Symbotic is acquiring cellumation, a German maker of sorting systems built from hundreds of hexagonal cells that can move items in any direction. Founded in 2017, cellumation has more than 70 employees and will continue operating under its own name from Bremen, Germany. CEO Hendrik Thamer and CTO Claudio Uriarte will stay on to run it.
Symbotic plans to sell the technology directly to customers and other system integrators, as well as incorporate it into its own warehouse automation systems, CEO Rick Cohen said. The company expects the technology to free up warehouse floor space and potentially reduce equipment costs.
Each cell has three independently driven omnidirectional wheels. Software controls the wheels to move, align and rotate items across the sorting surface. If a cell fails, neighboring cells can keep the item moving, according to cellumation.
The company says its cv.CROSSDOCK sorter can handle up to 6,000 parcels an hour on a footprint starting at about 14 square feet. Items must measure at least about 6 inches square and have a nearly flat base. Cellumation also offers a singulation system rated for up to 10,000 parcels an hour.
The technology is already used in several facilities.
DHL Supply Chain has operated a 29-square-foot crossdock sorting 3,500 parcels an hour in Greven, Germany, since 2020.
Paack, a Spanish delivery company, uses the technology to route parcels to nine outbound stations.
SICK, a sensor maker, uses the technology to orient totes for an automated small-parts warehouse in Hungary.
The acquisition follows Symbotic’s purchases of autonomous forklift maker Fox Robotics in February and UK warehouse software company ARMS Innovations in July. In 2025, Symbotic agreed to buy Walmart’s Advanced Systems and Robotics business for $200 million, plus up to $350 million in additional payments tied to Walmart’s orders for accelerated pickup and delivery systems.
Symbotic did not disclose the purchase price or say when the cellumation deal is expected to close.
