What Automatica does

Automatica (trading name of Pro Handling Solutions Limited) is a UK-based, family-owned specialist systems integrator of intelligent automated material handling systems, headquartered in Pershore, Worcestershire. Founded under its current legal entity in 1970, the company designs, supplies and commissions bespoke automation for warehouse and industrial environments, including pallet handling, parcel and tote handling (peak rates up to 5,250 parcels per hour), lift and drop sections, robotic palletising, storage and retrieval systems (mini-load up to 3,000 kg at 2 pallets/sec), and the Autobagger 2000 Series high-speed bagging line. Many flagship lines are delivered through technology partnerships — Lita Palletisers (UK agency), Yorkshire Packaging (Autobagger co-development), Intralox (sorters), Pregis (Sharp Max Pro 24) — while Automatica contributes design, integration, installation and after-sales service. Underlying engineering capability centres on a digital twin methodology built on Autodesk Inventor and NVIDIA Isaac Sim, with virtual commissioning across Siemens PLCSIM, Rockwell Emulate and ROS/ROS2 environments, plus predictive and prescriptive maintenance using vibration, thermography, oil, ultrasonic and power analytics.

The company sells on a project-based, contact-priced model with bespoke engineering per client, complemented by recurring service and maintenance contracts, Six-Sigma-qualified managed supply chain and kitting services, and design/installation/integration professional services. It targets enterprise customers across five primary verticals: logistics, automotive, retail, e-commerce, and food and beverage, with named logos including BAE Systems, Jaguar Land Rover, Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard), JD Sports, Fanatics, Daifuku Europe, Jungheinrich and PrimaFruit. Distribution is primarily direct enterprise sales in the UK, supplemented by system-integrator and technology-partner channels that extend reach across Europe, the USA, Canada, Japan and Australia. Revenue is not disclosed; with only 6 employees, the operating model relies heavily on partner-delivered manufacturing and a lean in-house engineering and project management layer.

Recent strategic emphasis has been on (i) layering higher-margin digital and recurring services on top of the hardware book, (ii) deepening channel partnerships with tier-one automation vendors, and (iii) diversifying the customer base beyond core automotive and F&B into e-commerce fulfilment and agriculture. The firm has launched a new "Insights" content hub, expanded its predictive/prescriptive maintenance offering, and continues to land visible reference projects such as the Fanatics rapid-deployment parcel sorter and the Chivas Brothers Kilmalid pallet exchanger — though quantitative growth and financial metrics are not disclosed.

Name

Automatica

Legal name

PRO HANDLING SOLUTIONS LIMITED

Website

https://automatica.systems

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Automatica is a UK-based, family-owned specialist systems integrator (Pro Handling Solutions Limited, Pershore) that designs, commissions and services bespoke warehouse and industrial automation — including conveyors, robotic palletising, ASRS, parcel sortation and the Autobagger 2000 — for enterprise customers in logistics, automotive, retail, e-commerce and food and beverage.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation and Material Handling Systems

NAICS

Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (333310), Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (33331)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)

akta.pro primary industry

Warehouse & Intralogistics Automation Systems (AS/RS, Sortation, Conveyance Controls) (IMAHAHAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conveyors & Sortation Systems (Warehouse & Parcel) (IMAHABAC), Bagging, Pouching & Sachet Packaging Equipment (IMAHAOAH), End-of-Line Integration & Packaging Line Systems (IMAHAOAN)

Keywords

• Industrial automation systems
• Material handling equipment
• Warehouse automation solutions
• Conveyor and palletising systems
• Robotic palletising systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Pershore

