URBX Robotic Storage System Delivers 500 Cases or Totes Per Hour Per Robot, Reaches 125 Feet High, and Eliminates Traditional Aisle RequirementsWIXOM, MI – October 8, 2025 – Integrated Systems Design (ISD) announces the launch of its URBX automated storage and retrieval system, a Cube robotic ASRS system that fundamentally changes how distribution centers, warehouses and manufacturers operations approach high-density storage and rapid fulfillment.The URBX Cube Robotics ASRS system addresses three critical pain points facing warehouse operators: insufficient floor space, unsustainable labor costs, and inadequate throughput capacity to meet ecommerce and omnichannel delivery demands."Traditional ASRS systems require aisles for cranes or forklifts. This robotic cube system eliminates that waste," states Bob Jones, Senior Analyst and Consultant at ISD. "You're storing inventory in what used to be empty air. That matters when you're paying $15 per square foot."The Floor Space Problem Gets WorseDistribution centers and warehouses face a fundamental constraint—they're running out of room. Adding square footage increases inefficiencies and wastes valuable time. Industrial real estate rates continue climbing. Building new facilities takes 18-24 months and requires capital expenditures that strain budgets.Meanwhile, inventory requirements increase. SKU proliferation forces warehouses to stock more items in more variations. Ecommerce returns add to storage demands. Safety stock levels rise to buffer against supply chain disruptions.The math doesn't work. You need 40% more storage capacity but can't expand your footprint. Traditional solutions—racking configurations, mezzanines, off-site storage— don't solve the core problem."We've seen operations store inventory in trailers parked in their lots," Romaine explains. "That's not a storage strategy. That's desperation. You can't efficiently pick from a trailer 200 yards from your packing stations. I’ve seen a facility that parked trailers permanently at non-essential dock doors and just kept the doors open and utilized it as storage. This creates hazards and congestion and simply indicates a much larger problem… lack of floor space."How URBX Cube Robotics ASRS Changes the EquationThe new ISD URBX Cube robotic ASRS operates on different principles than conventional crane and aisle and other Cube automated storage systems.Instead of using cranes moving through fixed aisles, autonomous robots traverse a three- dimensional grid structure. They climb vertically and move horizontally without dedicated travel lanes. Each robot accesses any storage location within the grid. The system stores totes in a dense Cube arrangement—eliminating the wasted aisle space that traditional ASRS requires.The storage density improvements are significant. A Cube robotic system typically achieves 3-4 times the storage capacity of conventional racking in the same footprint. The system reaches heights up to 125 feet—utilizing vertical space, which most facilities leave empty.Each robot handles up to 100 pounds and completes up to 500 presentations per hour. That's 1000 transactions hourly when counting both storage and retrieval operations.Multiple robots work simultaneously within the same grid structure, scaling throughput based on demand."Think of it as three-dimensional chess," notes Ed Romaine, VP Marketing and Business Development at ISD. "The robots know where every tote or case sits. AI-driven software constantly optimizes their pathways.They're storing popular SKUs in easily accessible locations and moving slow-movers to deeper positions—automatically, continuously, without human intervention."Technical Specifications That MatterThe system's capabilities address real operational requirements:Storage Performance• Handles cases and/or totes• Maximum height: 125 feet• Load capacity: up to 100 pounds per tote• Tote or case handling rate: 500 per hour per robot• Transaction rate: 1000 storage/retrieval cycles per robot hourly• Tote and case dimensions: accommodates 6-inch to 24-inch containers for maximum flexibilityIntegration Capabilities• Compatible with standard conveyor systems• Interfaces with warehouse management software (WMS), warehouse control systems (WCS) and/or warehouse execution systems (WES)• Integrates with existing pick-to-light and goods-to-person technologies• Integrates with palletizers and outbound shipping systemsOperational Features• Machine learning algorithms optimize robot tasking and routing• AI-driven grid technology maximizes throughput• Vision systems detect dimensions, anomalies, and barcodes• Redundant robot fleet ensures continuous operationSystem Architecture• Modular design allows phased implementation• Scalable configuration grows with business requirements• Fault-tolerant operation continues during individual robot maintenance• Remote monitoring enables predictive maintenanceReal-World ApplicationsThe Cube robotic ASRS serves multiple industries facing storage and throughput challenges.Ecommerce operations benefit from rapid order fulfillment speeds and high inventory visibility. The system handles split-case picking efficiently—a critical requirement for direct-to-consumer fulfillment.Case handling applications allows organizations to cost-effectively store, sequence, buffer, stage, and retrieve cases automatically without any human intervention.Retail distribution centers use the technology for omnichannel order processing. The same system fulfills store replenishment orders and individual customer shipments without reconfiguration.Third-party logistics providers leverage the system's flexibility to serve multiple clients from shared facilities. They reconfigure storage allocations quickly as customer requirements change.Pharmaceutical distributors appreciate the system's accuracy and inventory control capabilities. The technology provides real-time location tracking and supports first-expired-first-out (FEFO) picking strategies.Electronics manufacturers utilize the system for