Hai Robotics Deploying 1,500 Rack-Climbing Robots in Europe

Hai Robotics has secured a contract to deploy more than 1,500 rack-climbing warehouse robots at a new fulfillment center for a major European fashion retailer, creating what the company describes as the world's largest installation of vertical warehouse automation technology.

The project centers on Hai Robotics' HaiPick Climb system, which enables robots to scale storage racks vertically to retrieve inventory in high-density warehouse environments. The deployment represents a significant expansion of an existing partnership, as the unnamed retailer already operates multiple HaiPick systems across Europe, according to details first reported by Robotics and Automation News.

Scale of the deployment

The automated facility will span 30,000 square meters and feature 1.2 million double-deep storage locations. The system is designed to handle throughput exceeding 24,000 totes per hour, supporting the retailer's growing online order volumes through a goods-to-person operation.

The HaiPick Climb robots will work within a single integrated automation system, demonstrating the technology's ability to coordinate large fleets without sacrificing operational flexibility. The double-deep storage configuration maximizes vertical space utilization while maintaining the speed required for high-volume e-commerce fulfillment.

Why it matters

This deployment signals growing confidence in vertical warehouse automation as a solution for space-constrained European logistics operations. Fashion retailers face particular pressure to balance dense inventory storage with rapid order fulfillment across omnichannel operations. The project's scale—more than 1,500 robots in a single facility—suggests rack-climbing technology has matured beyond pilot programs into enterprise-grade infrastructure that can support mission-critical distribution operations.

Technology and market position

Hai Robotics, founded in 2016, specializes in Automated Case-handling Mobile Robot (ACR) systems. The company's modular HaiPick systems integrate robotic equipment and software with standard warehouse racking infrastructure, allowing facilities to increase storage density without complete facility redesigns.

Peter Guan, general manager at Hai Robotics EMEA, characterized the project as evidence of a broader industry shift toward scalable robotic automation in large fulfillment operations. The deployment strengthens Hai Robotics' position in European fashion and e-commerce warehouse automation, a sector where storage density and operational flexibility have become critical competitive factors.

The project follows a pattern of European retailers investing in automation to manage labor constraints and rising e-commerce volumes. By deploying rack-climbing robots rather than traditional conveyor-based systems, the retailer gains flexibility to reconfigure operations as demand patterns shift—a key consideration in fashion retail, where inventory mix changes seasonally.

Details of the deployment were first reported by Robotics and Automation News.