Matthews Automation Solutions Expands Investment in Freespace Robotics With Warehouse Solution Purchase

Summary

PITTSBURGH, PA , Sept. 9, 2025 – Freespace Robotics, a leading innovator in autonomous storage and order fulfillment systems,  announced that Matthews Automation Solutions, a division of Matthews International Corporation, has expanded its strategic investment in the company and purchased a flagship Freespace ASRS (Automated Storage and Retrieval System) for deployment and system integration in its newly launched Atlanta center.

The announcement follows a successful joint showing at ProMat 2025, where Freespace was spotlighted in Matthews Automation Solution’s exhibit. The partnership drew significant interest from logistics professionals, integrators and facility operators seeking next-generation, high-throughput order fulfillment automation. In fact, at the show Freespace won Start Up of the Year for their innovative high-density cube design. Building on that success, Freespace will expand its presence with Matthews Automation Solutions at MODEX 2026, where it will debut enhanced capabilities and new deployment models optimized for a wide range of warehouse needs from the first to last-mile.

“Freespace Robotics addresses key industry challenges—modularity, system interoperability and rapid deployment,” said Gary Cash, SVP and general manager of Matthews Automation Solutions. “We’re excited to deepen our relationship and bring this innovative platform directly to our customers.”

The Matthews-backed deployment will serve as a live showcase of Freespace’s full-stack solution, which tightly integrates advanced robotics with Matthews’ proven warehouse execution system called NEXUS. NEXUS WES software will orchestrate inbound and outbound workflows, inventory management and sequencing tasks through seamless integration with the Freespace hardware—delivering real-time insights, control and efficiency from a single dashboard.

“Matthews has been a valuable strategic partner, and their increased investment and system purchase reinforce the real-world demand for a smarter, more unified approach to warehouse automation which includes over-sized goods and parcels,” said Karl Sanchack, COO of Freespace Robotics. “As the market moves beyond piecemeal solutions to material handling, we’re delivering the flexibility, performance and scalability that operators need to stay competitive.”

Freespace Robotics’ high-density ASRS cube reimagines order fulfillment by consolidating sortation, sequencing, buffering, each-picking and storage into a compact, modular design that fits both greenfield and existing facilities. Its intelligent “Carrier” robots can reach the deepest storage lanes in under 40 seconds while executing simultaneous put-away and retrieval. Carnegie Foundry, the unique AI and autonomous robotics venture studio from which Freespace was spun out and the world leading experts of Carnegie Mellon University’s National Robotics Engineering Center, collaborated to bring the disruptive high-density ASRS cube design to market.

The system architecture expands both vertically and horizontally, supports goods up to 100 pounds from small items to traditionally non-sortable packages, and fits seamlessly into both new and existing facilities. With all maintenance components located outside the cube and a rail-powered design that eliminates batteries, Freespace maximizes uptime, safety and sustainability and, also, simplifies maintenance of the robotic carriers and exit systems like lifts and conveyors. From cross-docking and goods-to-person fulfillment to last-mile staging, Freespace enables warehouse operators to achieve higher throughput–across more of the order fulfillment process–with less complexity and space.

With backing from Matthews International, U.S. Steel Corporation, NFI Industries and Carnegie Foundry, Freespace continues to scale operations and bring to market a new class of automation solutions built for adaptability, performance and resilience.

About Freespace Robotics 

Freespace Robotics, a spin-out company of venture studio Carnegie Foundry, is a leading innovator in autonomous robotics solutions for the logistics and warehousing industry. By combining advanced robotics, modular design and unmatched versatility, Freespace Robotics delivers breakthrough advances that redefine how businesses approach storage, retrieval, order fulfillment and the movement of goods. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Freespace Robotics thrives at the intersection of industrial innovation and artificial intelligence.
 

About Matthews Automation Solutions

Matthews Automation Solutions is a global leader in warehouse automation and execution systems. They offer a broad portfolio of solutions, including software, picking technologies, robotics and conveyor systems, to help distribution centers and fulfillment operations optimize their workflows and address their unique automation challenges. A Matthews International company, Matthews Automation engineers, services and supports applications with unparalleled uptime across your supply chain from locations in Cincinnati, Ohio; Waukesha WI; and Estenfeld, Germany.