component storage and kitting operations. The high-density storage accommodates thousands of low-volume SKUs in minimal floor space."One automotive parts distributor we worked with needed to double their SKU count without expanding their building," Romaine states. "Traditional racking couldn't deliver that. The Cube robotic system gave them 3.5 times their previous storage capacity in the same footprint. They canceled a planned facility expansion that would have cost $12 million."URBX Cube Robotics ASRS Implementation ApproachISD's OptimalOps-Process framework guides Cube robotic ASRS implementations from initial assessment through system validation.The process starts with comprehensive data analysis. ISD examines order profiles, SKU velocity, inventory characteristics, and workflow patterns. This analysis determines optimal system sizing and configuration.Design work considers both upstream and downstream operations. The Cube ASRS doesn't operate in isolation—it connects to receiving processes, picking workstations, packing stations, and shipping sorters. ISD designs these integration points for seamless material flow.Implementation planning addresses operational continuity. Most facilities can't shut down for system installation. ISD develops phased deployment strategies that maintain operations during construction and commissioning.Training programs prepare staff for new workflows. Technology changes how workers interact with inventory. Comprehensive training ensures smooth transitions and rapid productivity ramp-up."The technology works beautifully—when it's implemented correctly," Romaine emphasizes. "Poor integration kills ROI. We've seen expensive systems underperform because nobody thought about how totes move from receiving to the ASRS input, or how picked orders flow to packing stations. You need integrators who understand the entire workflow, not just the equipment."Return on Investment Factors for URBX Cube Robotics ASRSCube robotic ASRS investments typically deliver ROI through multiple operationalimprovements:Labor Reduction Manual picking requires workers to travel, search, and retrieve items. The Cube system brings inventory to stationary picking positions. Labor productivity typically improves 3-4 times compared to manual operations.Space Optimization Increased storage density eliminates expansion requirements.Organizations avoid capital expenditures for building additions or new facilities. Some operations consolidate multiple locations into single automated facilities.Accuracy Improvement Automated storage and retrieval eliminates location errors. Vision systems verify tote contents. Pick accuracy typically exceeds 99.9%—reducing returns, customer complaints, and reshipment costs.Throughput Capacity The system scales throughput by adding robots to the grid structure. Organizations handle peak volumes without temporary labor surges or overtime expenses.Inventory Visibility Real-time location tracking provides accurate inventory data. Organizations reduce safety stock requirements and improve inventory turns."One Ecommerce operation calculated their payback at 22 months," notes Romaine. "They eliminated 18 picking positions, gained 12,000 additional pallet positions, and improved order accuracy from 98.1% to 99.7%. Those aren't hypothetical benefits. They're documented results measured six months post implementation."Why ISD as Your URBX Cube Robotics ASRS Integration PartnerISD brings 60-plus years of warehouse automation experience to Cube robotic ASRS implementations. The company's OEM-agnostic approach ensures clients receive optimal solutions rather than vendor-locked specifications.ISD's expertise extends beyond equipment installation. The company analyzes entire facility operations—from receiving through shipping—designing integrated solutions that maximize performance across all processes.The OptimalOps-Process framework provides systematic methodology for assessment, design, implementation, and validation. This structured approach minimizes risk and accelerates time to full productivity.ISD maintains relationships with leading material handling equipment manufacturers. This network provides access to proven technologies and ensures long-term support availability."We're integrators who happen to manufacture some products—not manufacturers trying to be integrators," Romaine concludes. "That difference matters. We recommend Cube robotics if it's the right solution. We recommend other technologies when they fit better.Your operational success is our success. We're partners, not vendors."For organizations evaluating automated storage solutions or seeking to optimize existing warehouse operations, ISD offers free consultations to assess operational performance and identify improvement opportunities.About ISD - Integrated Systems DesignISD is a leading systems integrator specializing in warehouse, distribution, and manufacturing operations, as well as an OEM provider of the UltraStore Mid-Load ASRS system. Our proprietary OptimalOps-Process™ features an 8-step framework designed to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, expedite ROI, and future-proof operations by optimizing picking, sorting, packing, and shipping processes.At ISD, we prioritize collaboration, working closely with clients to define objectives, conduct comprehensive data analyses, and implement strategic planning. This partnership creates high-performance, tailored solutions that align with operational and business KPIs.Our extensive offerings encompass conveyor systems, Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), robotics, sortation systems, warehouse software, pallet handling, packaging automation, and order fulfillment technologies.With 60-plus years of experience and an OEM-agnostic approach, ISD delivers customized solutions that maximize ROI and operational effectiveness. For more information, visit www.isddd.comVideo Link: https://youtu.be/vfHuAcZZpNQContactEd RomaineChief Marketing Officereromaine@isddd.com.

