Modula
Modula manufactures automated storage and retrieval systems, principally vertical lift modules, for manufacturers, automotive, e-commerce, pharmaceutical, and aerospace enterprises, selling via a 70+ North American dealer network plus direct enterprise sales, with quote-based hardware, software, and recurring service revenue.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersLewiston, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Modula does
Modula designs and manufactures automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), with its core technology being vertical lift modules (VLMs) that exploit ceiling height to reclaim up to 90% of warehouse floor space. The product portfolio spans five VLM models — Lift, Slim, Next, Pallet, and the Flexibox high-speed bin system (up to 180 bins/hour launched March 2025) — supplemented by horizontal carousels for low-ceiling environments, specialized Climate Control and Clean Room modules, and a full picking-solutions suite (Put to Light, Picking Station, Mobile Picking App, Color Guided Picking). The Modula software stack comprises Modula WMS as the central warehouse management system, Modula IoT and OPC-UA telemetry for industrial connectivity, Modula Web Analytics for remote monitoring, and the AI Services bundle containing Plant Designer (simulation) and Optimizer.
The company serves manufacturers, automotive OEMs and dealers, e-commerce and 3PL operators, biomedical and pharmaceutical firms, food & beverage producers, aerospace and MRO operations, electronics manufacturers, and government agencies. Named customers include Boeing, GE Aviation, Ferrari, BMW, Volkswagen, Subaru, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Pepsi, Johnson & Johnson, Roche, Abbott, Bayer, Kuehne+Nagel, and Los Angeles Metro. Products are manufactured in the USA at Lewiston, ME (headquarters) and Franklin, OH.
Revenue is generated primarily through the sale of automated storage hardware (VLMs, carousels, accessories), software subscriptions (WMS, IoT, AI Services, Cloud monitoring), and recurring service contracts (preventative maintenance, integration, training). The go-to-market combines a 70+ authorized dealer network across North America with direct enterprise field sales and international distribution through affiliated entities such as Modula S.p.A. Pricing is quote-based, with projects typically delivering payback in 6–18 months and deployment in approximately 8 weeks. Modula is privately held, was founded in 1987 by Franco Stefani (credited with inventing the vertical storage concept), operates approximately 1,000 employees across three continents, and reports 25% year-over-year growth and more than 20,000 installations worldwide.
Modula firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Modula
- Legal name
- Modula S.p.A.
- Website
- https://modula.us
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Modula manufactures automated storage and retrieval systems, principally vertical lift modules, for manufacturers, automotive, e-commerce, pharmaceutical, and aerospace enterprises, selling via a 70+ North American dealer network plus direct enterprise sales, with quote-based hardware, software, and recurring service revenue.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Modula industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS)
- NAICS
- Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing (333924)
- SIC
- Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Warehouse Automation Systems (AS/RS, Shuttle Systems, Vertical Lift Modules) (IMAHABAK)
Keywords
Where Modula is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lewiston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Modula business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Automated Storage Hardware Sales: Sale of Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs), Horizontal Carousels, and related automated storage equipment manufactured in the USA
- Warehouse Management Software: Modula WMS system, Modula IoT, Modula AI Services (Plant Designer, Optimizer), and cloud-based monitoring solutions
- Service and Support: Preventative maintenance, remote support, nationwide field service, software integration, and user training programs through dealer network
- Customization and Accessories: Add-on options, accessories, and customization solutions for Modula products
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quote-based pricing for VLM systems |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Modula product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Modula manufactures and sells automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) centered on Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs), horizontal carousels, and specialized clean-room and climate-controlled storage units. Its hardware is paired with proprietary software (Modula WMS, Modula IoT, Modula AI Services) for inventory management, optimization, and integration with ERP and AMR systems.
Product overview
Modula offers a comprehensive portfolio of automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) centered around Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs) as the core product family. The main product lines include Modula Lift (flagship VLM), Modula Slim (compact footprint), Modula Next (precision picking), Modula Pallet (pallet handling), and Modula Flexibox (high-speed fulfillment at 180 bins/hour). Supporting hardware includes Horizontal Carousels for low-ceiling environments, specialized Climate Control and Clean Room modules for sensitive environments, and Picking Solutions (Put to Light, Picking Station, Picking Cart, Mobile Picking App, Color Guided Picking). The software ecosystem comprises Modula WMS as the central warehouse management platform, supported by Modula IoT for industrial connectivity, Modula Web Analytics for remote monitoring, Modula OPC-UA Telemetry for integration, Modula Plant Designer for warehouse simulation, and Modula Optimizer for operational optimization. Robotics integrations include Modula Robot Interface for anthropomorphic robots and AMR integration for autonomous mobile robots. The company serves industries including manufacturing, e-commerce, biomedical/pharmaceutical, food & beverage, automotive, electronics, ceramics, and logistics across over 20,000 installations worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Modula Lift: The most popular VLM model offering up to 90% space savings and 300+ lines per hour picking speed.
- Modula Slim
- Modula Next
- Modula Pallet
- Modula Flexibox
Products and services
- Modula Lift Modula's most popular Vertical Lift Module (VLM) that saves up to 90% of floor space, with scalable picking speeds of 300 lines per hour or more, advanced tray configurations, and integration with robots, conveyors, picking stations, and cranes.
