Third-party logistics providers (3PLs) are experiencing one of the fastest periods of growth in the history of the supply chain industry. As companies across manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and e-commerce increasingly outsource logistics operations, 3PLs are absorbing more freight volume, managing more client complexity, and operating under greater pressure to meet strict service level agreements (SLAs).

This shift is fundamentally reshaping how warehouses operate. Distribution centers that once handled predictable flows of goods for a single company are now expected to support dozens of clients, thousands of SKUs, and rapidly fluctuating order volumes. To meet these demands, 3PL operators are turning to warehouse automation, advanced conveyor systems, and intelligent material handling solutions.

For companies operating in distribution, fulfillment, and industrial logistics, understanding this transformation is essential. The growth of 3PL operations is not just an industry trend—it is redefining the future of warehouse design and automation.

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The Rapid Expansion of the 3PL Industry

Third-party logistics providers have long played a role in supply chains, but their importance has accelerated dramatically over the last decade.

Today, businesses are relying on 3PL partners for a wide range of services, including:

• Warehousing and storage
• Order fulfillment
• Inventory management
• Transportation coordination
• Reverse logistics
• Packaging and labeling
• Cross-docking operations

The appeal is straightforward. By outsourcing logistics operations, companies can focus on product development, marketing, and sales while experienced logistics providers manage the operational complexities of moving goods through the supply chain.

As a result, 3PL providers are handling a growing share of global distribution activity.

But with that growth comes operational pressure. Modern 3PL facilities must process high volumes of goods while supporting multiple clients with unique requirements. This environment demands warehouse systems that can scale rapidly and operate with exceptional efficiency.

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Why More Companies Are Outsourcing Logistics

Several major forces are driving the rapid adoption of third-party logistics services.

Increasing Supply Chain Complexity

Supply chains have become global and interconnected. Products may be manufactured in one region, assembled in another, and distributed worldwide through complex transportation networks.

Managing these logistics internally requires specialized expertise, advanced technology, and significant infrastructure investment. Many companies prefer to partner with logistics providers that already have these capabilities in place.

3PL operators offer established distribution networks, warehouse systems, and operational teams designed specifically to handle supply chain complexity.

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The Rise of E-Commerce

E-commerce has dramatically changed fulfillment expectations.

Consumers now expect:

• Faster shipping times
• Real-time order tracking
• Accurate delivery estimates
• Simple return processes

Meeting these expectations requires warehouses capable of processing thousands of small parcel shipments every hour.

Many traditional warehouses were never designed for this type of order volume or complexity. 3PL providers have stepped in to fill this gap, building fulfillment centers designed specifically for e-commerce operations.

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Capital Investment Challenges

Building and operating a modern distribution center is expensive.

Costs include:

• Warehouse construction
• Automation equipment
• warehouse management systems (WMS)
• staffing and training
• maintenance and infrastructure upgrades

Outsourcing logistics allows companies to convert these fixed costs into variable operating expenses. Instead of investing millions in infrastructure, they can partner with a logistics provider that already has the facilities and systems in place.

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Rapid Market Expansion

Companies entering new geographic markets often need distribution capabilities quickly. Building new warehouses can take years.

3PL providers offer immediate access to established logistics networks, enabling businesses to expand into new regions without the delay of building new infrastructure.

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The Operational Challenges Facing 3PL Providers

While outsourcing logistics creates advantages for clients, it places significant pressure on 3PL operators.

Modern logistics facilities must manage:

• Multiple clients operating within the same facility
• Thousands of SKUs with different handling requirements
• Rapidly changing order volumes
• Strict delivery deadlines
• Complex inventory management

In many cases, a single warehouse may handle fulfillment for dozens of different companies simultaneously.

Each client may require different packaging formats, labeling standards, shipping carriers, and reporting processes.

Managing this level of complexity requires systems designed for flexibility and scalability.

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The Growing Importance of Service Level Agreements

Service level agreements (SLAs) are central to 3PL operations.

