Locus Robotics and Kimball Midwest Won Excellence Award
The companies were recognized at the 2026 Supply Chain Excellence Awards for a successful automation integration project.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Robotics
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Locus Robotics and Kimball Midwest won the Best Use of Robotics award at the 2026 Supply Chain Excellence Awards USA. The honor follows a successful fleet deployment that helped Kimball Midwest significantly boost warehouse throughput.
Why it matters
The partnership allowed Kimball Midwest to expand warehouse capacity and maintain same-day shipping commitments for 99.9% of orders. The project demonstrated how autonomous mobile robots can integrate into existing infrastructure to drive efficiency.
A fleet of over 100 autonomous mobile robots operates across three sites, completing more than 13.2 million robotic-assisted picked lines. Picking productivity increased by approximately 45%, while putaway rates reached up to 96 lines per hour.
The players
Locus Robotics
This company provides autonomous mobile robot solutions designed for warehouse environments and fulfillment operations.
Kimball Midwest
This national distributor of industrial maintenance, repair, and operations products serves customers across the United States.
The details
Kimball Midwest integrated the autonomous mobile robots into its existing facilities without modifying shelves or pallet-racks. Managers dynamically adjust labor allocation between picking, replenishment, and putaway tasks throughout the day based on fluctuating demand.
Timeline
Kimball Midwest began operations in 1923.
The robotics program initial deployment occurred in January 2024.
Locus Robotics secured a Supply Chain Excellence Award in 2025.
The 2026 Supply Chain Excellence Awards were presented in Dallas on September 21, 2026.
The Tech Race
The adoption of autonomous mobile robots in warehouse fulfillment follows a pattern set by industry-wide shifts toward warehouse automation. This award marks a significant milestone in the ongoing industry transition toward integrating flexible robotics into legacy warehouse infrastructure.
Customers can expect more reliable fulfillment speeds as the company maintains its high volume of same-day shipping. The scalable nature of this robotic system ensures that Kimball Midwest can continue to meet order demand without service interruptions.
The takeaway
Achieving a return on investment within one year demonstrates the financial viability of modular robotics for mid-sized distribution centers. Companies looking to optimize efficiency should prioritize integration strategies that do not require costly physical facility overhauls.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in Robotics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Themachinemaker.
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