The Challenge
Operating in more than 60 countries with over 6,000 employees, APL Logistics manages complex fulfillment environments across retail, industrial, automotive, and consumer sectors. Real estate constraints placed added pressure on existing space, while emergency orders requiring turnaround times as short as 1.5 hours demanded faster execution. Leadership prioritized a proven automation solution that could deliver measurable ROI while supporting long-term operational growth.
The Solution
APL Logistics first deployed Locus Robotics’ Origin autonomous mobile robots at a Woodridge, Illinois, facility to support scalable workflows and improve the overall movement of work throughout the warehouse. To further expand capability, Locus Vector robots were later added to handle bulk-picking tasks, and the combined mixed-robot fleet has helped unlock additional capacity across the operation. Building on the strong results at Woodridge, the end customer partnered with APL Logistics to launch a second facility in Atlanta, Georgia, where Locus Origin robots handle most of the small-parts volume.
The Results
- Training reduced from days to hours
- 1.5-hour turnaround on emergency orders
- Greater operational visibility and workforce flexibility
- A scalable automation foundation supporting future growth
Within three months of go-live, APL Logistics partnered with Locus Robotics to optimize workforce strategies and unlock full productivity benefits while refining processes through operational data insights. Following early success in the U.S., APL Logistics is expanding its automation strategy into Europe with an apparel customer and designing future operations around robotic workflows, positioning the organization to scale efficiently as customer demand evolves.