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Automation Systems: Design, manufacture, and installation of bespoke conveyor systems, pallet handling solutions, robotic palletising, storage and retrieval systems, and sortation equipment. Revenue generated through project-based equipment sales with custom configurations for each client.
2. Service & Maintenance Contracts: Ongoing maintenance contracts providing regular servicing, prompt repairs, and proactive upgrades for automation, elevation, or conveyance machinery. Includes supply chain management for replacement parts.
3. Supply Chain Support Services: Assembly, manufacturing, kitting, and procurement services. Includes managed just-in-time inventory solutions and custom-manufactured parts. Six Sigma qualified specialists manage supply chains for clients.
4. Design Services: Bespoke 2D and 3D parametric design services using latest CAD technology. Includes virtual physics simulation, prototype build and analytical assessment. Design services are offered as part of comprehensive automation solutions.
5. Installation Services: Site preparation and system installation services for conveyor belts, autobaggers, parcel handling systems. Includes electrical and mechanical installation with CDM compliance documentation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Automatica designs, manufactures, and installs bespoke intelligent automated material handling systems for warehouse and industrial environments. Core offerings include conveyor systems, high-speed parcel sortation, pallet handling, robotic palletising, automated storage and retrieval (ASRS), and the Autobagger 2000 Series, complemented by digital twin simulation, predictive maintenance, and ongoing service and supply chain support services delivered to enterprise clients across multiple sectors.

Product overview

Automatica is a provider of intelligent automated systems, operating as a portfolio of hardware-based automation solutions rather than a unified software platform. The product suite centres on physical material handling equipment including Pallet Handling Solutions, Parcel and Tote Handling Solutions (with peak rates up to 5,250 parcels per hour), Lift and Drop Sections, Robotic Palletising (via Lita partnership), Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS with mini-load systems handling up to 3000kg pallets), and the Autobagger 2000 Series (developed with Yorkshire Packaging, processing 2,000+ items per hour). Supporting services include Design (2D/3D parametric CAD), Installation, Service & Maintenance, Supply Chain Support, System Integrations, and Digital Twin Simulation (using Autodesk Inventor and NVIDIA Isaac Sim). The Lita Metro Bottle De-palletiser is distributed as a sub-product through the company's UK agency relationship with Lita Srl. of Turin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pallet Handling Solutions State-of-the-art pallet handling technology designed to maximise throughput, reduce manual intervention, and improve safety through seamless control over pallet operations. Includes automated pallet transport, slip sheet dispensing, stacking, retrieval, and pallet exchanger systems for warehouse and industrial environments.
• Parcel and Tote Handling Solutions Advanced high-speed parcel sortation systems handling items from 100 x 100 x 2mm up to 1100 x 800 x 800mm, weighing up to 40kg, with peak rates of up to 5,250 parcels per hour and adjustable belt speed up to 1.45m per second for distribution and fulfilment operations.
• Lift and Drop Sections Specialist lift and drop sections that enable precise vertical movement of goods between various levels, optimising warehouse layouts and floorspace with dual lift redundancy for enhanced safety in material handling operations.
• Robotic Palletising Advanced robotic palletising solutions delivered through strategic partnership with Lita Palletisers (a leading European robotic handling provider), enabling precise, flexible automation in warehouse operations with enhanced product handling and stacking capabilities for UK clients.
• Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) Automated storage and retrieval systems that enhance inventory control and picking accuracy. Includes mini-load systems capable of handling pallets up to 3000kg and delivering up to two pallets per second for warehouse and distribution operations.
• Autobagger 2000 Series High-speed automated bagging machine processing over 2,000 items per hour with intelligent workload distribution that automatically redistributes orders across available baggers to minimise downtime during maintenance. Supports single or multi-SKU orders with smart bag selection to minimise waste for e-commerce and retail fulfilment operations.
• Design Services Bespoke 2D and 3D parametric CAD design services using latest CAD technology with advanced virtual physics simulation, prototype build, and analytical assessment for warehouse automation optimisation.
• Installation Services Site preparation and system installation services covering electrical and mechanical installation with full support for Construction Design Management (CDM) sites, ensuring compliance with UK and international safety regulations for automation equipment deployment.
• Service and Maintenance Cost-effective service and maintenance contracts including routine maintenance support, comprehensive training programmes, supply chain management solutions, and proactive upgrade recommendations for automation, elevation, or conveyance machinery.
• Supply Chain Support Managed supply chain services including custom-manufactured parts, just-in-time solutions, assembly and kitting services, and third-party managed parts, delivered by Six Sigma qualified specialists.
• Digital Twin Simulation Virtual replica simulation service using Autodesk Inventor and NVIDIA Isaac Sim for design validation, virtual commissioning, and continuous improvement. Supports material simulation, physics simulation, and logic simulation across the asset lifecycle, enabling 30-50% reduction in on-site commissioning time.
• Lita Metro Bottle De-palletiser High-speed automatic bottle de-palletiser distributed in the UK through Automatica's agency relationship with Lita Srl. of Turin, Italy, capable of handling up to 250 bottles per minute including tapered glass bottles for premium spirits. Features pneumatic robotic arm for layer tray removal and HMI interface for pallet code input.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 250 bottles per minute transfer speed for beverage bottling operations
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