Clients expect logistics providers to meet strict performance targets such as:

• Order accuracy rates
• Same-day shipping requirements
• Inventory accuracy
• Processing speed
• Dock-to-stock timelines

Failure to meet these performance metrics can lead to financial penalties, lost business, or damaged relationships.

As client expectations increase, maintaining SLA performance becomes increasingly difficult—especially as order volumes fluctuate.

Automation and intelligent material handling systems play a critical role in maintaining consistent performance under these conditions.

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Labor Challenges in Modern Warehousing

Labor availability has become one of the largest operational constraints in logistics.

Distribution centers frequently struggle with:

• High employee turnover
• Seasonal labor shortages
• Rising wage costs
• Physically demanding work environments

Manual warehouse operations require large numbers of employees performing repetitive tasks such as picking, sorting, labeling, and transporting products.

As order volumes increase, relying entirely on manual labor becomes inefficient and costly.

Automation technologies allow warehouses to reduce manual touches while improving productivity and operational consistency.

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How Warehouse Automation Is Transforming 3PL Operations

Automation technologies are rapidly changing how distribution centers operate.

Instead of relying solely on manual processes, modern warehouses integrate automated systems that streamline product movement and reduce operational bottlenecks.

Several key technologies are driving this transformation.

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Conveyor Systems: The Backbone of Modern Distribution

Conveyor systems form the foundation of many automated warehouse operations.

These systems transport products efficiently throughout the facility, reducing the need for employees to manually move goods between workstations.

Benefits of conveyor systems include:

• Faster product movement
• Reduced employee travel time
• Increased throughput
• Improved operational consistency

In high-volume distribution environments, conveyors enable facilities to maintain steady product flow across large warehouse footprints.

Companies such as Century Conveyor specialize in designing conveyor systems tailored to the operational needs of distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, and logistics providers.

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High-Speed Sortation Systems

Sortation technology plays a critical role in e-commerce and parcel distribution environments.

Sortation systems automatically direct packages to their correct destinations based on order data.

High-speed sorters can process thousands of items per hour with remarkable accuracy.

These systems are commonly used for:

• E-commerce fulfillment
• parcel shipping operations
• cross-docking environments
• high-volume distribution centers

By automating sorting processes, warehouses reduce manual handling while improving order accuracy and processing speed.

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Automated Induction Systems

In many warehouses, employees manually place products onto conveyor lines for sorting and processing.

Automated induction systems eliminate this manual step.

These systems automatically feed products into conveyor networks, allowing facilities to maintain continuous product flow with fewer labor requirements.

Benefits include:

• Reduced manual labor
• consistent product flow
• improved system throughput
• lower operational costs

For high-volume operations, induction automation can significantly improve efficiency.

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Robotic Picking and Handling

Robotic systems are increasingly used to assist with picking and product handling tasks.

These systems can:

• retrieve items from storage locations
• transport products between workstations
• assist with palletizing and depalletizing
• support order fulfillment operations

Robotics help warehouses maintain productivity even during labor shortages.

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Warehouse Software and Control Systems

Automation hardware works alongside advanced software platforms that manage warehouse operations.

These systems coordinate product movement, manage inventory data, and optimize workflow throughout the facility.

Common technologies include:

• Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
• Warehouse Control Systems (WCS)
• Warehouse Execution Systems (WES)

These platforms provide real-time visibility into warehouse performance and allow operators to identify inefficiencies quickly.

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Why Flexibility Is Essential in 3PL Warehouses

Unlike single-client distribution centers, 3PL facilities must remain flexible.

New clients may introduce:

• different product sizes
• varying packaging formats
• unique order volumes
• different shipping carriers
• specialized handling requirements

Automation systems must adapt to these changing conditions without requiring major infrastructure modifications.

Modern material handling systems are often designed with modular architecture, allowing facilities to scale and reconfigure operations as business needs evolve.

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Designing Warehouses for Long-Term Growth

Forward-thinking logistics operators design facilities that can scale as demand increases.

Important considerations include:

• scalable conveyor infrastructure
• flexible sortation layouts
• expandable pick modules
• efficient dock operations
• integrated warehouse software systems

Facilities designed for expansion avoid costly retrofits and operational disruptions as volumes grow.

