Skypod by Exotec: status and timeline

Skypod

A 3D climbing robot that stores and retrieves boxes in vertical racking. Robots move goods between levels faster than conveyor systems while taking up less floor space, making warehouses more productive per square metre.

DeployStage 4 of 5

Deployed at 100+ customer sites globally, reducing labor costs and increasing warehouse throughput.

Updated 2017Checked 10 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

No announced next step

First Skypod robots deployed at Cdiscount2017Complete.
Series C funding, expansion to Atlanta and Tokyo2020Complete.
Series D funding at $2 billion valuation2022Complete.
Imaginarium global headquarters opensQ1 2026Complete.

Most important updates

Exotec deploys first Skypod robots at Cdiscount's Cestas warehouse in France2017

Current obstacles

Integration with existing systemsMany warehouses have fixed infrastructure, conveyors and management software; retrofitting requires careful coordination and often disruption.

Physics limits

Racking height and robot speedClimbing speed is limited by friction, motor power and safety margins; faster speeds require stronger mechanical design and consume more energy.
Environmental stress on machineryWarehouse temperature swings, dust and vibration from other systems can degrade electronics and mechanical wear; sealed designs add weight and cost.

How it works

3 parts

Climbing mechanics

Vertical movement in racking

Robots use grip mechanisms to climb vertical racking structures, moving goods between storage levels without large floor-based transport paths.

Goods movement

Tote and box handling

The system handles standard warehouse containers (totes, boxes), moving them to picking stations or outbound areas for fast order fulfillment.

Software control

Deepsky orchestration

Deepsky software assigns robots to tasks, balances load across the fleet, and feeds data back to the customer's warehouse management system.

Spec sheet

Spec	Skypod
Customer sites worldwide	100+^R (reported)
Employees	1,400+^R (reported)
Imaginarium HQ size	25,000 sq m^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

1 update

2017

Major: Exotec deploys first Skypod robots at Cdiscount's Cestas warehouse in FrancePressTest

About Exotec

The team behind Skypod

Exotec

Warehouse automation, Skypod storage robots

Exotec builds Skypod, a 3D climbing robot system for warehouse automation. It stacks boxes higher than traditional racking and sorts faster. The company manufactures and deploys systems across apparel, grocery, healthcare and e-commerce.

Over 100 customer sites globally use Exotec's Skypod system for warehouse automation.
The company opened Imaginarium, a 25,000 sq m global headquarters near Lille, in early 2026.
The company operates offices in France, the US, and Japan.

exotec.com (opens exotec.com)Company profile →

Founded: 201511 yrs
Headquarters: France
Status: Private
Valuation: $2BprivateJan 2022
Staff: ~1,300Jan 2025
Raised: $443M3 rounds
Last round: Series D · $335M2022
Works in: RoboticsWarehouse & logistics
Coverage: 1 program · 3 updateslatest 1 Jan 2022checked 10 Oct
Customers: Cdiscount (opens cdiscount.com)
People: Romain Moulin (opens linkedin.com)Co-founderRenaud Heitz (opens linkedin.com)Co-founder

Spec

Skypod

Customer sites worldwide

100+^R (reported)

Employees

1,400+^R (reported)

Imaginarium HQ size

25,000 sq m^R (reported)