PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) (“U. S. Steel”) today announced a strategic investment in Pittsburgh-based Freespace Robotics, a pioneering manufacturer of robotic storage and retrieval systems that are in demand by warehouses worldwide. This investment will help Freespace hire and retain local talent as well as recruit others into the region.   "Investing in Freespace Robotics is another way we’re promoting innovation while supporting the regional economy and its workforce,” said Christian Gianni, U. S. Steel Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer. "Given Freespace’s ambitious growth plan rooted right here in our hometown, this investment also underscores how we’re doubling down on the region because we believe in its potential to be a force for innovation in the U.S. and beyond.”   Freespace Robotics manufactures an autonomous storage system that leverages robots to store and retrieve goods in ways that are new to market. For example, its robots can handle multiple goods at once, more sizes of goods, and can store and retrieve goods in a single action. The company will use U. S. Steel’s investment to execute on pilot programs, establish its manufacturing presence in the region and scale up its team.   Automated storage and retrieval systems are used for warehousing, retail, and logistics; from the largest of distribution centers to regional centers, and micro-fulfillment and back of store for ecommerce. The warehouse automation market in the U.S. alone is expected to grow at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate of over 15% through 2028 and become a $44B market globally by 2028. [source: LogisticsIQ]   “This region has a long history of industrial innovation through advances in hardware and large-scale equipment,” said Freespace Robotics CEO Dr. Robert J. Szczerba. “U. S. Steel knows first-hand the importance of creating an innovation pipeline for themselves and the additional value of doing so in its hometown with hometown talent.”   “The Freespace Robotics team are clear leaders and innovators. These highly advanced technologies will be essential for a robust, resilient, and more efficient supply chain,” added Gianni.   Freespace Robotics is a portfolio company from Carnegie Foundry, a Robotics and AI venture studio headquartered in Pittsburgh that partners with the world leader in autonomous robotics – the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) at Carnegie Mellon University – to build its technologically advanced solutions. NREC combines expertise from decades of applied R&D work in autonomy with highly strategic, corporate and public sector partners to bring multi-use technology solutions to market. U. S Steel is also an anchor investor of Carnegie Foundry.   As part of this investment, U. S. Steel’s Director of Strategy & Corporate Development, Jim Cook, will join the Freespace Robotics Board of Directors. Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.   About U. S. Steel Founded in 1901, United States Steel Corporation is a leading steel producer. With an unwavering focus on safety, the Company’s customer-centric Best for All® strategy is advancing a more secure, sustainable future for U. S. Steel and its stakeholders. With a renewed emphasis on innovation, U. S. Steel serves the automotive, construction, appliance, energy, containers, and packaging industries with high value-added steel products such as U. S. Steel’s proprietary XG3® advanced high-strength steel. The Company also maintains competitively advantaged iron ore production and has an annual raw steelmaking capability of 22.4 million net tons. U. S. Steel is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with world-class operations across the United States and in Central Europe. For more information, please visit www.ussteel.com.   About Freespace Robotics Freespace Robotics is a warehouse automation company with a reimagining of Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) that are space efficient and high-speed; capable of high-volume movement of goods, in nearly any size, shape, and temperature environment. We are a robotic automation and AI company laser-focused on delivering unimagined advances in order-fulfillment and movement of goods. Freespace Robotics is based, rooted, and embedded in Pittsburgh, where industrial innovation and AI is bred, deployed and acquired. To learn more about Freespace Robotics, please visit www.freespacerobotics.com.   Inquiries: Investment: Matthew B. Wachter, matt@freespacerobotics.com Pilot / Sales: Karl Sanchack, ksanchack@freespacerobotics.com   About Carnegie Foundry Carnegie Foundry is a unique Robotics and AI venture studio, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA. In partnership with the world leader in autonomous robotics and AI - the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) at Carnegie Mellon University – we develop, mature and spin out companies that commercialize cutting-edge intellectual property and advanced prototypes, already market tested and primed for new and expanded applications. For more information visit www.carnegiefoundry.com.   Contact Corporate Communications (412) 433-1300 media@uss.com   Emily Chieng Investor Relations Officer (412) 618-9554 ecchieng@uss.com

