Polish logistics company ILS Logistics has partnered with warehouse automation specialist Exotec to deploy its Skypod® robotic system across 12 sites in Central and Eastern Europe.
The rollout, carried out in collaboration with Polish integrator A1 Sorter, will cover facilities in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine and the Czech Republic, supporting ILS’ wider growth strategy.
The first system has already been installed at ILS’ headquarters in Zakroczym, Poland, which serves as the company’s distribution hub for Poland, the Baltic states and Ukraine.
The warehouse now hosts 200 autonomous robots and 60,000 storage containers, with testing successfully completed in December 2024.
Following this, ILS confirmed plans to extend the Skypod system across its entire network of 12 sites, with installations scheduled to run through 2026. The company supplies businesses in the automotive, food and chemical industries.
The automation projects form part of the expansion plans of Inter Cars, ILS’ parent company and a leading vehicle parts distributor. The company is seeking to boost both its market share and talent acquisition.
Exotec’s Skypod technology was selected for its modular design, rapid deployment and scalability. According to ILS, the system will allow its warehouses to achieve throughput for all SKUs at a rate five times higher than competitors.
Exotec and A1 Sorter are also collaborating on the construction of a new warehouse in Stęszew, Poland, due to go live in September 2026. In Romania, final efficiency acceptance of the Skypod system at the RS Brașov site in Transylvania is expected in September 2025.
Rafał Tomaszewski, IT Systems and Solutions Manager at ILS, said: “Thanks to Exotec’s Skypod technology, we can implement a solution that is tailored to the requirements of our organisation and supports our further growth in the long term.
"With the integration of Exotec’s Skypod system, we are prepared for the challenges and opportunities in our growth markets, which has been confirmed by both the innovation and efficiency with which the projects are being run.”
Krzysztof Skiba, Chief Sales Officer at A1 Sorter, added: “Our project with ILS shows how significantly automation solutions such as Exotec’s Skypod system can transform logistics in the long term.
"As an integrator, we are delighted to contribute to the successful implementation with our experience, and to set new standards in efficiency and scalability together with Exotec and ILS.”
Andreas Stöckl, EVP Sales Central Europe at Exotec, said: “We are delighted to equip ILS with several of our powerful systems.
"Before Skypod, Inter Cars found it difficult to manage its logistics within their existing warehouses, especially with ILS aiming to supply its customers three times a day.
"With ILS now working to address that demand with its detailed and concrete business strategy, our Skypod system can provide them with optimum support in implementing it.”