Modula

What Modula does

Modula, founded in 1987 in Italy and operationally headquartered in the United States, manufactures automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) centered on Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs) and horizontal carousels. The company serves enterprise customers across six primary verticals — E-Commerce, Bio & Pharmaceutical, Food & Beverage, Manufacturing, Automotive, and Electronics — with a global installed base of more than 20,000 systems produced from two US manufacturing facilities in Franklin, Ohio and Lewiston, Maine. Named customers include Johnson & Johnson, Roche, Abbott, Bayer, Coca-Cola, Nestle, Pepsi, Ferrari, Volkswagen, BMW, and Zebra Technologies, indicating deep penetration into regulated and high-throughput industries.

The product portfolio spans the Modula Lift (flagship VLM), Modula Slim (compact footprint), Modula Next (precision picking), Modula Pallet (pallet handling), and Modula Flexibox (180 bins/hour throughput), complemented by the Modula WMS warehouse management software, Modula IoT/Web Analytics, OPC-UA telemetry, and the Modula AI Services suite (Plant Designer simulator and Optimizer add-on). The platform integrates with ERP, DMS, and WMS systems, and connects with Anthropomorphic robots and MiR autonomous mobile robots for end-to-end automated workflows. Special applications include Climate Control and Cleanroom solutions for regulated environments.

Modula's revenue model combines one-time hardware sales of capital equipment with recurring software subscriptions (WMS, IoT, AI Services) and ongoing professional services for installation and maintenance. The company distributes primarily through 70+ North American dealers with deep materials handling expertise, supplemented by direct enterprise field sales and a global presence across three continents. Modula reports 25% year-over-year revenue growth for five consecutive years and operates with approximately 1,000 employees worldwide. The company is privately held with no public funding or listing identified.

Name

Modula

Legal name

Modula

Website

https://modula.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Modula manufactures automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), including Vertical Lift Modules and horizontal carousels, serving enterprise customers across pharmaceutical, automotive, manufacturing, food & beverage, e-commerce, and electronics verticals with 20,000+ global installations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

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)

akta.pro primary industry

Warehouse Automation Systems (AS/RS, Shuttle Systems, Vertical Lift Modules) (IMAHABAK)

Keywords

• Automated storage retrieval
• Vertical lift modules
• Warehouse management software
• Warehouse automation systems
• Industrial storage equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Franklin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Automated Storage Equipment Sales: Modula manufactures and sells automated storage and retrieval systems including Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs), Horizontal Carousels, and pallet handling systems. Products are sold as capital equipment with one-time purchase prices.
2. Software Licenses and Subscriptions: Modula WMS systems, Modula Optimizer optional software licenses, and AI services are sold as software solutions. IoT and analytics platforms may include ongoing subscription components.
3. Professional Services and Maintenance: Customer service team provides ongoing system maintenance, remote support, and service support for customers throughout their ownership. Services include planning, installation, and post-sale support.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Modula manufactures and sells automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), including Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs), Horizontal Carousels, and pallet handling systems, complemented by warehouse management software (Modula WMS), IoT analytics platforms, and AI services for warehouse design and optimization. Products are designed to maximize vertical space utilization, reduce handling errors, and improve worker safety, serving enterprise customers across manufacturing, e-commerce, automotive, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and electronics industries with over 20,000 installations worldwide.

Product overview

Modula offers a comprehensive portfolio of automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) centered on Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs) and warehouse management software. The core product line includes Modula Lift (most popular VLM), Modula Slim (compact footprint), Modula Next (precision picking), Modula Pallet (pallet handling), and Modula Flexibox (high-speed bin processing at 180 bins/hour). The platform is complemented by Modula WMS software with packages for warehouse management, Modula IoT for remote monitoring and analytics via Modula Web Analytics and OPC-UA Telemetry, and Modula AI Services including Plant Designer simulation and Optimizer tools. Order picking is enabled through Put to Light, Picking Station, Picking Cart, Picking App, and Color Guided Picking solutions. Robotics integrations include Modula Robot Interface for anthropomorphic robots and integration with Autonomous Mobile Robots. Special applications cover Climate Control and Cleanroom storage solutions. All products are proudly manufactured in the USA with over 20,000 installations worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Modula Lift: Most popular VLM model for vertical storage
• Modula Slim
• Modula Next
• Modula Pallet
• Modula Flexibox
• Modula WMS
• Modula IoT
• Modula AI Services

