Amer Sports Opens Automated Fulfillment Center
Amer Sports has commissioned a new automated fulfillment center near Toronto to handle omnichannel orders. The facility uses a combination of automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), conveyors, and AI-powered picking technologies. The design reflects a trend toward highly automated warehouses with flexible layouts to accommodate both robotic and human workflows.
- The new facility is located in Belleville, Ontario, strategically positioned to provide next-day ground service to more than 26 million people. This represents Amer Sports' most significant single investment in Canada to date. - It will handle products from a range of Amer Sports' well-known brands, including Arc'teryx, Salomon, Peak Performance, Atomic, and Armada. - The core of the automation is the Exotec Skypod system, a goods-to-person automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) that is the first of its kind in Ontario. Bastian Solutions was the integrator for the Exotec system. - This new distribution center is a key component of Amer Sports' direct-to-consumer (DTC) strategy; the company's DTC channels grew to account for 44% of total revenue in 2024, up from 36% in 2023. - The facility, which became fully operational in January 2025, initially employs 80 team members with plans for further expansion to support North American growth. - The project is part of a global strategy to create a standardized blueprint for future automated facilities worldwide, as stated by Amer Sports' Director of Logistics Projects, Björn Ostertag. - In addition to the Exotec Skypod system, the facility utilizes other automation technologies like right-sized packaging equipment to reduce waste and improve order fit. - The Belleville location replaces a nearby, largely manual distribution center and is designed to significantly improve order cycle times, as well as picking and packing labor efficiency.
