Nabuurs Supply Chain Solutions has reduced the estimated labour requirement for routine warehouse floor cleaning by 60–70% after deploying a Tennant T16AMR autonomous scrubber.
The machine has operated at the logistics provider’s 60,000m² Oosterhout facility since July 2025. It replaced the need for an employee to spend several hours each day operating the conventional Tennant M17, while maintaining the required cleaning standard.
Nabuurs and Tennant ran a trial and return-on-investment analysis before the investment decision. The T16AMR was selected for its autonomous coverage of large areas, cylindrical brush system and ability to switch between autonomous and manual operation. Its navigation and safety functions are powered by BrainOS.
An internal cleaning team prepared the deployment by programming and testing all routes during the trial, refining schedules and learning the equipment. As a result, the machine could be integrated into daily operations immediately after purchase.
Safety functions were important in the active warehouse environment. BrainOS updates allow stopping points to be set in busy traffic areas and warning signals to be used near junctions and crossings.
Operational data shows average cleaning of 1,774m² per day, 12,420m² per week and more than 54,000m² per month. Autonomous operation accounts for almost 63% of total usage time. Nabuurs is discussing whether the model could be extended to other Dutch sites. The company has worked with Tennant for around six years and is assessing further efficiency opportunities across the Nabuurs network.
A multilingual professional experienced in Europe, Canada, and China, Herbert has developed invaluable networks in the automotive and energy industries. He has led high-profile projects involving ENBW, Mercedes-Benz Group, Siemens Group, and the Fraunhofer Institute.