Engineering expertise is essential in planning these systems effectively.

Companies like Century Conveyor work with warehouse operators to design material handling solutions that support both current operations and future growth.

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Automation as a Competitive Advantage

Automation is no longer simply a tool for improving efficiency—it has become a strategic advantage in the logistics industry.

3PL providers that invest in automation gain the ability to offer:

• faster order fulfillment
• higher processing capacity
• improved order accuracy
• reduced labor dependency
• scalable infrastructure for new clients

These capabilities allow logistics providers to remain competitive in an industry where speed and reliability are critical.

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The Future of 3PL Logistics

The logistics industry will continue evolving as supply chains become more complex.

Several trends will shape the next generation of distribution centers:

• Increased adoption of robotics
• Artificial intelligence for warehouse optimization
• Advanced data analytics for demand forecasting
• Integration between warehouse systems and transportation networks
• Greater reliance on automated material handling systems

As these technologies mature, warehouses will become increasingly intelligent, automated, and adaptable.

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Preparing for the Next Era of Distribution

The growth of third-party logistics providers shows no signs of slowing.

As companies continue outsourcing logistics operations, distribution centers must be prepared to handle greater complexity, higher volumes, and stricter performance expectations.

Warehouse automation, intelligent facility design, and advanced material handling systems will play a central role in helping logistics providers meet these demands.

For organizations looking to scale operations efficiently, investing in the right automation infrastructure is essential.

Companies like Century Conveyor provide the expertise needed to design and implement conveyor systems, sortation technology, and automation solutions that keep distribution centers operating at peak performance.

In an industry defined by speed, precision, and adaptability, the right material handling systems can make the difference between simply keeping up—and leading the future of logistics.

Now Available — Retrofit Upgrade – The LMS is ready to improve your productivity.

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The Problem With Mechanical Switching

Most shoe sorters in operation today rely on a mechanical switching mechanism that was designed for a different era of distribution — one where throughput demands were lower, maintenance windows were longer, and downtime was more forgiving. That era is over.

Mechanical diverters are subject to constant wear. Every cycle puts friction on moving parts. Over time, that means more frequent part replacements, harder-to-predict failures, and maintenance that happens on the sorter’s schedule rather than yours. In high-velocity distribution and fulfillment environments, that’s not a manageable trade-off — it’s a liability.

The good news: replacing the entire sorter isn’t the only path forward.

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The Solution: LMS Gen 4 Electromagnetic Switch Upgrade

The LMS Gen 4 (V4) from LaFayette Engineering — integrated and supported by Century Conveyor — is a direct retrofit upgrade engineered to replace your existing switch mechanism with a fully electromagnetic system. It installs into your current sorter and brings next-generation diverting performance without requiring a new conveyor investment.

Rather than relying on moving mechanical components to actuate each divert, the Gen 4 drives every switch electromagnetically — delivering precise, consistent, and controllable actuation on every single cycle. The result is a fundamentally more reliable system with a measurably longer service life.

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What the Gen 4 LMS Delivers

⚡ 725 FPM Divert Speed — Capable of diverting every other shoe at 725 FPM, built for the throughput demands of today’s most high-velocity distribution and fulfillment operations.

📈 Longer Operational Lifespan — Electromagnetic diverting eliminates moving parts entirely, dramatically reducing wear and tear to extend the operational lifespan of your sorting system.

🔧 Planned Maintenance — The LMS lets you plan maintenance around your downtime schedule, not the other way around. Shift from reactive repairs to predictable, scheduled service windows you control.

🌎 Multi-Environment Ready — Engineered to perform reliably in temperature-controlled, refrigerated, high-humidity, and specialty environments — including the rigorous demands of liquor distribution.

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Why Retrofit Instead of Replace?

A full sorter replacement carries substantial capital cost, extended implementation timelines, and operational disruption during cutover. For many operations, the sorter itself isn’t the problem — the switching mechanism is. The Gen 4 LMS addresses the root cause directly.

