Explore KNAPP's warehouse automation technologies, including robotic picking, automated palletizing, shuttle storage, autonomous mobile robots, sorting systems, and intelligent logistics software.
KNAPP develops integrated warehouse automation solutions combining robotics, storage, material handling, and logistics software.
KNAPP is an Austrian automation company founded in 1952 and headquartered in Hart bei Graz, specializing in intelligent logistics systems for warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities. The company develops integrated automation solutions combining robotics, automated storage, material handling equipment, and software to improve the efficiency of complex supply chain operations.
Its technology portfolio includes the Pick-it-Easy Robot, RUNPICK palletizing system, Evo Shuttle automated storage, Open Shuttle mobile robots, and a variety of conveyor and sorting technologies. Unlike manufacturers focused on individual robotic machines, KNAPP designs complete warehouse automation environments that connect inventory storage, order picking, transportation, packing, and shipping.
KNAPP combines specialized robotic systems with automated storage and transportation technologies to coordinate material movement throughout a facility. Its solutions support individual product picking, mixed-case palletizing, inventory retrieval, goods-to-person operations, and automated sorting across industries such as retail, pharmaceuticals, grocery, and e-commerce.
The company's KiSoft software portfolio connects warehouse equipment with inventory management, order processing, and operational control systems. By coordinating robotic workstations, storage shuttles, mobile robots, and conveyors, KNAPP enables facilities to automate multiple stages of fulfillment within a unified logistics infrastructure.
KNAPP's Pick-it-Easy Robot is an automated piece-picking system designed to identify, grip, and transfer individual products between warehouse containers. The robot uses artificial intelligence, machine vision, and specialized gripping technology to handle products weighing up to 3.5 kilograms, including cartons, bottles, cans, and flexible packaging.
The system operates within goods-to-robot environments, where automated storage systems deliver inventory containers directly to the picking station. It supports order fulfillment, inventory consolidation, and automated pocket sorter induction, allowing individual products to move between storage and downstream processing systems without manual picking.
The Pick-it-Easy Robot uses AI-powered object recognition to identify products, calculate suitable gripping points, and coordinate robotic movements. Different gripper configurations accommodate varying product shapes and surfaces, while KNAPP's KiSoft RSC software controls the robotic workcell, processes camera images, and dynamically plans movements.
The system can integrate with Evo Shuttle automated storage, packing machines, and pocket sorting equipment to create coordinated fulfillment workflows. Sensor-based verification and automatic exception handling support reliable operation, while difficult picks can be redirected to manual stations when additional assistance is required.
RUNPICK, short for Robotic Universal Picker, is KNAPP's automated system for picking and palletizing full cases in retail and grocery distribution. Unlike Pick-it-Easy Robot, which handles individual products, RUNPICK processes larger handling units such as cartons, trays, and packaged goods, arranging them onto pallets or roll containers for store deliveries.
The system prepares incoming cases by rotating, tilting, and grouping them before robotic placement, allowing multiple packages to be handled during a single movement. RUNPICK can place up to six handling units per cycle, supporting high-throughput mixed-case palletizing across dry goods, fresh food, and frozen product operations.
RUNPICK uses KNAPP's KiSoft Pack Master software to calculate pallet-building patterns based on product dimensions, order requirements, load stability, and transportation efficiency. Cases are retrieved in the appropriate sequence, allowing the robot to construct mixed-product pallets that maximize available space while maintaining suitable weight distribution and store-friendly unloading arrangements.
The system typically integrates with Evo Shuttle automated storage to coordinate case retrieval and pallet preparation within a continuous fulfillment process. Additional capabilities include automated slip-sheet handling, load securing, and configurable roll-container support, enabling completed orders to be prepared for transportation with minimal manual intervention.
KNAPP's Evo Shuttle is an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) that uses robotic shuttles to move containers, cartons, and trays within high-density warehouse racking. The system supports loads up to 50 kilograms, storage depths of up to four containers, and rack heights exceeding 30 meters, making it suitable for large-scale e-commerce, pharmaceutical, and retail distribution operations.
The Evo Shuttle 1D uses dedicated shuttles operating along individual storage aisles and levels, prioritizing high-throughput inventory retrieval. The Evo Shuttle 2D allows shuttles to move between aisles, providing greater routing flexibility and enabling operators to expand storage capacity and throughput independently.
AeroBot is KNAPP's robotic storage system that uses mobile robots to navigate within a high-density rack structure and retrieve inventory containers. Unlike conventional shuttle systems with dedicated vehicles assigned to particular rack levels, AeroBot robots can move through the storage structure, supporting flexible inventory access and scalable automation.
