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Solution Spotlight:

FORTNA AutoStore Warehouse Automation

Access a complete guide to the FORTNA AutoStore warehouse automation solution, covering performance, integration and scalability.

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Modern distribution operations are under constant pressure to move faster, add capacity and adapt to ongoing change. Labor shortages, rising operating costs, space constraints and rising customer expectations are forcing supply chain leaders to rethink how their warehouses are designed and operated.

The FORTNA AutoStore warehouse automation solution addresses these challenges with a high-speed, space-efficient, goods-to-person fulfillment approach that is engineered, implemented and supported by FORTNA to reduce the risks associated with manual processes and inflexible infrastructure.

By combining AutoStore’s proven high-density automation technology with FORTNA’s deep expertise in distribution design, systems integration and lifecycle performance, organizations gain a solution that delivers measurable results today while remaining scalable for what’s next.

This Insight answers frequently asked questions about the FORTNA AutoStore solution and explains why working with FORTNA as your integration partner is critical to long-term automation success.

What is the FORTNA AutoStore warehouse automation solution?

The FORTNA AutoStore solution is a high-density, modular automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) designed and implemented by FORTNA to optimize order fulfillment performance.

Inventory is stored in bins stacked within an aluminum grid. Autonomous robots travel across the top of the grid to retrieve bins and deliver them to ergonomic goods-to-person (GTP) workstations, where operators pick and replenish orders with speed and accuracy.

What differentiates the FORTNA AutoStore solution is how it is designed, engineered and integrated:

Right-sized grid, robot and workstation design based on throughput modeling
Seamless integration with WMS, WES, WCS and upstream and downstream automation
Modular scalability built into the initial design
Lifecycle performance services that protect ROI long after go-live

The result is a compact, flexible automation platform that dramatically increases storage density, improves accuracy, reduces labor dependency and supports continuous growth without locking operations into rigid infrastructure.

FORTNA AutoStore differentiators:

Right-sized design
Seamless integration
Modular scalability
Lifecycle performance services

Why choose FORTNA for AutoStore warehouse automation?

Success depends on far more than installing robots and grids. Design expertise, integration strategy and long-term operational support directly determine whether a system consistently delivers performance and ROI.

FORTNA brings decades of global experience designing, implementing and supporting complex distribution automation. Rather than deploying a standardized system, FORTNA engineers each AutoStore solution around your specific business objectives, SKU profile, order profiles, throughput requirements and long-term growth plans.

From upfront assessment and data-driven design through implementation, optimization and ongoing support, FORTNA ensures AutoStore systems perform as designed at go-live and throughout their lifecycle.

As your operation expands, whether by volume, geography or channel, FORTNA scales with you, applying consistent design standards, proven execution and lifecycle services across your network.

What types of operations are best suited for the FORTNA AutoStore solution?

The FORTNA AutoStore solution is ideal for operations that require:

Maximized high-density storage capacity
Fast, accurate order fulfillment
Reduced labour dependency
Scalability without major disruption

FORTNA designs AutoStore solutions for a wide range of industries, including e-Commerce, omnichannel retail and apparel, 3PL, healthcare, food and beverage, electronics, aftermarket parts and more. Solutions can be engineered for temperature-controlled environments, including cold storage.

Because FORTNA configures each system around specific operational requirements, the solution adapts easily across industries, inventory profiles and fulfillment strategies.

How does the FORTNA AutoStore solution improve space utilization?

The FORTNA AutoStore warehouse automation solution dramatically increases storage density by maximizing both horizontal and vertical space. Inventory is stored in bins stacked within a compact grid, eliminating the wide aisles required by traditional shelving and pallet racking. Compared to conventional storage methods, FORTNA AutoStore solutions can store inventory up to four times more densely, allowing operations to reduce their storage footprint by as much as 75% while increasing throughput capacity.

What sets FORTNA apart is our design-first, site-specific approach. FORTNA experts analyze your existing building constraints, clear heights, column spacing and operational flow to optimize grid configuration and vertical utilization. This enables organizations to recover valuable square footage, support higher order volumes and avoid or delay costly facility expansions or relocations. By aligning AutoStore grid design with order profiles, SKU velocity and future growth plans, FORTNA delivers space-efficient automation that scales with demand, improving fulfillment performance while making the most of your existing footprint.

Is the FORTNA AutoStore solution scalable as my business grows?

Yes. Scalability is built into the FORTNA AutoStore solution from day one. Capacity and throughput can expand without disrupting operations. As order volumes, SKU counts and demand increase, FORTNA can add robots, bins, grid extensions and GTP workstations incrementally, often while the system remains fully operational. This modular design enables organizations to scale automation in phases, aligning investment with growth.

