Driving Greater Efficiency and Accuracy in Pro-Tool (Factory Consumables) Logistics
Tokyo, Japan, August 4, 2026 — TRUSCO NAKAYAMA Corporation, IHI Logistics & Machinery Corporation, and Exotec today announced the start of full-scale operations of the Skypod® System at TRUSCO NAKAYAMA’s new distribution center, “PLANET AICHI.”
TRUSCO NAKAYAMA is a wholesaler of pro-tools (factory consumables and indirect materials) operating under the philosophy that “immediate delivery is the ultimate service,” supporting Japanese manufacturing by leveraging inventory and logistics as core competitive strengths. “PLANET AICHI” is the company’s 29th and largest distribution center, with a total floor area of approximately 89,162 m². The facility strengthens TRUSCO NAKAYAMA’s supply capacity to the Chubu region, a hub of Japanese manufacturing, while also serving as a nationwide shipping hub with high outbound capacity. Looking ahead, the company plans to grow its inventory from the current 630,000 items to more than 1 million items, further developing its logistics infrastructure to deliver the right products to customers exactly when they need them.
The Skypod® System is a warehouse automation solution designed, manufactured, and integrated by Exotec. Robots autonomously climb storage racks to retrieve items and transport them directly to operator workstations, enabling efficient, high-speed picking and packing. At “PLANET AICHI,” the system is deployed for picking a wide variety of pro-tools, including tools, consumables, and safety equipment.
Previously, workers walked the warehouse floor to fulfill picking tasks. With Skypod, products are brought directly to the worker, significantly reducing physical strain and the time spent searching for items. The result is greater efficiency and accuracy in picking operations for an industry that demands high-frequency shipments across a broad product portfolio, reinforcing TRUSCO NAKAYAMA’s core competitive advantage: its immediate-delivery system.
Through this deployment, TRUSCO NAKAYAMA aims to improve operational productivity, stabilize work quality, and reduce labor requirements at its distribution centers, further strengthening the logistics infrastructure needed to support future business growth and inventory expansion.
Background
Under the belief that “a business, and a company, exists only when it serves people and society,” TRUSCO NAKAYAMA is committed to supporting Japanese manufacturing. A key strategic target is to hold an inventory of more than 1 million items by 2030, and the company is building out its logistics network accordingly, ensuring it can deliver the products customers need, exactly when they need them.
“PLANET AICHI,” which opened on May 18, 2026, was purpose-built to support an inventory of more than 1 million items and an annual shipment value of approximately ¥100 billion.
As the range of products handled and the volume of e-commerce and digital orders continue to grow, TRUSCO NAKAYAMA faces increasing pressure to fulfill a wider variety of pro-tool orders with speed and precision. Against a backdrop of industry-wide labor shortages and growing workforce concerns, the company adopted Skypod to reduce labor requirements, minimize manual effort, and improve warehouse productivity. Skypod automatically transports products to workers, cutting walking and search time, improving picking efficiency, and enabling high-density storage. Crucially, the system requires no fixed infrastructure such as conveyors or cranes, and offers the scalability to expand in line with future volume growth, a decisive factor in TRUSCO NAKAYAMA’s decision to adopt it.
System Overview
- Number of bins: 31,975
- Number of robots: 37
- Number of stations: 4
- Primary use: Picking of pro-tools and factory consumables, including tools, consumables, storage supplies, and safety equipment
About TRUSCO NAKAYAMA
TRUSCO NAKAYAMA is a wholesale trading company for pro-tools, including work tools, measuring instruments, cutting tools, and all manner of factory consumables needed at production sites. The company operates 29 distribution centers nationwide and holds an inventory of approximately 630,000 items, giving customers confidence that “if it’s a pro-tool, TRUSCO has it.” By stocking not only high-velocity items but also a wide range of long-tail products with lower order frequency, TRUSCO NAKAYAMA has built a system to reliably deliver “the right product, at the right time, in the right quantity.” Under its corporate message “Ganbare!! Nihon no Monozukuri” (“Go for it!! Japanese Manufacturing”), the company continues to support Japanese manufacturing through the stable supply of pro-tools.
For more information, please visit: https://www.trusco.co.jp/
About IHI Logistics & Machinery
IHI Logistics & Machinery is a solutions company providing comprehensive logistics and factory automation (FA) equipment. With extensive experience across a wide range of solutions, from storage, sorting, picking, and conveyance hardware to the information systems that manage them, the company goes beyond equipment supply to design optimized logistics operations. Its approach integrates flow-line design, WMS/WES, and simulation to deliver efficient, tailored systems. IHI Logistics & Machinery also provides lifecycle-oriented support, from post-implementation optimization to ongoing maintenance services.
For more information, please visit: https://ihi-logistics.com/
About Exotec
Exotec provides sophisticated Goods-to-Person warehouse robotics solutions for the world’s leading brands. The company combines best-in-class hardware and software to build flexible, resilient warehouse systems that improve operational efficiency, reduce the physical burden on workers, and enhance working conditions. More than 50 industry-leading brands, including Carrefour, Decathlon, GAP, and UNIQLO, rely on Exotec’s solutions to optimize their operations, achieve revenue growth, and respond flexibly to rapidly evolving business models and customer expectations.
For more information, please visit: www.exotec.com