Chinese firms are becoming increasingly influential in the world of warehouse tech. Among them, Libiao Robotics is making waves with its AirRob system, writes Peter MacLeod.
Libiao Robotics, manufacturer of the AirRob robot-based tote handling solution, recently held a global partner conference at its Hangzhou manufacturing facility near Shanghai, to which I was invited. As well as a chance to meet with its engineers to deeper understand the design process behind its automated warehouse systems, I also spent time at CeMAT Asia, where such systems dominated the 10-hall fair.
With over 10,000 robots deployed globally since the previous conference 12 months earlier, it’s taken as read that the performance and reliability of Libiao’s hardware is tried and tested. Where Libiao’s ingenuity comes, though, is in adapting this technology to meet the specific – and changing – needs of the customer, and developing in tandem the software that drives it. In Libiao’s case, this means creating new ways to enable greater storage density without compromising fulfilment speed or efficiency.
Solution Partner
In her opening remarks, company founder and CEO Mrs Xia Huiling highlighted her philosophy of not just providing the best-possible equipment, but insisting that its integration is performed by a local partner who best understands the specific regulations and customer needs. This eliminates the accusation levelled at many fellow Chinese firms, namely that they are equipment suppliers rather than solution partners. With overseas entities in Frankfurt, Singapore and now New Jersey in the USA, Libiao’s ability to serve these markets has taken a big forward leap.
A highlight of the event was to get a first look at a new system being launched to the global market in Q1/2026, namely the AirRob Pro. Whereas the original AirRob raised the bar by combining a climbing robot with a fleet of floorbots to create a highly efficient and dense storage grid, AirRob Pro takes the concept even further. It has been designed for operations where ‘raw’ cartons are inbound. These can be put away directly into racking without the need for decanting into totes, as AirRob Pro comes equipped with a clever double-sucker arm. Why clever? Well, cartons of multiple dimensions don’t always sit neatly in straight rows, so AirRob Pro eliminates this obstacle by ensuring a clean, firm grip and straight positioning and withdrawal of items.
Digital Twin
Where the tech really excels is its swiveling arm, which enables picking from both sides of a single aisle. This effectively removes the need for a second workstation per aisle, freeing up further warehouse space for more value-added activities. AirRob Pro was demonstrated to the Libiao’s partners from all corners of the globe, and the feedback I heard was unanimously positive.
Speaking with Zou ‘Chiz’ Chu, the company’s Overseas Support Manager, I learned that the system has been evaluated using Libiao’s new digital twin technology – also launched at the conference – and the results have been impressive. It increases the double-cycle rate and thanks to the precision of the suction picking system, these gains are further boosted by the ability for cartons and totes to be stored tighter together than previously.
“The solution will be particularly attractive to the grocery sector,” Chiz tells me, describing how the demands of fulfilling high-throughput retail stores in urban areas – where warehouse space is at a premium – can be met by AirRob Pro.
A full day of technical presentations and customer case studies enlightened me about the broad scale and depth of applications possible using Libiao’s automated systems. With a strong pedigree stemming from the post & parcel sector, it is now turning heads in the logistics sector by putting specific customer demands firmly at the heart of product development.
Following the partner conference, I was invited to the ceremonial opening of an extraordinary 5-level multi-user warehouse in Kunshan. Operated by Japanese 3PL GLP and housing an AirRob installation, the scale of the facility blew me away, and illustrates a highly effective solution to overcome a lack of warehouse space around urban hubs. The trip was topped off by a visit to CeMAT Asia in Shanghai, an incredible showcase of technology that exemplified powerfully how companies from the region such as Libiao have now become the leading tech innovators in the logistics sector.