Fives Intralogistics Corporation ("Fives"), a globally recognized leader that transforms supply chain facilities, continues to expand its capabilities in Automated Storage and Retrieval (AS/RS) with the announcement today of its Teaming Agreement with Freespace Robotics, a pioneering manufacturer of robotic storage and retrieval systems for supply chain, logistics and material handling operations worldwide.   Through the mutual exchange of know-how and technical expertise as well as a deep understanding of customer needs and market demands, both companies will strengthen their position as key players in warehouse automation, collaborating on opportunities in sectors including retail, warehousing, and defense logistics.   Freespace Robotics' innovative approach to AS/RS is complementary to Fives' solutions portfolio and will allow Fives to broaden its offerings to help its customers meet the challenges of omnichannel automation. The relationship with Fives will give Freespace Robotics the extra boost needed to build strong customer relationships in the United States, where Fives has a leading position.   "The Freespace team brings a fresh and compelling approach to warehouse automation along with some of the most innovative concepts and designs for flexible and scalable AS/RS solutions. We see incredible opportunities for our customers to add capabilities that, until now, were not as feasible or affordable. Along with their product innovation, their strong team and business model positions them well for success, and we're excited to work together," said Fives Intralogistics Corporation Interim Chief Executive Officer Jeff Gavenas.   "We are grateful to have Fives as a strategic partner, supporting us to advance the development and accelerate the adoption of our solution," said Freespace Robotics CEO Dr. Robert J. Szczerba. "Fives' long history as a supplier and systems integrator of advanced automation technologies signals a trust and loyalty built over time, and we are grateful they see potential in what we are building. Their deep understanding of customers' processes and objectives allows us to align our capabilities and shape our solutions to meet general and bespoke customer needs more closely."   Freespace Robotics has developed an autonomous storage cube that leverages advanced robotics to store and retrieve goods in new and different ways, enabling its robots to handle either trays or totes across a broader range of sizes and weights - in the same cube. These capabilities, along with others, help Freespace Robotics offer customers a premium solution for optimizing order preparation that is not only fast, dense, reliable, and scalable but does so with easier brownfield installations – and without dependency on battery power. This represents the next generation of automated storage and retrieval system.   About Fives’ Smart Automation Solutions Division With 2,000 employees in Europe, Asia, and North America, Fives’ Smart Automation Solutions Division provides and integrates high-end automation solutions with a broad portfolio of proprietary technologies and software intended from retail and distribution to e-commerce, food, 3PLs, parcel and postal, as well as airports and various manufacturing industries.   About Fives As an industrial engineering Group with a heritage of over 200 years, Fives designs and supplies machines, process equipment and production lines for the world’s largest industrial players in various sectors such as steel, aerospace and special machining, aluminium, the automotive and manufacturing industries, cement, energy, logistics and glass.   The effectiveness of its R&D programs enables Fives to design forward-thinking solutions that anticipate industrials’ needs in terms of profitability, performance, quality, safety, and respect for the environment.   In 2022, Fives’ turnover was €2 billion, with over 8,500 employees in some thirty countries.   www.fivesgroup.com   Contact Smart Automation Solutions Hélène BACHELLERIE helene.bachellerie@fivesgroup.com +33 6 35 02 06 49   Fives Intralogistics Corporation Allison MYERS allison.myers@fivesgroup.com +1 502 649 2908   About Freespace Robotics Freespace Robotics is a warehouse automation company with a reimagining of Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) that are space efficient and high-speed, capable of high-volume movement of goods, in nearly any size, shape, and temperature environment. We are a robotic automation and AI company laser-focused on delivering cutting-edge advances in order-fulfillment and movement of goods. Freespace Robotics us based is based in Pittsburgh, PA a globally recognized leader in industrial automation and AI. To learn more about Freespace Robotics, please visit www.freespacerobotics.com.   Contact Investment: Matthew B. Wachter matt@freespacerobotics.com   Pilot/Sales: Karl Sanchack ksanchack@freespacerobotics.com