- Modula Slim Vertical Lift Module designed for areas with smaller footprint requirements, offering the same space-saving benefits as the Modula Lift in a more compact configuration.
- Modula Next Vertical Lift Module combining space-saving efficiency with industrial vending machine precision and control, designed for the most precise picking operations.
- Modula Pallet Innovative warehouse solution designed to safely handle euro pallets directly from the ground, simplifying pallet handling operations in warehouse environments.
- Modula Flexibox High-speed automated storage solution processing up to 180 bins per hour, designed for fast-moving industries needing high-performance picking without compromising flexibility.
- Modula Horizontal Carousel High-speed order fulfillment carousel designed for environments with low ceiling constraints, ideal when vertical space is limited but high-speed picking is required.
- Modula Climate Control Temperature and humidity control solution for automated storage in climate-sensitive environments, protecting sensitive materials from environmental damage.
- Modula Clean Room Automated storage solution for cleanroom storage environments, meeting stringent cleanliness and contamination control requirements.
- Modula WMS Complete end-to-end Warehouse Management System providing inventory control, real-time visibility, order management, and integration with ERP/DMS systems.
- Modula IoT Industrial IoT platform for connecting and managing Modula storage systems, enabling real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, picking speed tracking, energy use tracking, and data collection across Modula's storage hardware.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 90% floor space reclamation
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Modula
Customer profileNamed customers35 records
Segments10 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Modula technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
AI capability3 records
Feature10 records
Modula partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Tier 1 MROcoreAuthorized Modula dealer expanding national VLM service and support capabilities including preventative maintenance, remote support, nationwide field service, turnkey inventory migration, software integration, and user training programs. Positioning as long-term operational partner for manufacturing, aerospace, distribution, and industrial operations.
- status CcorePartnership to simplify SAP integration for automated warehouses, focusing on modular connection solutions for SAP ERP and SAP S/4HANA environments. Enables real-time data exchange between Modula's vertical storage systems and SAP platforms.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Modula competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kardex: Kardex is a global leader in vertical lift modules and automated storage solutions — a near-direct competitor to Modula across VLM, horizontal carousel, and AS/RS product categories serving the same enterprise manufacturing/distribution customers.
- Hänel: Hänel specializes in vertical lift modules and rotary racks for industry and intralogistics, competing head-to-head with Modula in the VLM category with comparable product positioning and target customer base.
- Murata Machinery (Muratec): Murata Machinery (Muratec) manufactures VLMs under its Materials Handling division, offering a product line directly comparable to Modula Lift/Slim/Next and competing for the same enterprise parts storage and tooling customers.
Broad incumbents
- SSI Schaefer: SSI Schaefer is a broad intralogistics incumbent offering AS/RS, conveyors, and automated storage across many product categories — overlapping with Modula in warehouse automation but as part of a much wider portfolio.
- Dematic: Dematic is a major global supply chain solutions integrator offering AS/RS, robotics, and warehouse automation software — serving the same enterprise customers as Modula with a broader end-to-end value proposition.
- Swisslog: Swisslog provides automated warehouse and distribution center solutions, including AS/RS and item-pick systems — competing with Modula primarily in the integrated intralogistics segment serving enterprise customers.
- Knapp: Knapp is an established warehouse automation and distribution software specialist with shuttle-based AS/RS and OSR shuttles — addressing similar enterprise distribution and pharma customers as Modula through a different but overlapping technology stack.
- TGW Logistics Group: TGW is an integrated warehouse automation provider with AS/RS, conveyor, and WMS offerings — competing with Modula in distribution centers and manufacturing parts operations across Europe and North America.
Emerging players
- AutoStore: AutoStore pioneered cube-based goods-to-person AS/RS, an emerging architecture that competes with traditional VLMs for high-density e-commerce and parts storage deployments — a disruptive adjacent peer in the same warehouse automation category.
- Bastian Solutions: Bastian Solutions designs and integrates warehouse automation, including AS/RS implementations — competing with Modula in solutions selling to enterprise manufacturing and distribution customers in North America.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Modula social profiles
Digital presenceModula financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Modula leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Modula funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Modula M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Modula
What does Modula do?
Modula manufactures and sells automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) centered on Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs), horizontal carousels, and specialized clean-room and climate-controlled storage units. Its hardware is paired with proprietary software (Modula WMS, Modula IoT, Modula AI Services) for inventory management, optimization, and integration with ERP and AMR systems.
Is Modula a public or private company?
Modula is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Modula founded?
Modula was founded in 1987. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Modula based?
Modula is headquartered in Lewiston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Modula make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Automated Storage Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are warehouse Management Software, service and Support and customization and Accessories.
Who are Modula's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kardex, Hänel and Murata Machinery (Muratec). Broad incumbents are SSI Schaefer, Dematic, Swisslog, Knapp and TGW Logistics Group. Emerging players are AutoStore and Bastian Solutions.
Does Modula have an API?
No public API is recorded for Modula.
What industry is Modula in?
Modula's product category is Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS). Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHABAK, Warehouse Automation Systems (AS/RS, Shuttle Systems, Vertical Lift Modules). Its NAICS code is 333924 and its SIC code is 3537.