At its Annual Conference in Tucson, Arizona, MHI celebrated five exceptional professionals who have shaped the supply chain. The honorees were recognized during Awards Night on October 14.MHI’s Young Professional Network (YPN), a community devoted to developing and retaining the future leaders of the material handling industry, awarded Katie Hall the Outstanding Young Professional Award. Katie is Marketing Specialist for Fives Intralogistics. The YPN Young Mentor Award was presented to Mike Drolet, who is the Global Director of Industry Development for Murrelektronik.The Marketing Professionals (Mpro) community issued its Outstanding Marketer award to Joe Pelej, the Director of Marketing for Matthews Automation. Mpro is a dynamic community within MHI dedicated to empowering marketing professionals in the supply chain.Three awards were presented by the Material Handling Education Foundation, Inc. (MHEFI), an independent charitable organization that provides financial support to engage and retain talent in the material handling, logistics, and supply chain industry.Sal Fateen, CEO of Seizmic, Inc., received the 2024 Norman L. Cahners Industry Award, while Gregg Goodner, board member of Hytrol, was honored with the 2025 award. This lifetime achievement honor recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary, long-term contributions to the material handling industry.MHEFI also presented the MHEFI Exception Contribution Award to Jim Vandegrift, the retiring president of R&M Material Handling. This award recognizes professionals who have made a significant impact on the material handling industry.The 2025 MHI Annual Conference was held October 12-15 at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort in Tucson, Arizona. The event featured keynotes, educational sessions, MHI Industry Group meetings, and networking events.About MHIMHI is an international trade association that has represented the material handling, logistics and supply chain industry since 1945. MHI’s over 1,000 members include material handling and logistics equipment and systems manufacturers, integrators, consultants, workforce solution providers, publishers and third-party logistics providers. MHI offers education, networking and solution sourcing for their members, the members’ customers, and the industry as a whole through programming and events. The association produces the ProMat and MODEX expositions that showcase the products and services of its member companies and to educate manufacturing and supply chain professionals. The Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) is a division of MHI and provides education and research to the warehousing, distribution, and logistics community.

MHI and Oxford Economics release new insights into the material handling sector’s $266 billion GDP impact and its growing role in the national supply chainMHI, in collaboration with Oxford Economics, has released an updated “Handling the US Economy: The Economic Impact of the Material Handling Industry” report. This in-depth analysis explores how the material handling sector contributes to the broader U.S. economy and supports the supply chain infrastructure.The report reveals that the industry’s economic impact reaches far beyond the facilities where equipment and technologies are manufactured or designed. Its influence spans multiple sectors, driving job creation, tax revenue, and GDP growth.In 2018, when MHI and Oxford Economics produced the first ever analysis report, it was reported that the economic contribution of the U.S. material handling industry amounted to more than $173.2 billion in GDP. In 2024, the material handling industry has seen significant growth and now contributes $266 billion to the US GDP, supports more than 1.9 million jobs, and generates $58.3 billion in tax revenues. The GDP multiplier for the industry is 3.6. This means that for every $100 directly contributed by the industry, an additional $260 is generated elsewhere in the US economy. The jobs multiplier is 3.7, which indicates that for every 10 jobs directly created by the material handling industry, an additional 27 jobs are supported throughout the broader US economy.The report also highlights notable employment growth within the industry. In 2024, the industry directly employed 502,000 workers—an increase from 402,000 in 2018. Of those, manufacturers represented the largest share at 84% (422,000 employees), followed by dealers at 8.3% (approximately 42,000 employees), and service providers at 7.8% (around 39,000 employees).“This report highlights the essential role the material handling industry plays in driving economic growth. Beyond providing the equipment and technology that moves and delivers goods, the industry provides valuable support services—including consulting, leasing, and design—that enhance efficiency and generate added value throughout the supply chain and the broader economy,” said John Paxton, Chief Executive Officer of MHI. “The insights in this report will help to support your businesses decisions moving forward.”To download the report, please visit mhi.org/handling-the-us-economy-the-economic-impact-of-the-material-handling-industry.About MHIMHI is an international trade association that has represented the material handling, logistics and supply chain industry since 1945. MHI’s over 1,000 members include material handling and logistics equipment and systems manufacturers, integrators, consultants, workforce solution providers, publishers and third-party logistics providers. MHI offers education, networking and solution sourcing for their members, the members’ customers, and the industry as a whole through programming and events. The association produces the ProMat and MODEX expositions that showcase the products and services of its member companies and to educate manufacturing and supply chain professionals. The Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) is a division of MHI and provides education and research to the warehousing, distribution, and logistics community.

