Toyota Industries has announced the intention to restructure its warehouse automation business by merging parts of Vanderlande with two of its other subsidiaries, German Viastore and American Bastian. The Japanese machine maker is exploring establishing regional operating companies in Europe and the US, unifying all warehouse automation-related organizations in these areas. Through the new structure, which is aimed to begin operations in April 2026, it aims to strengthen group-wide collaboration and enhance its global warehouse automation business.
Under the envisaged new framework, the large-scale warehouse automation branch of Vanderlande in Veghel will merge with the small and medium-sized logistics system integrator Viastore from Stuttgart to create Toyota Automated Logistics Europe. Vanderlande’s American warehouse automation activities will be integrated with Indianapolis-based small and medium-sized logistics integrator Bastian into Toyota Automated Logistics United States. Vanderlande will continue to specialize in airport and parcel operations, “providing even higher value-added solutions and services,” according to the press release.
“The warehouse automation market is expected to continue growing in the large markets of Europe and the United States,” the press release goes on to explain. “Through this contemplated reorganization, Toyota Industries will develop solutions tailored to the characteristics of each business area and strengthen its sales capabilities, while also making effective use of resources such as personnel, solution line-up, customer base and information within the warehouse automation business to provide solutions suited to diverse customer operations and segments around the world.”