By retrofitting electromagnetic switching technology into your existing infrastructure, you preserve the investment you’ve already made while bringing your diverting capability in line with where modern distribution operations need to be. It’s a targeted upgrade with a focused return: faster throughput, fewer surprises, and maintenance on your terms.

Whether you’re running a high-volume e-commerce fulfillment center, a temperature-sensitive food and beverage operation, or a multi-line parcel sortation facility, the Gen 4 is engineered to match the demands of your environment.

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See Us at MODEX 2026

We’ll be on the floor in Atlanta to walk you through the LMS retrofit process, answer technical questions, and discuss what a Gen 4 upgrade looks like for your specific operation. No commitment — just a conversation worth having.

• Dates: April 13–16, 2026
• Location: Atlanta, GA — Georgia World Congress Center
• Booth: C14787

Want to set aside time with our team before the show? Availability fills quickly — reach out early and we’ll come prepared with an approach built around your operation.

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Ready to Explore a Gen 4 Upgrade for Your Facility?

The Gen 4 LMS is available now as a retrofit upgrade for existing shoe sorters. Whether you’re planning ahead, dealing with rising maintenance costs on an older switch mechanism, or simply want to understand your options, Century Conveyor is ready to walk you through the details.

Can’t make it to the show? We’re available to walk you through upgrade options for your facility at your convenience. Schedule time with our team.

Walk into almost any established warehouse or distribution center and ask a simple question:

“Do we have a fully accurate, up-to-date facility layout?”

Most of the time, the answer is complicated.

There’s a CAD file from years ago. A PDF that’s been marked up and re-marked up. A mezzanine that was added but never properly documented. Conveyor lines that were extended during peak season. Utilities that were rerouted to solve a short-term problem and never updated in the drawings.

Individually, these changes seem minor. Collectively, they introduce risk—risk that quietly compounds until the next major conveyor expansion, automation retrofit, or system integration project exposes the gap.

For warehouse managers, operations directors, and industrial engineers, warehouse layout management is no longer a clerical task. It is a strategic function that directly impacts cost, speed, scalability, and long-term ROI.

This is where a professionally implemented LaFayette Magnetic Sortation (LMS)—like the one offered by Lafayette Engineering—changes the conversation.

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The Foundation of Every Conveyor and Automation Project

Every successful conveyor system planning effort starts with a basic truth: you must know exactly what exists before you design what comes next.

When Century Conveyor begins a new project—whether it involves sortation, pallet conveyor, robotics, or broader material handling system design—the first step is understanding the real-world constraints of the facility. That includes column grids, clear heights, structural load capacities, egress paths, utilities, and the precise location of existing equipment.

If that information is inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated, the design team is forced to compensate. Sometimes they design conservatively, building in extra clearance to avoid unknown conflicts. Other times, they discover issues only after installation begins—when field crews find that a beam is lower than expected or that an undocumented utility line runs directly through the planned conveyor route.

The result is almost always the same: rework, delay, cost escalation, and frustration.

The Project Management Institute consistently identifies poor documentation and scope misalignment as major contributors to project overruns.
Project Management Institute – https://www.pmi.org

In industrial environments, those overruns are not theoretical. They show up as expedited freight, field modifications, redesign hours, and extended downtime.

The irony is that many of these issues are preventable. The missing ingredient is facility layout accuracy.

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The Quiet Cost of Outdated Drawings

Warehouses are living systems. They evolve continuously.

A new pick module is installed to handle e-commerce growth. A temporary conveyor extension becomes permanent. Racking is relocated to increase density. A mezzanine is added to accommodate seasonal labor. A maintenance team reroutes compressed air or electrical lines to solve an operational bottleneck.

Each change makes sense at the time. But if documentation does not keep pace, the facility’s “official” layout gradually diverges from reality.

Over time, that divergence becomes more than an inconvenience. It becomes operational and financial exposure.

Consider safety compliance. OSHA regulations require safe working environments, including proper egress and equipment clearance.
OSHA Standards – https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs

If emergency exit paths or equipment clearances are inaccurately documented, audits become more complicated. Risk increases.

