Automation has become one of the defining technologies shaping the future of logistics. Shorter delivery expectations, expanding product assortments, and rising warehouse space costs are driving demand for highly compact and dynamic fulfillment systems. Among these, AutoStore has emerged as one of the most widely adopted cube storage solutions, known for maximizing storage density while enabling high-performance order fulfillment. Demand continues to grow across industries, particularly in e-commerce, fashion, and spare parts logistics. Early on, EPG (Ehrhardt Partner Group) recognized this potential and invested in developing a standardized interface between AutoStore and its Warehouse Management System (WMS), LFS. Today, that foresight benefits customers worldwide. The integration has been proven across numerous live installations and provides the foundation for efficient, scalable, and future-ready warehouse operations.
From the very first implementations, the standardized LFS interface proved to be the key to seamless orchestration between warehouse management and automation. With every project, EPG gained additional experience, continuously refining and enhancing the solution.
We invested early in creating a solution that tightly integrates AutoStore into LFS… This ensures that our customers benefit from a stable and scalable architecture from day one. The combination of standardization and flexibility is essential for protecting long-term investments.
explains Axel Mücke, Senior Sales Manager at EPG.
From Pioneer Project to Industry Standard
As one of the first providers to integrate AutoStore into its solution architecture, EPG steadily evolved the module through successive customer implementations until it became a standard component of the EPG ONE Suite. Today, it reliably supports numerous live environments around the world. The versatility of the solution is reflected in projects from very different logistics environments.
For B2B wholesaler AXRO, the primary challenge is managing operational complexity and speed. A broad product portfolio, highly variable order structures, and international supply chains demand maximum flexibility in fulfillment operations.
Our product portfolio is extremely diverse, and many customer orders are highly time-sensitive, with same-day shipping requirements… Thanks to the close collaboration with EPG, we were able to integrate AutoStore seamlessly into our operations. Today, we benefit from greater transparency, increased storage density, shorter processing times, and a scalable foundation for future growth.
says Mike Jonescheit, Managing Director at AXRO.
Global zipper manufacturer YKK, on the other hand, relies on the solution with a strong focus on process reliability. Its AutoStore system is directly integrated into production supply processes. Through the standardized interface, LFS processes inventory changes without requiring additional middleware or custom integrations, enabling rapid response times and complete operational visibility.
For us, it was crucial that the AutoStore solution could be integrated directly into our logistics processes… With the standardized LFS interface, inventory changes are processed in real time. This provides the transparency and reliability we need to respond flexibly to the requirements of both manufacturing and logistics.
says Alexander Sann, Deputy Factory Manager at YKK.
The AXRO and YKK projects demonstrate how versatile AutoStore can be across very different operational environments… Combined with the standardized LFS interface, customers gain a solution that delivers stability, scalability, and long-term reliability across industries.
says Michael Bolz, Consulting Alliance Director at AutoStore.
End-to-End Processes in Real Time
The standardized AutoStore integration within LFS enables end-to-end control of all core processes required to synchronize warehouse management and automation. This includes goods receipt and storage, replenishment management, order picking, and order consolidation. LFS acts as the central control platform, orchestrating all processes in real time. Inventory updates, order prioritization, and bin movements are captured and processed immediately within the WMS environment.
For AutoStore, close integration with powerful warehouse management systems such as LFS is essential… The combination of hardware and intelligent software ensures that customers can operate their facilities with stability, transparency, and scalability.
Bolz adds.
The benefits become particularly evident in highly dynamic warehouse environments, where changing order priorities and replenishment requirements are part of daily operations. Orders can be reprioritized instantly, inventory can be adjusted in real time, and replenishment strategies can be adapted as conditions change. The result is complete operational transparency, greater process reliability, and a system that scales alongside the business.
Experiencing the Technology in Practice
EPG has also extended its pioneering work at its headquarters in Boppard-Buchholz, Germany. In a dedicated demonstration environment featuring a fully operational AutoStore installation with bins, robots, a CarouselPort 4.0 workstation, and a mini-grid, visitors can experience firsthand how AutoStore and LFS work together across the entire process chain, from automated storage and replenishment to picking and order consolidation.
The installation provides customers and partners with a realistic view of how the standardized interface performs in daily operations and the efficiency gains it can unlock. At the same time, the environment serves as a development and training platform. New features are tested under real-world conditions before becoming part of the standard solution, while project teams can familiarize themselves with processes and workflows long before go-live.