Products and services

• Modula Lift Most popular Vertical Lift Module (VLM) model for automated storage and retrieval in warehouse environments, delivering parts directly to operators to maximize floor space.
• Modula Slim Vertical Lift Module designed for areas with smaller footprint requirements, enabling automated storage in compact spaces.
• Modula Next Vertical Lift Module for the most precise picking, combining space-saving efficiency with industrial vending machine precision and control.
• Modula Pallet Innovative warehouse solution designed to safely handle euro pallets directly from the ground.
• Modula Flexibox Automated storage solution processing up to 180 bins per hour for fast-moving industries needing high-performance picking without compromising on flexibility.
• Modula Horizontal Carousel Horizontal carousel system for high-speed order fulfillment operations.
• Modula WMS System Intelligent, advanced warehouse management software system for inventory control, stock management, and order fulfillment optimization.
• Modula IoT Internet of Things platform enabling remote management, support, and analytics for Modula systems.
• Modula AI Services Suite of AI-powered services including warehouse design simulation (Plant Designer) and warehouse optimization (Optimizer) tools.

Quantifiable outcome

• Components picked much faster with reduced operator walking between sections
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers35 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability4 records

Feature15 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and standard.

• Anthropomorphic Robots (Generic Integration)coreTechnology or IntegrationModula Robot Interface enables integration with Anthropomorphic robots for automated handling operations within the storage system workflow. This allows for fully automated picking and handling operations.
• MiR (Mobile Industrial Robots)coreTechnology or IntegrationModula integrates with MiR's Autonomous Mobile Robots for seamless material handling between the VLM storage system and other warehouse locations. Enables fully automated workflows combining vertical storage with mobile robot transport.
• ERP Systems (Generic)coreTechnology or IntegrationProven, field-tested Modula software integrations with ERP systems allowing seamless data exchange and order processing between Modula WMS and enterprise resource planning systems.
• DMS Systems (Generic)coreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with Document Management Systems enabling seamless connectivity between Modula storage systems and existing document/asset management software.
• WMS Systems (Generic)coreTechnology or IntegrationModula WMS integrates with existing Warehouse Management Systems, providing intelligent inventory control and synchronization of storage operations with broader warehouse management.
• OPC-UA Compatible SystemsstandardTechnology or IntegrationModula OPC-UA Telemetry connects Modula systems to existing software through industry-standard OPC-UA protocol for industrial automation interoperability.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Dematic: KION-owned global warehouse automation incumbent offering AS/RS, conveyors, and software that overlaps with Modula's VLM and WMS offerings, particularly for large enterprise customers.
• Swisslog: AutoStore-installer and broader warehouse-automation provider serving pharma, retail, and e-commerce; competes with Modula in stacker cranes and light-goods AS/RS for the same enterprise verticals.
• SSI Schaefer: Large global intralogistics provider offering VLMs, carousels, and full warehouse automation solutions, competing with Modula both as a discrete VLM supplier and as a full-stack integrator.
• TGW Logistics Group: Austrian-headquartered warehouse automation specialist offering AS/RS, picking, and WMS solutions that overlap with Modula's hardware and software portfolio in manufacturing and retail DCs.

Direct peers

• BÖHM Storage & Logistics: German manufacturer of BÖHM ProfitLine and RapidLine VLMs, a direct competitor in European industrial VLM markets where Modula also operates via Modula Europe.
• Kardex: Swiss-listed VLM and AS/RS specialist offering Kardex Remstar VLMs and vertical carousels, the closest direct competitor to Modula's core VLM product line across industrial and pharmaceutical customers.
• Hänel: German manufacturer of Hänel Lean-Lift and Rotomat vertical lift modules, directly competing with Modula Lift, Slim, and Next in industrial parts storage and order picking applications.

Regional players

• System Logistics (System Group): Italian-headquartered competitor in intralogistics and storage automation, particularly relevant given Modula's Italian parent and overlapping customer base in the EMEA manufacturing and food & beverage sectors.

Emerging players

• AutoStore: Fast-growing Norwegian cube-based micro-fulfillment AS/RS competing for the same high-throughput bin picking applications that Modula targets with Flexibox and Next.
• KPIT (India-based VLM manufacturer): Indian VLM and AS/RS manufacturer competing on price-sensitive industrial and automotive applications, pressuring Modula's pricing in cost-sensitive customer segments where VLM hardware is increasingly commoditized.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/modula-spa
• Instagraminstagram.com/modulagroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Modula