Now consider capital planning. When leadership evaluates automation upgrades—robotics, AS/RS systems, high-speed sortation—they rely on layout data to assess feasibility and ROI. If that data is unreliable, capital decisions are made on shaky ground.

According to McKinsey research, advanced warehouse automation can improve productivity by up to 30%.
McKinsey Supply Chain Insights – https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights

But automation success depends on precise spatial understanding. You cannot accurately simulate throughput, density, or workflow without a trustworthy baseline.

Outdated drawings quietly undermine strategic growth.

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From Static Drawings to Strategic Asset

This is where the concept of a LaFayette Magnetic Sortation (LMS) becomes transformative.

An LMS is not simply a shared folder of CAD files. It is not a one-time drafting update. It is a structured, controlled approach to managing the physical intelligence of an industrial facility.

Think of it this way: just as operations teams use warehouse management systems (WMS) to control inventory and workflows, an LMS governs the physical environment itself.

A well-implemented LMS centralizes and standardizes:

• Facility layouts
• Conveyor routing
• Equipment positioning
• Racking configurations
• Structural elements
• Utilities and service pathways

Instead of static drawings that slowly degrade in relevance, the facility becomes a documented, version-controlled, continuously updated system.

For operations leaders, that shift is powerful. The facility is no longer a black box that engineers must rediscover every time a project begins. It becomes a known, measurable asset.

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How Lafayette Engineering Approaches LMS

Lafayette Engineering developed its LMS offering specifically for industrial and material handling environments. Their background in material handling system design and automation engineering shapes how they approach layout management.

The process begins with clarity.

Rather than relying on assumptions or legacy drawings, Lafayette Engineering focuses on capturing the true current state of the facility. That may involve on-site verification, dimensional confirmation, and structured updates to ensure that structural elements, conveyor systems, elevations, and utilities reflect real-world conditions.

But the real value is not just in the initial capture. It is in how the information is organized and maintained.

Lafayette Engineering structures layout data in a way that supports long-term scalability. The documentation is standardized so it can be used effectively for:

• Future conveyor expansions
• Warehouse automation initiatives
• Maintenance planning
• Capacity modeling
• Structural feasibility analysis

Changes are tracked. Versions are controlled. Updates are integrated into the master documentation.

In short, the LMS transforms industrial facility documentation from an afterthought into a managed system.

To explore the full scope of the service, visit:
Lafayette Engineering LMS – https://www.lafayette-engineering.com/lms/

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The Strategic Advantage for Warehouse Leaders

For warehouse managers and supply chain executives, the benefits of disciplined warehouse layout management extend far beyond cleaner drawings.

First, risk decreases. When Century Conveyor evaluates a new conveyor installation or system integration project, accurate layout data reduces the likelihood of field surprises. Projects move faster and with greater confidence.

[Internal Link: Conveyor Systems Page]

Second, planning accelerates. Instead of spending weeks reconciling outdated documents, engineering teams can begin analysis immediately. Budget estimates become more accurate. ROI calculations become more credible.

Third, long-term capital strategy improves. With reliable layout data, leadership can model phased automation rollouts rather than pursuing reactive, piecemeal upgrades. Mezzanine additions, pick module expansions, and sortation retrofits can be evaluated in the context of a documented roadmap.

Fourth, cross-functional alignment strengthens. Maintenance teams, engineering departments, and executive leadership reference the same controlled documentation. Discrepancies decrease. Decision-making becomes faster and more informed.

When viewed holistically, an LMS is not a drafting expense. It is a risk management tool and a strategic planning platform.

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Why Layout Accuracy Is a Competitive Differentiator

The broader industry trend is clear. Organizations like the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) emphasize agility and infrastructure readiness as critical competitive factors.
CSCMP – https://cscmp.org

Agility depends on visibility. Visibility depends on accurate data.

Facilities that invest in layout precision are positioned to:

• Scale automation quickly
• Adapt to shifting demand
• Integrate robotics and new technologies
• Reduce downtime during upgrades
• Attract investment with confidence

Facilities operating from outdated documentation must rediscover their constraints each time change occurs.

Over time, that difference compounds.