FORTNA plans for future growth during the initial solution design by modeling demand variability, peak volumes and evolving fulfillment requirements. Software configuration, system integration and layout design are all engineered to support expansion, ensuring the FORTNA AutoStore solution continues to perform as business needs change.

With FORTNA’s lifecycle services and optimization expertise, your AutoStore solution remains adaptable, high-performing and future-ready, delivering long-term value without costly redesigns or downtime.

Can FORTNA integrate the AutoStore solution into existing brownfield facilities?

Yes. FORTNA specializes in integrating AutoStore into brownfield facilities, designing systems that work within existing layouts, software platforms and upstream or downstream automation. Using a design-first, data-driven approach, FORTNA enables organizations to add high-density automation without major facility redesign or operational disruption while maintaining end-to-end visibility and optimized order flow.

How does the FORTNA AutoStore solution impact labor and productivity?

By delivering goods directly to the operator, the FORTNA AutoStore solution significantly reduces the physical demands of traditional warehouse labor. Eliminating excessive walking, bending and searching improves efficiency, consistency and ergonomics. In today’s labor-constrained markets, this helps organizations maximize available labor while reducing reliance on hard-to-fill roles and overtime. Standardized goods-to-person workflows also make it easier to maintain consistent performance across shifts.

This results in:

Higher pick rates with fewer workers
Improved labor productivity and throughput consistency
Faster onboarding and training
Safer, more ergonomic work environments

Together, these benefits enable operations to maintain service levels and order fulfillment performance even as labor availability tightens.

Key benefits of the FORTNA AutoStore warehouse automation solution

Maximum storage density: The cube-based design delivers industry-leading space efficiency, enabling more inventory storage within a smaller footprint.

Faster, more accurate fulfillment: Goods-to-person picking improves speed and accuracy while reducing human error.

Operational flexibility: The modular design adapts easily without disrupting operations. FORTNA designs systems that evolve with your business over time, driving value today and consistently into the future.

Lower total cost of ownership: Reduced labor requirements, efficient energy use and long system life contribute to a compelling ROI. FORTNA further optimizes cost by right-sizing each solution.

Future-ready automation: Experience a proven platform that is designed, integrated and supported by FORTNA’s world-class experts.

FORTNA AutoStore benefits:

Maximum storage density
Accurate fulfillment
Operational flexibility
Lower cost of ownership
Future-ready automation

Why expertise matters for AutoStore warehouse automation

AutoStore success depends on far more than installing robots and grids. Design analysis, throughput modeling, integration strategy and long-term support directly impact whether a system consistently improves performance and drives ROI.

FORTNA brings unmatched AutoStore experience, including the deployment of:

5,000,000+ bins
6,000+ robots
Many of the largest AutoStore grids in the world

This depth of experience allows FORTNA to engineer systems that consistently achieve designed throughput and service levels while reducing risk and accelerating time to value.

Designed to perform. Supported for life.

As an end-to-end integration partner, FORTNA ensures its AutoStore solutions perform as designed at go-live and throughout their lifecycle. FORTNA mitigates risk and maximizes performance through:

Data-driven solution design
Advanced simulation and throughput modeling
Deep understanding of complex SKU profiles
Proven expertise integrating existing automation with AutoStore
Global deployment experience across diverse operating environments

Beyond implementation, FORTNA provides comprehensive maintenance and support through our Lifecycle Performance Services, including:

24/7 support
On-site maintenance services
Regular system health checks and optimization

This lifecycle-focused approach keeps your system operating at peak performance today and as your operation evolves.

Moen North Las Vegas Distribution Center AutoStore Solution

Real-world success

How Moen transformed its operations with FORTNA

When Moen, North America’s #1 faucet brand, needed to modernize its distribution operations and support long-term growth, it partnered with FORTNA to transform a legacy facility into a high-performance, automated distribution center. Facing capacity constraints, outdated processes and rising labor costs, Moen deployed a custom FORTNA AutoStore solution, integrated with FORTNA WES, WCS and advanced robotics.

Measurable results:

435% increase in throughput
60% reduction in labor dependency
Improved customer service and delivery performance
More sustainable operations

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Smarter, scalable automation built for what’s next

Start with strategy. Scale with confidence.

The FORTNA AutoStore solution is a strategic investment in operational resilience, scalability and performance. By partnering with FORTNA, organizations gain a trusted automation expert who knows how to translate the AutoStore system capabilities into measurable business outcomes.

FORTNA Can Help

Ready to see how a FORTNA-designed AutoStore solution can transform your distribution operation? Connect with us to explore solutions designed specifically for your facility, objectives and growth plans.

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Published/Updated 3/24/26