To complement a new educational video, thought leaders representing the Protective Guarding Manufacturers Association (ProGMA), an MHI product group, discuss the importance of protecting personnel, equipment, and inventory in industrial facilities.ProGMA has recently launched the second in a series of videos about the importance of protective guarding products in the material handling industry. The video titled “Proper Safeguarding for Elevated Work Platforms” followed the inaugural, educational video titled, “Essential Safety Barriers for Automated / Robotic Workcells”. (http://www.mhi.org/progma/videos)Here, representatives of member companies expand on the themes explored within the latest video in the group’s first blog.Before we start, says Arlin Keck, corporate research and development engineer at Steel King (a manufacturer of pallet racks, mezzanines and guardrails), it’s important to clarify what we mean by “mezzanine” in this context. “The technical term for what my company and other members make is work platforms. Mezzanine was an old term for these systems; however, the word mezzanine had to be dropped because mezzanine, as defined in the building codes, refers to a specified type of floor within a building structure and carries with it added requirements for fire safety, egress, parking, and so on,” Keck explains.A typical work platform is design to support the site-specific load that will be placed on the floor, be it palletized loads, pallet jacks, foot traffic, work equipment, filing cabinets, racking or shelving units, to name just a few possibilities.Keck says that the main purpose of an elevated work platform is to add additional floor space into a building or room by taking advantage of surplus ceiling clearance that may exist in a warehouse or manufacturing facility. Aaron Conway, president at Mezzanine Safeti-Gates Inc. (a manufacturer of safety gates to secure the ledges of pallet drop areas on mezzanines and rack picking systems), says, “A company that has utilized all of its ground space can build upward. An elevated platform allows one to use the space for workflow or to store product.”As Hue Schlegel, director of marketing at Wildeck Inc. (a manufacturer of mezzanines and work platforms), puts it, “Move up, not out.” He adds, “Depending on the available height in a building, platforms can be one, two, or three levels high, with the most common height being 10 ft. top-of-deck and supporting a floor load of 125 lbs. per square foot. Their length and width are only limited by facility size.” Importantly, he explains, they cannot occupy more than two thirds of a fire-rated area within a building.Keck says work platforms are also used to create catwalks between separated platforms, and to serve as sortation and conveyance areas for mechanized systems. Conway agrees, adding, “Companies that supply elevated work platforms can fabricate them in virtually any configuration. They can be designed to accommodate specific workflow operations or to fit with existing structures in the building.”Industrial buildings are getting bigger and elevated work platforms are scaling up with them. Say, 50 years ago, facilities were much smaller and ceilings lower so there were fewer requirements for elevated platforms. Further, the equipment to load at such heights didn’t exist. Now, the capability of equipment is greater and taller structures are being utilized as a result. Within them, work and storage takes place on multiple levels.These multi-level work platforms present a danger of personnel and objects falling from height.As the latest video warns, the pallet drop area of elevated work platforms can lead to accidents if the ledge is open without adequate guarding. Falls to lower levels cost employers $5 billion annually in compensation claims in the U.S. alone. OSHA reports that it costs on average 16 lost working days per injured employee.Conway says, “Falling from an elevated level, whether it be people or products, is a serious danger and both should be addressed proactively, securing the situation before an incident occurs.” Schlegel adds, “The worst case, of course, is death; while the best scenario is that a worker survives a fall from the typical mezzanine height of 10 ft. sustaining only broken bones, fractures, and other injuries from hitting the concrete floor below. It is a serious matter not to be taken lightly.”Traditional railing or guarding systems are effective at preventing falls from height as long as they include a kick plate that is installed in conjunction with ANSI MH 28.3-2009. Adding netting or expanded metal and safety products to traditional railing systems provides added protection by capturing small objects that might otherwise fall into the work area below.OSHA Standard 1926.502, meanwhile, requires paneling or screening where tools, equipment, or materials are piled higher than the top edge of a toe-board or kick plate. ProGMA members also manufacture both netting and wire mesh panels that comply with that standard.However, David Brentz, chairman of ProGMA and vice president of member company Industrial Netting (a manufacturer of plastic netting), says, “That’s only a minimum requirement; added protection is financially prudent. The cost to install netting or wire screens around the perimeter of an elevated work platform pales in comparison to the cost of a single lost time accident. ProGMA members offer several simple, cost effective solutions to protect employees below loose objects that may fall or be kicked off work platforms.”Conway says, “In the past, properly guarding a pallet