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A Stronger Partnership Between Century Conveyor and Lafayette Engineering

Century Conveyor is known for delivering engineered material handling solutions that solve real operational challenges. But even the most advanced conveyor system design depends on accurate foundational data.

By leveraging Lafayette Engineering’s LMS capabilities, Century Conveyor clients gain a strategic advantage before the first piece of equipment is installed.

Designs are grounded in reality. Risks are identified early. Installation proceeds with greater certainty. Future expansion paths are clearer.

The result is not just a successful project—it is a stronger, more resilient facility.

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From Reactive Documentation to Proactive Strategy

Industrial operations are under constant pressure to move faster, handle more SKUs, manage labor volatility, and justify capital investments.

In that environment, facility layout accuracy cannot remain an afterthought.

A disciplined LaFayette Magnetic Sortation (LMS) transforms documentation from a reactive exercise into a proactive strategy. It supports smarter conveyor system planning, more effective warehouse automation, and stronger long-term operational performance.

If your facility drawings are outdated, fragmented, or inconsistent, now is the time to address it—before your next automation initiative exposes the gap.

Explore Lafayette Engineering’s LaFayette Magnetic Sortation to see how engineered layout precision can reduce risk and strengthen your facility’s future:

👉 Learn more about Lafayette Engineering’s LMS:
https://www.lafayette-engineering.com/lms/

Or connect with Century Conveyor to discuss how accurate layout management can improve your next material handling initiative:

In modern distribution environments, precision is not optional.

It is competitive advantage.

In food and beverage distribution, the work is physical, the pace is relentless, and the margin for error is thin. Cases move constantly — from receiving docks to staging lanes to outbound pallets — and for most operations, a significant portion of that movement still depends on manual labor. Workers lift, stack, and repeat. Shift after shift. Year after year.

The result is predictable. Repetitive motion injuries accumulate. Good people get hurt. Some come back, some don’t. The ones who stay are grinding through shifts that take a real toll on their bodies — and the ones who leave take institutional knowledge and trained capacity with them. Turnover compounds the problem. New hires get placed into the same physically demanding roles, and the cycle continues.

This isn’t a story unique to one facility or one company. It’s a pattern that Century Conveyor’s team hears consistently from food and beverage distributors across the country. And while no one expects a distribution center to run without people, there’s a better way to think about where human effort should actually go — and where automation can step in to carry the load.

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The Real Cost of Manual Palletizing: Reducing Injuries With Automation

When people talk about the cost of automation, the conversation usually starts with the price tag of the equipment. That’s a fair place to start, but it rarely tells the full story.

Consider what manual palletizing actually costs a food and beverage operation over time. Workers’ compensation claims. Modified duty assignments. Productivity losses during peak seasons when injured team members can’t perform at full capacity. The ongoing expense of recruiting and training replacement workers in a labor market that continues to tighten. The management time spent backfilling roles, navigating HR processes, and trying to maintain throughput during periods of reduced headcount.

These costs are real, they’re ongoing, and in many operations they’re so embedded in the normal cost of doing business that they’ve become invisible. The question worth asking isn’t whether automation is expensive. It’s whether the status quo is actually cheaper than it appears.

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Two Solutions Designed for F&B Distribution

At Century Conveyor, the approach isn’t to sell a product catalog and find a customer to fit it. The work starts with understanding the specific operation — the floor layout, the product mix, the throughput demands, the pain points — and then engineering a system that actually solves the problem at hand. For food and beverage distributors dealing with injury risk and labor strain, there are two approaches that Century’s team has deployed repeatedly and effectively.

Robotic Palletizing

Robotic palletizing addresses one of the highest-risk tasks in any distribution center: the repetitive stacking of cases onto outbound pallets. It’s a task that requires precision, but it doesn’t require a person. Century’s robotic palletizing solutions — including palletizing and depalletizing arms and fully engineered robotic cells — are designed to handle this work continuously, without fatigue, without the injury risk that comes from repetitive motion, and without the throughput variability that comes with manual labor.

These systems don’t operate on a single template. Century designs each robotic palletizing installation around the realities of the specific facility — the SKU mix, the pallet configurations, the available floor space, the throughput requirements. The goal is a system that fits the operation, not one that forces the operation to adapt to it.

