Robotics startup Magazino collects 20.1 million euros
Press releases
27. February 2018
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Munich, February 27, 2018 | The Munich-based robotics startup Magazino has completed a financing round worth 20.1 million euros. The new investors include the international technology group Körber, Cellcom, Zalando and Fiege Logistik. The financing round led by the Körber Group is one of the largest investments in robotics startups in Europe. The capital increase is intended above all to expand sales in Germany and abroad and to advance the development of robots.
Magazino develops and produces perception-controlled, mobile robots that fully automate the gripping and transporting of piece goods in intralogistics. The startup’s technology solutions enable dynamic warehousing and order picking as well as intelligent material planning in e‑commerce and on assembly lines. With piece-accurate access to individual articles, Magazino closes one of the central gaps in the automation of manual logistics processes. This opens up new possibilities for logistics to make process steps more efficient. With their investments in the startup company founded in 2014, investors are securing access to this key technology. This includes in particular the software suite ACROS (Advanced Cooperative Robot Operation System), which forms the “brain” of the robots. This software suite is used to allow non-deterministic, i.e. perception-controlled, robots to act in human-made environments.

“With its robotic solutions, the Magazino team has developed innovations that have the potential to change intralogistics in the long term,” says Michael Horn, member of the Executive Board of Körber AG. “The partnership offers decisive added value, especially for customers in our logistics systems business unit. At the same time, the investment strengthens our position in a competitive market environment. In addition, we will be working with the Magazino team to drive forward further forward-looking developments as part of our digitization initiatives.”
David Schröder, Zalando Senior Vice President Convenience: “Logistics is one of our core competencies and an important driver for customer satisfaction, the scalability of our business and the efficiency of our processes. This is where we can achieve the best results when passionate people and cutting-edge technology work hand in hand. Our investment in Magazino will provide us with a future technology that is highly compatible with our existing infrastructure and that can be flexibly deployed to support future employees in our logistics centers.”
“We are very satisfied with the composition of the investor group. With the participation of leading technology groups as well as the largest European players in e‑commerce and fulfillment, Magazino is perfectly equipped for further growth,” emphasizes Frederik Brantner, co-founder and CEO of Magazino GmbH.
Magazino’s portfolio includes various robot systems that are used object-specifically. The central development is the picking robot TORU: Whereas previously only entire load carriers such as pallets or crates could be retrieved automatically, TORU enables the handling of individual objects. Using 3D cameras and numerous sensors, the robots can locate the objects, identify them, grasp them securely and finally place them precisely at their destination. This makes the “pick-by-robot” picking process possible for the first time. The intelligent robot works parallel to humans and delivers the required parts directly to the workbench or shipping station at the right time.
Fiege Logistik is not only one of the new shareholders, but also one of the customers who are already using the robots. Jens Fiege, CEO of the family-owned company, says: “We will continue to intensify our partnership with Magazino, which has now lasted for two years, and are delighted to be able to make an even greater contribution to the joint further development of robotics in logistics. We are convinced that this technology will have a significant impact on the future of logistics”.
In a distribution center, several of the intelligent robots support the employees in picking shoes ordered online. Another 30 robots have already been ordered from Magazino for a large-scale roll-out.
4,518 characters (including spaces) | Press contact: Florin Wahl

Körber AG is the holding company of an international technology group with around 11,500 employees worldwide. The Group unites technologically leading companies with more than 130 production, service and sales companies. At locations around the globe, Körber combines the advantages of a globally present organization with the strengths of highly specialized and flexible medium-sized companies that offer their customers solutions, products and services in the fields of automation, logistics systems, machine tools, pharmaceutical systems, tissue, tobacco and corporate investments.
Zalando is Europe’s leading online fashion platform. The Berlin-based company offers customers a comprehensive selection of apparel, shoes and accessories for women, men and children, free of charge shipping and return shipping. The assortment ranges from almost 2,000 world-famous brands to local and fast-fashion brands and self-designed private labels. Zalando’s logistics network with five central logistics centres enables the efficient supply of all customers throughout Europe, supported by locations in Northern Italy, France and Sweden that focus on local customer needs.
Cellcom Resources Limited is an investment holding company owned by Dr. Peter K. K. Lee, Vice Chairman of Henderson Land Development Company Limited (“Henderson Group”). Henderson Group has been listed in Hong Kong since 1981 and is one of Hong Kong’s largest conglomerates, with offices in Hong Kong and throughout China. Historically known as a real estate developer, the Henderson Group has evolved into a global industrial conglomerate with activities in a variety of business areas. These include energy, transportation, hotels, hospitality and various investments.
The Fiege Group, headquartered in Greven, Westphalia, is one of the leading logistics providers in Europe. Its expertise lies in particular in the development and implementation of integrated, holistic logistics systems. It is regarded as a pioneer in contract logistics. With over 12,000 employees worldwide, the group generated a turnover of 1.45 billion euros in 2016. 178 locations and cooperations in 15 countries form a close-knit logistics network. 2.8 million square meters of warehouse and logistics space speak for the company’s efficiency.
Magazino develops and builds perception-controlled, mobile robots. As the largest Advanced Robotics team in Europe, we revolutionize the world of intralogistics together with our customers.
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