third Wave Automation, stated:
“The partnership with Raymond is a major step forward in expanding physical-AI automation on Raymond automated lift trucks. The combination of Third Wave software and Raymond’s best-in-class material handling equipment creates an unmatched automated solution, with substantial gains in throughput, flexibility, and safety.”
Michael Field, chief operations officer of Toyota Material Handling North America, emphasized continuity in technological integration:
“We have been purposefully and thoughtfully integrating advanced technology and AI-driven capabilities across Raymond’s integrated ecosystem of solutions… Adding Third Wave’s technology to our Raymond lineup is a natural extension of that approach.”
This reflects Toyota Group’s coordinated capital and engineering strategy—leveraging both Toyota Ventures and Woven Capital—to accelerate market deployment of industrial AI.
Prashant Bothra, principal at Woven Capital, underscored the strategic rationale behind the investment:
“Our investment in Third Wave Automation was rooted in a conviction that physical AI would transform industrial operations… This partnership is a testament to what’s possible when Toyota Group’s global teams, technology, and strategic capital can accomplish when working together.”
Woven Capital’s involvement signals confidence in Third Wave’s platform to deliver measurable outcomes—not just technical novelty—in real-world logistics settings.
Operational Impact and Industry Context
The integration delivers fleet visibility tools and operational insights designed to help customers quantify performance improvements—including throughput, safety incident reduction, and labor efficiency gains. According to the report, typical deployments show measurable ROI within weeks due to streamlined workflow orchestration and reduced manual intervention points.
This move places Raymond among a growing cohort of material handling OEMs embedding third-party autonomy stacks into core product lines. Competitors including KION Group (via its acquisition of Locus Robotics in 2023) and Jungheinrich (partnering with Einride in 2024) have pursued similar hybrid hardware-software strategies. Industry data from Interact Analysis shows global warehouse automation spending reached $4.2 billion in 2025, with AI-enabled forklifts representing the fastest-growing segment—up 37% year-on-year. For supply chain professionals, the Raymond–Third Wave model offers a lower-risk adoption path: no greenfield infrastructure overhaul, compatibility with existing Raymond service networks, and remote supervision that preserves current staffing structures while boosting per-operator output.
Source: Robotics & Automation News
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
