MotionMiners GmbH has been named the winner of the Lufthansa Cargo Innovation Award 2026. The technology company impressed the jury with its Motion-Mining technology, which uses wearables, sensors, and AI-powered data analysis to automatically capture and evaluate manual work processes. The Innovation Pitches were launched by startup accelerator HAUS61 in 2025 and were held again as part of this year’s Air Cargo Conference 2026.
Frank Bauer, Chief Operating Officer of Lufthansa Cargo, served as a member of the award jury. The award was presented by Heike Wörner, Head of Business Development at Lufthansa Cargo, to Christoph Dorra, Sales Team Lead at MotionMiners.
“People, technology, and complex operational processes are closely interconnected in air cargo. MotionMiners has convincingly demonstrated how modern sensor technology can provide transparency into real-world processes within a very short time while taking local conditions into account. In addition to its potential to improve efficiency and ergonomics, the solution’s high level of employee acceptance was particularly compelling to the jury. This combination of rapid implementation, reliable data, and close alignment with operational realities makes the solution especially relevant to air cargo,” said Wörner.
A total of around 30 logistics startups applied to participate in the Innovation Pitch. Eight were selected as finalists and presented their solutions live at the Air Cargo Conference before the jury and an audience of industry professionals. MotionMiners prevailed with a practical approach that combines data-driven process optimization with more ergonomic workflows.
“Air cargo is a highly relevant growth market for MotionMiners. Handling involves numerous complex and labor-intensive processes where our technology can identify concrete opportunities for improvement, from walking and driving routes to waiting times and ergonomic strain. The Lufthansa Cargo Innovation Award provides a strong starting point for us to establish ourselves in the industry,” said Dorra.
Sensor technology provides transparency into manual processes
For the analysis, employees and material handling equipment are temporarily fitted with sensors. Beacon transmitters also enable the captured activities to be assigned to specific locations. The data is analyzed anonymously on the web-based MotionMiners Process Intelligence platform. This makes it possible to identify time-consuming process steps, unnecessary travel, waiting times, and ergonomic strain. For material handling equipment, the analysis can also examine utilization, empty trips, and material flows. MotionMiners offers its technology both through consulting projects and under a licensing model that enables companies to conduct their own analyses.
By winning the Lufthansa Cargo Innovation Award, MotionMiners highlights the importance of data-driven process analysis in advancing complex air cargo and logistics operations.
