Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan and Toyota Industries Begin Full-Scale Operations of Japan’s First Autonomous Four-Fork Forklift for Truck Loading and Unloading
Promoting logistics DX to realize automation of all processes from manufacturing to shipping

Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President & CEO: Calin Dragan) and Toyota Industries Corporation (Headquarters: Kariya City, Aichi Prefecture; President: Koichi Ito) are pleased to announce the start of full-scale operations of Japan’s first※1 autonomous four-fork forklift (“autonomous forklift”) compatible with truck loading and unloading. Developed by Toyota Industries, the autonomous forklift began operations in May 9,2025 at the Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Hakushu Plant Warehouse in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture. A start-up ceremony was held today at the Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Hakushu Plant Warehouse.

 [Autonomous forklift compatible with truck loading and unloading (four-fork type)]

Since September 2024, Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan and Toyota Industries have conducted demonstration tests to prepare for the full-scale operation of the autonomous forklift. One of the key challenges was achieving precise accuracy in loading and unloading, as even slight load shifts of a few millimeters during truck loading could cause pallet collapse and other issues. To address this issue, the companies improved truck approach control and the side shift mechanism, establishing technology that enables high-precision loading without gaps between pallets. As a result, the autonomous forklift now delivers the same level of loading quality as manned operations, while ensuring safe loading, unloading, and transport. With full-scale operation now underway, the companies plan to expand to day-and-night operations, paticularly to strengthen nighttime shipping when securing personnel is more difficult.
In addition, the Hakushu Plant Warehouse had already completed automation from product manufacturing to warehouse storage as part of its efforts to build an automated warehouse. With the full-scale operation of the autonomous forklift, automation has now been achieved across all processes from manufacturing to shipping. Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan will continue working to enhance all processes across the end-to-end manufacturing and logistics fields to optimize the supply chain.
 

Going forward, both companies will continue to apply the knowledge gained from this initiative to help address social issues such as labor shortages resulting from the Logistics 2024 problem. They will promote logistics DX by advancing the automation and efficiency of logistics operations.

※1 According to Toyota Industries (as of May 9, 2025). Japan’s first 3D-LiDAR-equipped autonomous four-fork forklift compatible with truck loading and unloading.

■ Outline of autonomous forklift compatible with truck loading and unloading
News Release (distributed on September 10, 2024): Japan’s First Autonomous Four-Fork Forklift Compatible With Truck Loading and Unloading To Go Into Operation (Japanese only) 

https://www.ccbji.co.jp/news/detail.php?id=1585

【The officials from both companies cut the ribbon at the start-up ceremony.】

※Please note that the information contained in news releases is current as of the date of release. Certain information may have changed since the date of release.