AeroBot supports storage heights up to 12 meters and load capacities up to 35 kilograms, making it suitable for compact and adaptable fulfillment environments. KNAPP's Evo Crane technology provides an alternative automated storage solution using stacker cranes to store and retrieve larger handling units within dedicated warehouse aisles.
KNAPP's Open Shuttle family consists of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) designed to transport containers, cartons, trays, pallets, and specialized load carriers throughout warehouses and manufacturing facilities. The Open Shuttle 50 and 100 transport loads up to 120 kilograms, with maximum travel speeds of 1.5 meters per second and battery operating times of approximately seven hours.
Unlike fixed conveyor systems, Open Shuttle robots navigate through facilities using onboard sensors and autonomous navigation software to detect obstacles and adjust their routes. This allows operators to connect storage systems, picking stations, production lines, and packing areas without installing continuous conveyor infrastructure.
The Open Shuttle portfolio includes specialized configurations for different handling requirements, including the Open Shuttle Fork for pallet transport and the Open Shuttle Boxgrip for gripping and transferring containers. The Open Shuttle Fork supports heavy pallet loads, while specialized models for electronics manufacturing transport magazines, trays, and other sensitive production materials.
KNAPP's KiSoft FCS fleet management software coordinates transport assignments, robot routes, and charging activities across multiple vehicles. The platform supports mixed fleets and integration with warehouse software, allowing mobile robots to operate alongside Evo Shuttle, AeroBot, conveyors, and other automated equipment.
KNAPP's Pick-it-Easy workstation family provides ergonomic picking stations where automated storage systems deliver inventory directly to warehouse employees. Unlike the fully automated Pick-it-Easy Robot, these workstations support manual picking through intelligent interfaces, product presentation, and integrated quality-control technology.
The portfolio includes Pick-it-Easy Evo and other configurations designed for order picking, inventory processing, returns handling, repacking, and product consolidation. Workstations can connect directly with Evo Shuttle storage systems, allowing employees to process incoming inventory containers without traveling through warehouse aisles.
Pick-it-Easy workstations position inventory containers at accessible working heights to reduce repetitive bending, reaching, and lifting during order fulfillment. KNAPP's easyUse interface guides employees through picking operations, while optional Pick-to-Light indicators, weight verification, and image-processing systems help reduce handling errors.
The workstations can support several activities within the same automated warehouse, including customer order assembly, inventory replenishment, and returns processing. Their modular design allows operators to combine manual picking with robotic workcells, shuttle storage, and automated transportation systems according to product characteristics and operational requirements.
KNAPP develops automated conveyor and sorting technologies that transport containers, cartons, parcels, and individual products between warehouse processing areas. Its Streamline and Powerline conveyor technologies support controlled material movement, while cross-belt, split-tray, and vertical push-tray sorters distribute products to designated destinations.
These systems connect receiving, storage, picking, packing, and shipping operations through coordinated material handling infrastructure. Automated identification and routing allow products to be directed toward the appropriate workstation, sorting destination, or outbound shipping lane without continuous manual transportation.
KNAPP's EcoPocket and AutoPocket technologies use overhead carrier systems to transport, buffer, sequence, and sort individual products for warehouse fulfillment. Products such as clothing, accessories, electronics, and packaged goods travel in dedicated pockets that can be automatically routed according to customer orders or store replenishment requirements.
AutoPocket supports automated item release during sorting, while KNAPP's PocketEngine combines pocket transportation with induction stations, consolidation buffers, and packing workstations. These technologies allow warehouses to collect products from different storage locations and deliver complete orders to packing stations in the required sequence.
KNAPP's KiSoft software portfolio provides the digital infrastructure for coordinating warehouse inventory, order fulfillment, automated storage, and material handling equipment. Its applications include warehouse management, warehouse control, and equipment-level coordination, allowing operators to manage complex logistics processes through interconnected software systems.
KiSoft WMS manages inventory, storage locations, order processing, and warehouse workflows, while KiSoft WCS coordinates the movement of goods through automated equipment. These systems connect technologies such as Evo Shuttle, Pick-it-Easy, RUNPICK, conveyors, and sorting systems to support efficient material flow across the facility.
KiSoft FCS provides fleet control for KNAPP's Open Shuttle autonomous mobile robots, coordinating transport assignments, route planning, traffic management, and charging activities. The software enables multiple robots to operate within shared environments while communicating with warehouse systems and other automated equipment.
KNAPP also offers analytics and monitoring capabilities to track equipment performance, material flow, and operational efficiency. Through integration with enterprise resource planning systems, warehouse management platforms, and industrial control networks, KiSoft connects individual automation technologies into a coordinated warehouse operation.
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