What Is an ASRS?
An ASRS (automated storage and retrieval system) is equipment that stores and retrieves inventory automatically: cranes, shuttles, or robots working dense storage that people never walk into. It trades floor space and picking labor for machinery, typically cutting the storage footprint dramatically while doubling or tripling pick rates.
ASRS is not one product. It is a family of very different technologies, and choosing between them comes down to your pallet-versus-tote mix, throughput, ceiling height, and growth plan.
The Main Types of ASRS
Unit-load crane ASRS
Full-pallet high-bay storage served by cranes, including freezer, cleanroom, and rack-supported-building configurations.
Mini-load ASRS
Crane-served storage for totes and cartons, feeding pick stations and buffering orders.
Shuttle systems
Independent shuttles running each level for the highest tote and case throughput, with modular scaling.
Cube storage / grid systems
Robots on a grid above stacked bins, the densest small-item storage available, scaling robot by robot.
Pallet shuttle (2-way and 4-way)
Deep-lane pallet storage where shuttles run inside the rack, ideal for high-density and freezer applications.
Vertical lift modules and carousels
Enclosed trays and rotating shelves that bring parts to a single operator with major floor-space savings.
How MTLI Works With ASRS
Design & Engineering
It starts with your data, not a catalog: throughput, product profile, building, and budget. Our engineers design the right answer, with stamped drawings and permits where structures are involved.
Supply & Procurement
We source across 500+ manufacturer partners worldwide, brand-agnostic, new and used where it makes sense, with volume pricing passed through to you.
Installation & Commissioning
Our own crews install, integrate, and commission, phased around live operations when needed, with an MTLI supervisor on site every day and 98% on-time delivery.
Support & Lifecycle
After handover we stay: preventative maintenance programs, inspections, controls support, and 24/7 options, designed around your uptime targets.
Where MTLI Can Help You
- Facilities running out of floor space before running out of business
- High-labor picking operations with rising wage pressure
- Cold storage and freezer sites where every cubic foot is expensive
- New builds designed around dense automated storage from day one
- Retrofitting ASRS into an existing building alongside live operations
- Integrating ASRS with conveyors, goods-to-person stations, and WMS
From under $100K to $100M+ turnkey. A specialist calls within one business day.
Common Questions, Answered
Is ASRS only for huge operations?
No. Vertical lift modules and small cube-storage grids start well under $1M, and full systems scale to $100M+ programs. The right question is your cost per pick and cost per pallet position, which we model with your real numbers before you commit.
How do I choose between shuttle and cube storage?
Throughput per port, bin size, and building height decide it. Shuttles win on raw case throughput; grids win on density and modular growth. We are brand-agnostic across 500+ manufacturer partners, so the analysis is honest.
Can my existing building take an ASRS?
Often yes, with slab, steel, and sprinkler upgrades we self-perform. Our construction and racking teams handle super-flat floors, reinforcement, and permits as one scope with the automation.
Who maintains an ASRS after installation?
MTLI does: preventative maintenance programs, controls troubleshooting, and lifecycle support designed around your uptime targets.