AutoStore
Cube storage AS/RS with robotic bin retrieval — maximum density
AutoStore invented the cube storage AS/RS concept — robots navigate on top of a grid, retrieving bins stacked up to 16 levels high. Delivers 4-5x storage density vs. conventional shelving with 100% inventory accuracy.
High-density storage for small-to-medium items in space-constrained facilities
Large items, pallet-level storage, or operations with very tight capital budgets
Strengths
- Highest storage density of any AS/RS technology (4–5x conventional)
- 100% inventory accuracy proven across 1,200+ installations
- Modular — expand without shutting down operations
- Works in temperatures from -30°C to +35°C
Weaknesses
- Requires dedicated grid infrastructure — significant capital
- Bin size limitations exclude large items
- Throughput per port is limited — need many ports for high volume
- Vendor-agnostic integration requires experienced integrator
Practitioner analysis
AutoStore has the highest storage density of any goods-to-person system and the most installations worldwide (1,100+). The aluminum grid technology is proven and reliable. Critically: AutoStore sells exclusively through certified integrators — you are buying from Bastian, Swisslog, Kardex, or another partner, not from AutoStore directly. The integrator relationship matters enormously.
The quoted uptime of 99.7%+ is for the robots, not the system. System uptime (your ability to fulfill orders) depends on your robot density relative to throughput requirements — if you're running at 80%+ capacity, a robot failure has a much bigger operational impact than if you're at 50%. Design your robot count for peak throughput, not average. Grid expansion is straightforward but requires planning — factor in future growth lanes from day one.
E-commerce and omnichannel retail operations with high SKU count (10,000+), relatively uniform item sizes, and throughput requirements that justify the capital investment ($5M+).
Bin size constraints are real — items must fit in a 600x400mm bin. If more than 15% of your SKUs are oversized, AutoStore is not your primary solution. Evaluate a hybrid with floor-level pick for oversized items.
Questions to ask in your RFP / demo
- Which integrator do you recommend for our application, and why?
- What is the actual bin mix we should spec given our SKU profile?
- What does the escalation path look like if the integrator and AutoStore point fingers at each other during a system outage?
Products
Cubic storage automation with bin-carrying robots on an aluminum grid