AI capability4 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Lita PalletiserscoreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic partnership with Lita Palletisers, a leading European robotic handling provider. Automatica serves as the UK agent for Lita, offering Lita Metro automatic bottle de-palletiser and robotic palletising solutions to UK clients. The partnership enables delivery of state-of-the-art robotic handling solutions.
• Yorkshire PackagingcoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration with Yorkshire Packaging to develop the Autobagger 2000 Series, an industry-leading automated packaging system. The partnership combines Yorkshire Packaging's bagging expertise with Automatica's integration capabilities.
• Daifuku EuropemajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborative partnership on just-in-time tailgate delivery systems for automotive manufacturing. Automatica provided mechanical components while Daifuku provided ASRS crane integration for a UK automotive facility. Combined automation and automotive industry expertise.
• JungheinrichmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership with leading intralogistics provider Jungheinrich for design, supply, and installation of advanced conveyor systems. Automatica provided conveyor system and pallet exchanger equipment for Chivas Brothers facility as part of Jungheinrich's factory extension project.
• IntraloxcoreTechnology or IntegrationUtilisation of Intralox ship sorter technology for high-speed parcel sorting applications. The Intralox sorter is engineered to cross-sort 5,000 parcels per hour at 90 metres per minute for Fanatics logistics facility.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dematic: KION-owned global intralogistics integrator delivering conveyor, sortation, ASRS, and robotic palletising solutions. Direct peer across Automatica's core product set; Automatica has even partnered with Dematic-adjacent players such as Daifuku and Jungheinrich on joint deployments.
• Swisslog: Global warehouse automation integrator offering conveyor, ASRS, robotic picking, and software solutions. Direct peer given overlap in pallet handling, ASRS, and parcel sortation delivered to retail, e-commerce, and food & beverage customers.
• Knapp: Austrian intralogistics specialist providing shuttle-based storage, conveyor, and order fulfilment automation for retail, food, and pharmaceutical customers. Comparable in both product scope (ASRS, sortation, conveying) and target verticals including food & beverage and retail.
• Beumer Group: Family-owned German intralogistics company delivering conveyor, palletising, sortation, and packaging systems. Highly comparable to Automatica as a privately-held, family-owned integrator with deep specialisation in conveying and end-of-line packaging.
• TGW Logistics Group: European-headquartered provider of highly automated warehouses and distribution centre solutions, including conveyor, pocket sorter, and ASRS systems. Comparable given shared European footprint and similar target customer profile in retail and FMCG.
• Conveyor Units Ltd: UK-based designer and manufacturer of conveyor systems and material handling equipment. Closely comparable to Automatica as a UK-centric conveyor/integration specialist serving logistics, retail, and manufacturing end-markets with bespoke engineered solutions.
• Vanderlande: Material handling and warehouse automation specialist focused on parcel sortation, baggage handling, and ASRS. Direct peer in parcel sortation (overlaps with the 5,000-5,250 parcels/hour systems Automatica integrates for clients such as Fanatics).

Broad incumbents

• SSI Schaefer: Global large-scale intralogistics player offering racking, conveyor, ASRS, and warehouse software. Comparable in product breadth (storage & retrieval, conveying, pallet handling) but operates at much greater scale than Automatica across multiple geographies.
• Honeywell Intelligrated: Honeywell-owned warehouse automation integrator providing conveyor, sortation, robotic, and ASRS solutions to retail, e-commerce, and parcel customers. Comparable given the Fanatics-style parcel sortation work Automatica delivers, though Intelligrated operates at substantially larger scale and breadth.

Regional players

• MFC International: UK specialist supplier of conveyor systems, pallet handling, and material handling equipment. Comparable as a UK-headquartered conveyor/material handling specialist, though MFC primarily sells equipment rather than delivering the bespoke turnkey projects Automatica emphasises.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/automaticasystems

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Automatica