Modula History | Modula

Modula was founded in 1987 by Engineer Franco Stefani, who envisioned a vertical warehouse for storing electronic materials at his System Ceramics production facilities, where machines and technologies for the ceramics industry were being developed.

It later became a Business Unit of System Logistics S.p.A., specialising in vertical automatic warehouses designed to allow operators to pick and store items in a quick, efficient, and ergonomic manner. The division’s name immediately evoked the modularity and flexibility of the system itself.

In 2016, Modula became a joint-stock company (S.p.A.), gaining its own identity and an independent organisational structure. The company now operates various production sites, with 13 subsidiaries, over 100 dealers worldwide, and 2 acquired companies.

Since the very first Modula unit, designed by the engineer who still serves as Chairman today, the project has evolved significantly. In fact, the initial models were used internally at the facility in Fiorano Modenese, before attracting interest from the ceramic sector in which System Ceramics operated.

Thanks to its growing popularity and the clear advantages it offered — including ergonomics, product security, personal safety, space efficiency, precision, flexibility and rapid return on investment — this innovation steadily gained traction on the market, finding its way into the factories of many companies, first in Italy and later abroad.

A true turning point came in 2000, when the sales network expanded to new sectors in order to meet emerging demands. Modula has now established itself as a full fledged 4.0 factory, equipped with its own automated warehouses, and driven by a philosophy of efficiency and innovation.

The company continues to grow, not only in terms of products and customers, but also in its production set-up. After its early years in Fiorano Modenese, in 2009 Modula inaugurated a complete production hub in Salvaterra di Casalgrande, equipped with advanced technologies and based on lean manufacturing and Industry 4.0 principles.

As previously mentioned, just under a decade ago, Modula transitioned from a business unit to an independent company, officially becoming Modula S.p.A. This marked a new beginning for the company, strengthening its identity with an autonomous organisational structure and consolidated leadership in the automated logistics sector.

Production facilities were later established in the United States (Maine and Ohio) and China (Suzhou), with subsidiaries open in Spain, Germany, France, India, Singapore, Mexico, Colombia, the UK, Sweden, Denmark and Poland.

The Bologna-based company MB and the Belgian system integrator VANAS were also acquired as part of the Group.

In 2024, Modula opened a new facility in Fiorano Modenese to serve as offices and Experience Centre.

Today, Modula is a recognised leader in automated logistics, with installations across the globe, and a constant stream of innovation that has made it a benchmark in its sector.

History

1987

The first Modula is created and designed by Franco Stefani.

2010

Modula Lift is launched on the market and becomes Modula’s number one product.

2011

Then came Modula Sintes1, a smaller and lighter warehouse to store small components.

2012

Research begins in the anti-seismic field, for products that could withstand earthquakes.

2013

Creation of Modula OneTon, the warehouse with a payload of one ton per tray.

2014

First objective achieved: 1000 machines sold in one year.

2015

Modula Inc. is founded in Lewiston, Maine, with an investment of $10 million. A new production plant for the American and Canadian markets.

2016

Modula, the first business unit of System Logistics, becomes an independent company: Modula S.p.A. is born.

Modula Storage Solution Limited is established in the UK and Modula Warehouse Storage Solutions in India.

2017

Modula celebrates 30 years of history with 2000 machines sold.

2018

This was the year of internationalisation. As well as a new production site in China, branches open in Mexico and Spain, to add to those in France, India, the UK and Germany.

2019

Modula Slim is launched on the market.

2019

A new plant is inaugurated in Franklin, Ohio (USA).

2020

Modula acquires MB and establishes its Modula South East subsidiary in Singapore.

2020

The Lift line-up is extended with the Lift ME. The new Modula HC horizontal carousel is developed, made possible by three decades of experience in the American market.

2021

The Modula Colombia subsidiary is founded.

2021

New picking and automation solutions are developed, designed for controlled atmosphere environments: Modula Climate Control and Modula Clean Room.

2022

+ 1000 Modula employees worldwide!

2022

Two new products are added to the Modula range:

Modula Farm, the temperature-controlled warehouse used for vertical cultivation without season constraints
Modula DD, the old Lift technology with an even higher bay depth (1,257 mm).

2023

New warehouses for different applications:

Modula Pallet, the automatic technology that can independently and safely manage Euro Pallets of dimensions 1200 x 800 mm
Modula Next, based on an automatic system of mobile windows that open on the previously filled and loaded tray

2023

New Modula S.p.A. headquarters in Fiorano Modenese (MO), Italy.
A new subsidiary Modula Danmark ApS is established.

2024

Two more branches open in Poland and Sweden.
Modula acquires VANAS, the leading dealer in the Benelux, integrating it into the group.
The prototyping of Flexibox, the vertical cassette storage system, is completed.
AI-based solutions such as Plant Designer and Optimizer are born.

2025

The new Modula Flexibox is launched on the market.
New Pick to Color solutions are introduced in the picking world.