The downstream effects of removing manual palletizing from the equation go beyond injury reduction. When workers aren’t assigned to physically punishing end-of-line tasks, they’re available for roles that benefit from human judgment and flexibility. Throughput stabilizes. Injury claims decrease. Turnover in the most physically demanding positions drops. The operation becomes more predictable and more sustainable.

Pallet Handling Conveyor Systems

The risks in a food and beverage distribution center don’t begin and end at the palletizer. Loaded pallets moving through a facility — whether by hand, by forklift, or by a combination of both — represent a persistent source of bottlenecks, collisions, and manual handling exposure. Every time a loaded pallet changes hands or requires a fork truck to navigate a congested lane, there’s an opportunity for something to go wrong.

Century’s pallet handling conveyor solutions address this by automating the flow of product through the facility — from inbound receiving through staging and outbound shipping. By reducing the number of times a pallet needs to be touched or moved manually, these systems decrease the fork traffic that creates congestion and risk, improve overall flow efficiency, and reduce the manual handling exposure that contributes to injury.

Importantly, these systems are designed to integrate with existing facility layouts rather than require a complete operational overhaul. The goal is to improve what’s already working while removing the friction points that are creating problems — not to replace a functional operation wholesale with something unfamiliar.

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What It Means to Work With a Full-Service Integrator

Automation projects fail when the equipment is right but the integration is wrong. A robotic palletizing cell that isn’t properly positioned within the flow of the line, or a pallet conveyor system that wasn’t designed to interface with the facility’s existing controls infrastructure, doesn’t deliver the value it’s capable of. The technology is only as effective as the engineering and execution behind it.

Century Conveyor is a full-service automation integrator, which means the team manages every phase of a project from initial concept through long-term support. That includes system design and engineering, controls engineering, control panel design and fabrication, mechanical and electrical installation, project management, and ongoing service and parts support after the system is live.

This matters for food and beverage distributors for a practical reason: you’re not coordinating between multiple vendors to get a project across the finish line. There’s one team accountable for the outcome from start to finish. When questions arise during installation — and they always do — there’s no finger-pointing between separate contractors. When the system needs support after go-live, the same team that built it is available to service it.

Century’s service capabilities include 24/7 support and a preventative maintenance program designed to keep systems running at peak performance over the long term. For operations that run around the clock, that kind of ongoing support infrastructure isn’t optional — it’s a requirement.

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The Bigger Picture for F&B Distribution

The pressure on food and beverage distributors isn’t easing. Labor availability remains a challenge. The physical demands of distribution work haven’t decreased. And the expectation from customers for fast, accurate, consistent fulfillment has only grown.

Automation isn’t a solution to every challenge in a distribution center, and it’s not positioned that way. But for the specific, high-risk, highly repetitive tasks — end-of-line palletizing, pallet movement between zones, the manual handling work that wears people down over time — it’s a well-proven and increasingly accessible answer.

The facilities that are getting ahead of this challenge aren’t waiting for a crisis to force the conversation. They’re looking at the injury data, the turnover numbers, and the throughput constraints, and making a deliberate decision to invest in systems that protect their people and improve their operations at the same time. That decision tends to look better with every passing year.

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See It in Person at MODEX 2026

Century Conveyor will be on the floor at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta — the nation’s premier supply chain and material handling trade show — April 13 through 16 at the Georgia World Congress Center. Find the team at Booth C14787.

For food and beverage distributors thinking seriously about automation, MODEX is an opportunity to see live systems, ask direct questions, and have a real conversation about what a project might look like for your specific operation. Availability for booth meetings fills up, so reaching out in advance to reserve time is recommended.

To learn more about Century Conveyor’s robotic palletizing and conveyor systems, or to start a conversation with an automation expert before the show, visit centuryconveyor.com or call (908) 205-0625.

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Century Conveyor Systems is a full-service material handling automation integrator serving warehouses and distribution centers nationwide, with offices in New Jersey, California, and Kentucky.