drop area or installing netting or wire was something that would be retrofitted, either after an incident occurred or after someone pointed out the issue. Designing proper safety guarding for the structure at the time of purchase makes for a much better fit; when retrofitting, there is often insufficient room for proper guarding and concessions have to be made. But, it is important to note that even if proper guarding wasn’t designed with the structure, it still should be installed. There are companies in the ProGMA that can customize solutions to fit these areas.”He continues, “Don’t confuse luck with judgment. If I visit a facility that was built, say, 20 years ago, I’m sure to find open pallet drop areas or insufficient guardrails. Just because these areas have been around for a while isn’t a reason not to properly secure them. I’ve heard the line, ‘Well, we’ve been doing it this way for 20 years and nobody has gotten hurt’. To that I say, ‘You’ve been lucky!’”Schlegel says, “The biggest safety risk is when a forklift access gate on mezzanine is left open creating a fall hazard for someone off-loading a pallet at the upper level. There are many products, provided by ProGMA members, that prevent the gate from being left open or that keep the operator at a safe distance, which should always be installed.”ANSI says, “Any gate that provides an access opening through the guards for the purpose of loading and unloading material onto a work platform shall be designed such that the elevated surface is protected by guards at all times. Gates that swing open, slide open, or lift up, leaving an unprotected opening in the guarding are not acceptable.”Dual gate systems such as a rolling gate ensure that the operator is separated from the ledge as well as the load. A pivoting gate ensures the operator is never exposed to the ledge and does not require him or her to walk near an open ledge to operate the gate.Unfortunately, sometimes it can take an incident and a facility to be shut down during an investigation for companies to understand the serious financial consequences of a workplace injury. There are many other companies that understand the risks and proactively secure their work areas. These diligent companies end up ahead in the long run:1. They typically get better solutions because they had the time to design them correctly;2. They get a better price because they can take their time and research the solutions;3. Safety solutions are in place before they need them.Conway concludes, “The large majority of people don’t want to get hurt and are not acting recklessly on the job. Typically, they are performing a repetitive operation, and in their process miss a step or push something too far and someone gets hurt. Proper guarding should be in place to prevent injury if this happens.”About ProGMAThe Protective Guarding Manufacturers Association (ProGMA) members are the industry’s leading suppliers of fixed protective guarding products designed to protect personnel, equipment, and inventory in industrial facilities. Member companies meet regularly to review, discuss, and revise the standards for design and performance of protective guarding products used in the material handling industry. ProGMA member companies are committed to the development, maintenance, and publishing of industry standard specifications for these systems. Visit the website at http://www.mhi.org/ProGMAAbout MHIMHI is an international trade association that has represented the material handling, logistics and supply chain industry since 1945. MHI members include material handling and logistics equipment and systems manufacturers, integrators, consultants, publishers and third-party logistics providers. MHI offers education, networking and solution sourcing for their members, their customers and the industry as a whole through programming and events. The association sponsors the ProMat and MODEX expos to showcase the products and services of its member companies and to educate manufacturing and supply chain professionals. http://www.mhi.orgContactAnupam Berry Boseabose@mhi.org704-676-1190

Third Party Logistics, or 3PL is a business arrangement whereby logistics services, often including warehousing, are contracted to an independent business that specializes in such services and is not connected through direct ownership to the producer or factory requiring the service. See also, Supply Chain, Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Material Handling. Note that all of referenced terms are highly interrelated and their definitions are frequently intermingled.

The supply chain consists of the physical and communication paths connecting multiple, interrelated businesses. Material, goods, products and information flow through these paths from their points of origin or source (often viewed as beginning with raw material) to the final end consumer. This flow is sometimes extended to include the eventual disposal, recycling or return of goods. See also, Supply Chain Management, Logistics , Material Handling, and Third Party Logistics. Note that all of referenced terms are highly interrelated and their definitions are frequently intermingled.

The organization, integration and utilization of the resources and transportation infrastructure needed to achieve the efficient flow of materials and information over the entire supply chain, or within selected subsystems. See also, Supply Chain, Supply Chain Management, Material Handling, and Third Party Logistics. Note that all of referenced terms are highly interrelated and their definitions are frequently intermingled.