Innovative goods-to-person cube storage technology now part of family-owned group of businesses with over 30 years of material handling and warehouse automation experience

• New ownership provides stable financial foundation, engineering and domain expertise to enhance customer support, advance technology development and commercialization
• Leadership team combines mix of legacy Attabotics staff and material handling industry veterans
• As part of LaFayette Systems, Attabotics gains access to footprint and resources throughout the United States
• Existing Attabotics location at 10th St NE in Calgary to continue operation

CALGARY, Alberta, Canada. (Feb. 10, 2026) –Attabotics, a provider of robotic cube storage solutions for goods-to-person warehouse applications, announces it will restart operations as part of LaFayette Systems. LaFayette is a privately owned, closely held organization with a decades-long reputation as a trusted partner in material handling automation. The company acquired Attabotics in September 2025, establishing a strong foundation to further develop, deploy and support Attabotics’ patented technologies.

“As we begin this new chapter, our goal is simple: pair the exceptional technology from Attabotics with LaFayette’s warehouse automation expertise and customer-first culture,” says Bruce Robbins, who founded LaFayette in 1989. “We believe that combination brings the right focus and discipline to the technology and allows us to deliver reliable, long-term value for our customers.”

The existing Attabotics facility in Calgary will continue to house key engineering, business and manufacturing functions. The new Attabotics leadership team is a deliberate balance of deep institutional knowledge and fresh perspectives. Legacy team members Mark Dickinson, John Hickman and Derek Fortier remain with the organization, with Dickinson leading overall strategy and operations, Hickman heading manufacturing and Fortier overseeing supply chain management. Several veteran Attabotics engineers also remain on staff, preserving specialized technical expertise. Joining the team to lead sales and software is Art Eldred, who brings over 30 years of material handling experience at Vargo, Dematic and Intelligrated.

“Attabotics was built on innovative technology and strong engineering, and now as part of LaFayette Systems, we have the support to fully realize its potential,” says Mark Dickinson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, and part of the Attabotics team since 2020. “We’re focused on accelerating development, improving reliability and listening to what matters to customers, so that we can meet demand for technology that simplifies complex fulfillment operations.”

LaFayette Systems maintains a coast-to-coast U.S. presence through its family of companies, including: LaFayette Engineering, which specializes in conveyor and sortation software and controls; Mesh Automation,, a provider of industrial robotics and machine vision solutions; Century Conveyor Systems, which focuses on the northeast U.S. to provide conveyor system design and integration, installation and on-site maintenance services; and Kendale Industries, a custom metal fabricator focused on material handling components and accessories.

Across the entire LaFayette organization, the core mission is to serve as a true customer advocate. That includes immediate problem solving as soon as an issue arises and providing the transparency to recommend alternative solutions – even when the best path forward lies outside the group’s own portfolio. This commitment extends to Attabotics, and each employee signs a pledge to uphold these values.

For more information, visit Attabotics in booth C14787 at the upcoming MODEX trade show in Atlanta, April 13-16.

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About Lafayette Systems

Headquartered in Danville, Kentucky, LaFayette Systems combines a family of material handling companies with varying specialties that together design, build and integrate conveyor, sortation and robotics systems for global brands.

About Attabotics

Attabotics debuted as the world’s first robotics goods-to-person cubic storage and retrieval system in 2016, offering a space-efficient and high-speed alternative to traditional warehouse fulfillment. The innovative Attabotics technology replaces the rows and aisles of traditional fulfillment centers with a patented storage structure and robotic shuttles that utilize both horizontal and vertical space to significantly reduce warehouse space requirements and provide direct access to any location with only value-added moves.

About LaFayette Engineering

Founded in 1989, LaFayette Engineering started in Danville, Kentucky as a controls company providing automation systems for manufacturers and system integrators. LaFayette Engineering has evolved to provide complete systems integration, warehouse control software, SCADA diagnostics systems, project management, installation and 24/7 support. The beginning focus to put our customer’s interest first and listen to their needs and concerns has stayed as our primary focus.

Media contact:
Dan Gauss
Koroberi
336.409.5391
dan@koroberi.com